MSU Strikes Early, Then Rallies For 7-5 Win
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State (16-10-1, 5-4 SEC) took advantage of four Georgia errors and got a stellar relief performance from sophomore right-hander Jonathan Papelbon Friday night to notch a 7-5 win in the opening game of a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field. MSU was out-hit 13-9 by Georgia (16-9, 7-3), which entered the game atop the SEC Eastern Division standings.
Steve Gendron singled in a run in the first off Georgia starter Mickey Wesphal and another during a three-run third inning burst that gave MSU an early 4-0 lead.
But Georgia got to State starter Paul Maholm in the middle innings. Maholm gave up four consecutive hits to open the fifth, including a two-run double by Lee Mitchell. Mitchell scored the third run in the frame when Adam Swann laced a single to right to tighten the MSU lead to 4-3. Maholm retired the first two batters he faced in the sixth before Georgia struck again, scoring twice on four consecutive hits. Chaz Lytle singled in the tying run and Mitchell then followed with a hit to right that put UG on top 5-4.
Westphal left the game after giving up a leadoff double by Winston Pearson in the sixth inning. His replacement, relief ace Jeffery Carswell, was unable to protect the 5-4 lead. A dropped fly ball in center field, a walk, and a two-run single up the middle by Matthew Brinson, this week's SEC Player of the Week, put State back on top 6-5. State stretched it with another unearned run in the seventh when Brent Lewis singled and took an extra base on a misplay in right field. Lewis was replaced by pinch-runner Enrico Jones, who scored the game's final run when Jon Mungle laced a single up the middle of the Georgia infield.
Maholm left the game in the eighth after giving up his 12th hit of the game, a single by Clint Sammons. State brought Jonathan Papelbon into the game, who gave up a walk and a single but worked out the bases-loaded jam with a pair of strikeouts. Papelbon struck out four and allowed just one hit in two innings of scoreless relief work, earning his third save of the year.
Maholm (6-1) gave up five runs on 12 hits and struck out six in seven innings to pick up the win. Carswell (1-3) was charged with a pair of unearned runs in three innings of relief pitching and took the loss.
Steve Gendron and Winston Pearson had two hits each for MSU while Chaz Lytle paced Georgia with three singles.
MSU and Georgia continue their Super Bulldog Weekend series in Starkville Saturday at 3:07 p.m. in a game televised by SEC-TV/FOX Sports Net South. A pair of senior right-handers, MSU's Tanner Brock (3-2, 4.19) and Georgia's Bill Sharpton (3-1, 4.83), will draw starting duties.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, GEORGIA 5UG (16-9, 7-3 SEC) 000 032 000 --- 5-13-4MSU (16-10-1, 5-4 SEC) 103 002 10x --- 7-9-0WP -- Paul Maholm (6-1). LP -- Jeffery Carswell (1-3).SV -- Jonathan Papelbon (3). T -- 2:55.ATT -- 5,819 (actual), 6,769 (paid).