Southern Miss
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Mississippi State
Baseball Defeats Mississippi State for the Second Consecutive Night
4/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 23, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss pounded out 12 hits and three home runs in a 12-7 win over Mississippi State Wednesday evening at Pete Taylor Park in front of 4.464 fans.
"We are getting to the point of the season where there are too many games and not enough pitching. It is deep in the season and both of these teams have some injuries so it is really about who can survive and we have been able to the last two nights," head coach Corky Palmer said. "We are starting to get the big hit with men on base that we had been lacking parts of the season and not leaving as many runners on base right now."
Mississippi State starting pitcher Drew Hollinghead did not record an out before he was pulled in the top of the first inning, but not before giving up five runs and a lead that Southern Miss would not relinquish.
"We were able to force them into the bullpen very early and that is tough on anyone, with the schedule compacted like it is this season that really effects pitchers," Palmer added.
For the third consecutive game the Golden Eagles put up double digit runs to improve to 28-13 on the season, including a 19-5 record at Pete Taylor Park. Tonight's victory was also the Golden Eagles third win over a team from the Southeastern Conference with wins over Alabama and Ole Miss earlier this season.
Drew Carson and Bo Davis led the offensive attack for the Golden Eagles, both had three hits and a home run in the game. Davis had a double and two runs scored in addition and Carson also had four RBI and a run scored. Michael Ewing also hit his sixth home run of the season.
The Golden Eagles used four pitchers in the game that took over three-and-a-half hours to complete, the longest nine inning game without delays of the season for Southern Miss. Brian Leach started and worked 3.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits and striking out two but walked seven.
JR Ballinger improved to 3-0 on the season working three innings allowing six hits and two earned runs. Collin Cargill threw 1.1 innings before turning the ball over to closer Tyler Conn. He finished the game as State attempted to make a charge with three runs in the seventh inning and putting two runners on base in the eighth.
Conn threw one pitch in the eighth to get a ground ball to end the inning and was perfect in the ninth needing only 11 pitches to work one-and-one-third innings.
The Bulldogs used 21 players in the game including six different pitchers, in what was coach Ron Polk's final game at Pete Taylor Park.
For the second consecutive game Bo Davis started the Southern Miss rally in the bottom of the first inning. He lined the first pitch of the half inning deep enough for a solo home run but well foul down the left field line. He did not miss however on the second pitch he saw from Hollinghead as he drilled it over the right-center field wall for a solo home run.
Brian Dozier, James Ewing and Trey Cuevas all drew walks to load the bases without any outs in the inning, for Cuevas it was his sixth consecutive walk included the five straight he drew last night. Dozier came in to score on a Hollinghead wild pitch for the second run of the inning and a 2-0 Southern Miss advantage.
Drew Carson followed with a ground ball up the middle that could have been a double play but State second baseman Jet Butler took his eye off the ball and it skipped past him into center field allowing Ewing and Cuevas to score. After a Keith Winstead walk to load the bases again Adam Doleac picked up an RBI on a fielders choice scoring Michael Ewing for a 5-0 Southern Miss lead at the end of the first inning.
The Golden Eagles continued to put runs on the board early and often with two more runs in the second inning. Dozier led off with a single up the middle and Trey Cuevas was hit by a pitch to load the bases, marking the seventh straight at bat he reached on a walk or hit by a pitch. Drew Carson singled on a perfectly placed bunt to score Dozier for a 6-0 Golden Eagle lead. Chris Matesich followed with a deep fly ball that just missed leaving the yard but was good enough for a sacrifice fly to score Cuevas and a seven run lead.
Mississippi State added their first run of the game in the top of the third on an RBI single by Tyler Moore scoring Ryan Collins who walked earlier in the inning.
The Dawgs added two more runs in the top of the fourth off starter Brian Leach on RBI singles by Russ Sneed and Tyler Moore to cut the Southern Miss lead to 7-3.
Drew Carson answered the two State runs in the top of the inning with a two-run home run over the left field wall, his team leading eighth of the year to put Southern Miss up 9-3.
The Golden Eagles added another two run inning in the fifth as freshman Adam Doleac collected his second hit on the evening, his first career two-hit game. Bo Davis followed with a single and Brian Dozier doubled home Doleac for a 10-3 lead. James Ewing added in a sacrifice fly to score Bo Davis from third and give Southern Miss an eight run advantage.
Back-to-back doubles by Ryan Collins and Tyler Moore added the fourth run of the game for the Bulldogs in the top of the sixth inning.
Michael Ewing led off the Southern Miss half of the sixth with a solo home run down the left field line, his third home run in the last four games, to put the Golden Eagles up 12-4.
Mississippi State put up three runs in the top of the seventh keyed by two doubles off the bats of Brooks Lewis and Ryan Powers. A fielders choice by Mark Gofourth and a Cargill wild pitch plated two more runs to make the score 12-7.
Southern Miss will return to Conference USA play this weekend as they host Houston for a three game set at "The Pete"
-southernmiss.com-
