Bulldogs Score Early, Hold Off Vandy Rally For 6-4 Win
Brent Lewis, Matthew Brinson and Jon Mungle hit solo home runs and eight of the nine Bulldog starters had hits as Mississippi State built up a 6-0 lead after five innings off Vandy starter Robert Ransom (0-1).
MSU starter Paul Maholm (8-1) shut out the Commodores over seven innings before giving up five consecutive hits and three runs to open the eighth. State relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon retired the three batters he faced after replacing Maholm in the eighth, two on strikeouts and worked out of another jam in the ninth to earn his fifth save.
VU designated hitter Scott Shapiro singled in two runs in the eighth but took a called third strike with two runners on base to end the game. Sean Luellwitz had a game-high three hits and singled in the final Vandy run in the ninth.
Mungle paced MSU at the plate with two hits, including his eighth home run of the year to open the sixth. It was the only hit and run allowed by Vanderbilt relief pitcher Steve Faulkner, who struck out five and walked one after replacing Ransom in the sixth.
The Bulldogs and the Commodores meet in the second game of the weekend series Saturday at 7 p.m. Vanderbilt will formally dedicate its new baseball facility at Hawkins Field during pre-game ceremonies Saturday. A pair of right-handers will square off, senior Tanner Brock (5-3, 3.88) for MSU and senior Jeff Little (4-5, 5.34).
MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, VANDERBILT 4MSU (26-15-1, 10-8 SEC) 002 211 000 -- 6- 9-0VU (18-19, 3-14 SEC) 000 000 031 -- 4-11-4WP -- Paul Maholm (8-1). LP -- Robert Ransom (0-1).SV -- Jonathan Papelbon (5). HR -- Brent Lewis (3),Matthew Brinson (11), Jon Mungle (8). T -- 2:50.ATT -- 787.