Maholm Fans 10, Brinson Drives In Three As Bulldogs Top SEC-Leading LSU 4-2
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Junior left-hander Paul Maholm struck out a season-high 10 and first baseman Matthew Brinson drove in three of the Bulldogs' four runs Friday night to lead No. 16 Mississippi State (32-12-1, 13-8) to a 4-2 win over SEC-leading and fifth-ranked Louisiana State (31-15-1, 15-6-1) at Dudy Noble Field.
Maholm scattered nine hits, walked five, stranded two base runners in the second, third and fifth innings and got solid backing from the Bulldog defense, which turned three double plays.
Brinson, who turned in a 6-for-10 performance in last year's two-game set at LSU, laced a solo home run, doubled in a pair of runs and scored State's final run.
Greg Smith (0-1) was charged with three runs on five hits during his three-inning relief stint and absorbed the loss. LSU starter Justin Meier scattered five hits, walked five and struck out one in five innings.
The win lifted the Bulldogs into second place tie with Auburn (32-13, 13-8), rained out in its Friday night series opener at home against Florida.
LSU scored the game's first run, getting a pair of two-out walks and a single to right by Will Harris. Jon Zeringue, the lead runner, advanced a base when Steve Gendron dropped a pick-off throw at third base. Matthew Brinson tied the score in the bottom of the inning, leading off the inning with his eighth home run of the season. The blast extended Brinson's hitting streak to a career-best 13 games.
The Tigers threatened again in the third when Maholm walked Ryan Patterson and Aaron Hill followed with a ground-rule double in the right field corner. But Maholm worked out of the jam, striking out Clay Harris and Blake Gill to end the inning. State likewise threatened in the third when Meier issued a pair of two-out walks, with Meier retiring Brad Corley on a fly ball to center field to finish the frame.
LSU took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Zeringue doubled and Quinn Stewart followed with an RBI single up the middle.
Meier, who checked the Bulldogs on five hits over the first five innings, issued his fourth and fifth walks to open the sixth, and was replaced on the hill by lefty Greg Smith. Smith retired the next three Bulldog batters, two on strikeouts, to thwart another MSU rally.
Mississippi State jumped on Smith for three runs on four hits in the seventh to take a 4-2 lead. Maniscalco and Gendron singled and Brinson cleared the bases with a double into the right field corner. Brinson raced home with the Bulldogs' third run of the inning on Corley's single to right.
Maholm worked into the eighth, leaving the game with two outs and runners at second on a single to Blake Gilll and walk issued to Zeringue. Jonathan Papelbon entered the game and struck out pinch hitter Ivan Naccarata and then set the Tigers down in order in the ninth to record his seventh save.
The win and the save moved Maholm and Papelbon into seventh place among MSU's career leaders in those categories. Maholm owns a 25-7 career mark while Papelbon has 13 career saves.
The Bulldogs and the Tigers continue their three-game weekend series Saturday at 3:06 p.m. The game will be televised regionally by FOX Sports Net South as the SEC-TV Game of the Week. During pregame ceremonies, Mississippi State will retire the jersey for former Bulldog and Boston Red Sox hurler David "Boo" Ferriss.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 4, LSU 2
LSU 010 100 000 -- 2- 9-0MSU 010 000 30x -- 4-10-1
WP -- Paul Maholm (7-2). LP -- Greg Smith (0-1). SV -- Paul Maholm (7). HR -- (MSU) Matthew Brinson (8). T -- 2:45. ATT -- 6,985 (paid), 5,472 (actual).
Paul Maholm, Jonathan Papelbon (8) and Craig Tatum. Justin Meier, Greg Smith (6) and Matt Liuzza.