Johnson Strikes Out Eight as Dogs Top Tribe 10-4
* Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Junior righthander Josh Johnson struck out eight andlimited Arkansas State to two runs on five hits Saturday afternoon as No. 8Mississippi State (5-0) maintained its perfect early-season record with a10-4 win over the Indians (7-4) before 2,662 fans at sun-drenched Dudy NobleField.
The Bulldogs, despite being out-hit for the first time this season, plated aseason-high 10 runs, bolting to a a 4-1 lead after three innings off ASUstarting lefty Taylor Fowler (1-3). Bulldog centerfielder Joseph Huntersingled up the middle to open the second inning and raced home three batterslater when Jeff Butts laced a double to right. Michael Rutledge then scoredon a wild pitch to stake Johnson to an early 2-0 lead.
ASU closed the gap with a run in the third inning. David Humphrey singleddown the left field line, moved into scoring position on an infieldgroundout, and then plated ASU's first run on designated hitter Josh Yates'single to right.
MSU loaded the bases in the third inning with a hit batsman, a walk and aBrad Jones single and then got run-scoring groundouts from Hunter and AndyRice. Thomas Berkery, 2-for-2 with three walks on the afternoon, singled ina run to give MSU a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning.
Brad Jones drew a bases-loaded walk and Hunter added a sacrifice fly as MSuscored twice in the sixth and then salted the game on a three-runseventh-inning home run by Butts. Butts went 2-for-4 and matched hiscareer-best with a four-RBI showing. Berkery was the only other Bulldog withmultiple hits.
Brett Kinning laced a double and two singles and both yates and MichaelWilliams had two-hit performances at the plate. Yates drove in two runs, oneon a his third home run of the season, a solo blast that closed out thegame's scoring in the eighth.
Johnson's eight strikeouts was the second-most in his career and thesecond-most by a Bulldog pitcher this season. He stranded five baserunners,three in scoring position and retired 10 of the last 12 batters he faced.Jon Crosby followed Johnson, allowing one unearned run in the seventh, andTrent Hill gave up a run on three hits over the final two frames.
Fowler gave up seven runs on six hits and five walks during his six-inningstart. Doug Gunderson gave up three runs and did not record an out for theindians when he faced four batters in the seventh. Nicholas Lambert workedthe remainder of that inning and Ryan Duclos pitched a scoreless eighth toclose out the game for Arkansas State.
The Bulldogs and the Indians close out their three-game series Sunday with a1:30 p.m. game at Dudy Noble Field.