03/25/01
Baseball - LSU freshman lefty Lane Mestepey (4-0) scattered six hits and shut out the Bulldogs through eight innings Saturday afternoon as No. 6 LSU (19-6-1, 6-2) topped Mississippi State 7-1 before a season-high 9,264 fans at Dudy Noble Field. The win clinched the weekend series for LSU prior to Sunday's 1:30 p.m. series finale.

Mestepey retired the first eight batters he faced, allowed two base-runners over the first six innings, and did not allow a runner past second base until the ninth when Mississippi State (12-9, 4-4) punched across its lone run.

LSU jumped on MSU freshman left-hander Paul Maholm (2-2) for three runs in the first inning. Bryan Moore's two-out single brought home the first run and Aaron hill followed with a two-run single. Todd Linden's bases-loaded roller in front of the plate scored one run in the sixth and Moore laced a single to right to plate two more for a 6-0 LSU lead. Moore and Hill paced LSU with two-hit, three-RBI performances at the plate.

Another freshman pitcher, Jonathan Papelbon, followed Maholm on the mound in the seventh and struck out seven of the 10 batters he faced.

Phillip Willingham and Jon Knott singled in the seventh but we left stranded when Mestepey struck out the final two batters in the inning. The Bulldogs averted a shutout in their final at-bat when Mestepey struck Willingham with a pitch, Jason Burkley singled, and the runners advanced on a wild pitch by Mestepey. Jon Knott then drove a fly ball to right field off relief pitcher justin Hill, scoring Willingham from third base.

LSU 7, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
LSU (19-7-1, 6-2 SEC) 300 030 100 - 7-10-0
MSU (12-9, 4-4 SEC) 000 000 001 - 1-6-2
WP --- Lane Mestepey (4-0). LP --- Paul Maholm (2-2). ATT --- 9,264. TIME: 2:44.
Mestepey, Hill (9) and Heath. Maholm, Papelbon (7) and Burkley.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Iyhia McMichael turned in a 2-3 showing at the plate with a home run and three RBI to pace the State offense, with Kellie Wilkerson also turning in a pair of RBI on a 1-4 performance. Jennifer Nelson (2-3) came on with two outs in the third and held the Georgia bats at bay through the sixth to earn the victory, while Wilkerson struck out the sides in the seventh to notch her fourth save of the season.

Although staring down a 7-2 deficit after five, Mississippi State rallied for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take its first lead of the game. Kasey Whitehead's RBI single plated Brooke Best with the Dogs' first run, then MSU loaded the bases on a single by pinch hitter Amy Mosley. Run-scoring singles by Wilkerson, McMichael and Jennifer Waterman knotted the score up at seven apiece, before Kate Jaspers drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the winning run across the plate.

In earlier action, Cheri Smith's bunt grazed the first base chalk line but never crossed allowing Krystal Tillman to score from third, as Mississippi State reached the .500 mark with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings.

Smith and McMichael both turned in two hits apiece for an explosive Mississippi State offense that recorded a double-digit hit total for the first time this season. Wilkerson (3-0) worked the final five-and-one-thirds innings, striking out six Georgia batters, to notch the victory.

Leading 4-2 heading into the fourth, Georgia seemed to have the game well-in-hand, but State rallied for three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a one-run lead into the fifth. Shannon McKeon's RBI single in the fifth brought the game-tying run across the plate, but neither team could gain another lead in regulation. After both teams failed to score in the eighth and ninth innings, Georgia left the go-ahead run at third in the top of the tenth before Smith's dramatics in the bottom of the frame.

Mississippi State will return to action on Tuesday when the Dogs travel to Oxford for a three-game series with the Mississippi Rebels. The two will open up the series with a Tuesday doubleheader at 5 p.m. and will close out the set with a single game on Wednesday at 5 p.m. All game of the series will take place under the lights of the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

Game 2 - Mississippi State 8, Georgia 7
Georgia 411 100 0 - 7 12 0
Mississippi State 200 006 x - 8 11 3
W - J. Nelson (2-3). L - Howard (7-8). HR - MSU: McMichael (3). 2B - UGA: Barber. SB - UGA: Rhoden 2, Tyree; MSU: Wilkerson, McMichael, Jessup. Att. - 471.

