Dunn Pitches State Past Arizona 3-2
STARKVILLE, MISS. - Senior starting pitcher Brooks Dunn limited Arizona totwo runs in 7-2/3 innings and veteran relief pitcher Brett Cleveland held UAscoreless the remainder of the game as sixth-ranked Mississippi State (9-0)nipped the Wildcats 3-2 in the opening game of the Cadence Bank Classic atDudy Noble Field. The win extended MSU's season-opening win streak to ninegames. The teams continue the series with a 2 p.m. contest Saturday.
Brooks gave up single runs in the second and fifth innings, scattered fourhits, walked two and struck out five over a career-longest matching 7-2/3innings. Cleveland followed Dunn to the hill in the eighth after theWildcats put two runners on base. Cleveland struck out Jason Donald to endthe inning. In the ninth Arizona's Brad Glenn and Konrad Schmidt reachedwith one-out singles, but Cleveland got out of the jam and earned his secondsave of the year when T.J. Steele's grounder to shortstop turned into agame-ending double play.
The unearned run spoiled a career-best pitching performance by Arizonastarter Eric Berger (3-3). The sophomore left-hander scattered five hits andregistered a career-best 11 strikeouts. He also issued five walks, includingtwo lead-off free passes that eventually scored for State. David Coulonreplaced Berger in the sixth and blanked the Bulldogs with one-hit pitchingover the final 2-2/3 innings.
Arizona broke on top in the second inning when Jon Gaston was struck by apitch, Glenn drew a walk and Steele laced a run-scoring single to centerfield.
State answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Joseph McCaskilldrew a lead-off walk and Joseph Hunter and Michael Rutledge followed withsingles to load the bases. Jeff Butts then drove in a run with a sacrificefly to center field and Jeffrey Rea gave MSU a 2-1 lead with a single toleft.
Dunn kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard until the fifth inning when Steelelaced a triple to right-centerfield to open the inning and scored the tyingrun on Hunter Pace's sacrifice bunt.
State pulled ahead in fifth when Edward Easley, Thomas Berkery and JosephHunter drew walks off Berger and Andy Rice's two-out groundball was bootedat shortstop.
Hunter paced the Bulldogs with two hits and Rea and Butts drove in a runeach. Steele led the Wildcats at the plate with two hits.
MSU junior Josh Johnson (2-0, 1.43) is set to start Saturday oppositeArizona right-hander Preston Guilmet (1-1, 3.47).