Burkley Belts Grand Slam As Dogs Pound Hogs 17-4
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Matthew Brinson and Jason Burkley hit their sixth home runs of the year and drove in four runs each Friday night as Mississippi State (20-11-1, 7-5) pounded out a 17-4 win over Arkansas in the opening game of a three-game weekend series at Dudy Noble Field. It was the fifth win in the last six outings for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs used a pair of big innings to do most of their damage against the Razorbacks (18-12, 4-6). After taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo home run by Brinson, the Bulldogs batted through the order during a seven-run, five-hit second inning burst that chased UA starter Gary Hogan (3-3) from the game. Matthew Maniscalco doubled in one run and after a pair walks loaded the bases Burkley belted a career-first grand slam that staked Bulldog starter Paul Maholm (7-1) to an 8-0 lead.
Arkansas got to Maholm for a pair of runs in the fourth on a massive two-run home run by Ryan Fox and made it an 8-3 game in the fifth on Scott Hode's two-out double.
But State answered with another big inning, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs on seven hits. Jon Mungle opened the frame with a solo home run, his sixth blast of the year, and both Chad Henry and Brinson delivered two-RBI hits.
Brinson drove in four runs with four hits and a bases-loaded walk and Burkley set a career-high with four RBI on his grand slam. Maniscalco and Michael Brown enjoyed three-hit plate performances as MSU scored a season-high 17 runs and matched a season-best with 19 hits.
Maholm gave up three runs on seven hits, walked a pair and struck out three in recording his seventh win of the season. Jeff Lacher finished the game for MSU, striking out two and giving up a run in two innings.
UA starter Hogan lasted 1-1/3 innings, giving up eight runs on six hits and departing the game after Burkley's bases-loaded home run. Josh Glynn and Layne Berry followed Hogan on the mound, combining for 10 strikeouts.
The two teams continue their SEC Western Division series Saturday at 2 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 17, ARKANSAS 4UA (18-12, 4-6 SEC) 000 210 001 -- 4-10-1MSU (20-11-1, 7-5 SEC) 170 080 01x -- 17-19-0WP -- Paul Maholm (7-1). LP -- Gary Hogan (3-3).HR -- MSU: Matthew Brinson (6), Jason Burkley (6),Jon Mungle (6); UA: Ryan Fox (9). T -- 2:47.ATT -- 6,531 (paid), 3,309 (actual).