Tatum's Three-Run Blast Powers State Past Winthrop, 9-3
Official Game Statistics
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Craig Tatum hit a three-run home run in the third inning Tuesday night leading No. 17 Mississippi State (36-15-1) to a 9-3 win over Winthrop and a sweep of a day/night doubleheader at Dudy Noble Field. In the opening game, Mississippi State hammered out a 13-2 win over Southeastern Louisiana.
State scored six runs off Winthrop starter Thomas Olejniczak (2-2) in the first three innings, with Matthew Maniscalco doubling in two runs in the second and Tatum, after back-to-back singles by Steve Gendron and Matthew Brinson to open the third, belting his fifth home run of the year.
Freshman center fielder Jeff Butts capped a six-hit day at Dudy Noble Field with a 4-for-5 plate performance against the Eagles.
The Eagles, coached by former MSU assistant coach Joe Hudak, struck for two runs in the fifth when Kyle Roberson opened the inning with a single and both Matt Matkovich and David Scoggin followed with RBI doubles. WU threatened again in the sixth inning. Kyle Duff opened the frame with an infield single but was picked off attempting to steal second. Kevin Slowey drew a walk and Chris Leroux singled through the right side to put two runners on base and endi Nicholas' start after 5-1/3 innings.
Starkville sophomore Saunders Ramsey replaced Nicholas on the hill, retiring the two batters he faced to end the Winthrop threat in the sixth. The right-hander then blanked the Eagles with 3-2/3 innings of no-hit relief, striking out four and allowing one base runner (via walk) to earn his first career save.
Maniscalco doubled, singled and drove in three runs while Steve Gendron and Brad Corley also turned in two-hit outings for MSU. Winthrop was paced by Roberson, Scoggin and Leroux, each with two hits.
Sophomore lefty Todd Nicholas (5-3) walked the first three batters he faced and gave up a run in the first inning. But Nicholas blanked Winthrop over the next three innings to earn the win, scattering eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
The Bulldogs and the Eagles conclude their two-game set at Dudy Noble Field Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 9, WInthrop 3
WU 100 020 000 -- 3- 8-1MSU 123 000 03X -- 9-12-0
WP -- Todd Nicholas (5-3). LP -- Thomas Olejniczak (2-2). HR -- Craig Tatum (5). T -- 2:44. ATT -- 1,798 (actual), 5,575 (paid).
Todd Nicholas, Saunders Ramsey (6) and Craig Tatum. Thomas Olejniczak, Danny Bean (8), Jon Wilson (8) and Chris Leroux.