Game 1 - Mississippi State 6, Georgia 5 (10 Innings)
Georgia 202 010 000 0 - 5 5 3
Mississippi State 110 300 000 1 - 6 11 3
W - Wilkerson (3-0). L - Daniels (7-6). SB - UGA: Barber (29), Rhoden (9); MSU: Wilkerson 2 (21), Tillman (4), J. Nelson (2). Att. - 471.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/24/01
Baseball - MSU lost to LSU 9-1 Friday to begin their Super Bulldog Weekend three-game series.

LSU used a six-run third inning to put the game away.

MSU threaten several times but either could not get the clutch hit or hit into double plays.

Jon Knott, with three hits, was the only Bulldog to get more than one hit. He also knocked in MSU's only run of the night.

Sophomore Joey Collums took the loss for the Bulldogs. He is now 1-2 on the year. Bo Pettit gained the victory. He is 3-0 on the year.

There were 7,236 in attendance.

MSU and LSU will play game two of the series beginning at 3:15 Saturday. The game will be televised by FOX Sports South.

Iyhia McMichael turned in a 2-3 performance at the plate and drew a walk to pace the offense at the plate, but Anna Joyce Lott's first career home run and Cheri Smith's two-run single in the second provided the run support. Starter Jennifer Pursell (7-8) struck out five Georgia batters in just more than five innings of work to get the win, before giving way to Kellie Wilkerson with one out in the sixth. Wilkerson worked the remainder of the contest, striking out two, to notch her third save of the campaign.

Lindsay Nelson drew a one-out walk in the second to put a runner aboard for the senior Lott who belted a two-run dinger down the rightfield line to give State an early 2-0 lead. State used its next two at bats to set the table for Cheri Smith, who laced a single through the right side to plate both Krystal Tillman and Wilkerson for the 4-0 lead.

Georgia rallied for two runs in the sixth, scoring on a throwing error by shortstop Jennifer Jessup and a wild pitch by Wilkerson, but could not get any closer.

Mississippi State and Georgia will return to action on Saturday when the two close out their three-game series in an afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

Mississippi State 4, Georgia 2
Georgia 000 002 0 - 2 5 2
Mississippi State 040 000 x - 4 7 1
W - Pursell (7-8). L - Howard (7-7). Save - Wilkerson (3). HR - MSU: Lott (1). 2B - MSU: L. Nelson (2). SB - UGA: Barber (28). MSU: Wilkerson 2 (19), Tillman 2 (3). SH - UGA: Tyree (4). Att. - 205.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/23/01 - This premium site article is just so appropriate for what is happening this weekend that I felt like it needed to be shared with everyone. Enjoy.

Left Field Lounge is a unique part of the atmosphere in Starkville. It contains over 100 vehicular contraptions developed by fans from which they can enjoy a season of games. Having a grill with the vehicle is a necessity. The amount of food grilled behind the outfield fence could possibly help solve the problem of world hunger.

But the memories are what make Dudy Noble Field so unforgettable since its opening in 1967. The lives of so many people have been touched and changed by their experiences there.

The following are personal accounts of how being a part of "the best place to watch baseball" has affected its inhabitants.

Don Hall, former math teacher and coach in Brandon has been coming to games at Dudy Noble Field since 1985.

"I guess what I like most about Dudy Noble Field is the fact that there is not a stadium like Dudy Noble Field in the nation," he says. "People that have never been here and witnessed a weekend series have just not truly seen baseball.

"You might go to Kentucky for basketball, or some other place for football, but Mississippi State has got to be the best place in the nation to watch baseball. I probably love baseball more than the other sports here because I never miss a game. In fact, I have missed one home game in the last four years. And I do not plan to miss one this year.

"The people are what make it what it is. The coaches and ball players are so friendly. Due to the fact that I am a RV owner, we have done a lot of tailgating. There is nothing in the country like being around Mississippi State alumni and friends at Dudy Noble Field."

Another inhabitant of Left Field Lounge, Frog James has seen many changes at Dudy Noble Field since his first game in 1973.

The Starkville native says, "I can remember back in the early 70s, two of my friends that lived in the neighborhood with me and I would drive in from on the other side of highway 82, when it was a single-lane road. The old dairy barn was across the road and the cows would travel across to feed. They would have to stop the traffic on Old 82 to let the cows back across after they fed on what is now the field.

"The most exciting thing that I have seen here was when Lynn Chapman [father of former MSU stand-out Travis Chapman] was sitting on the back of my vehicle in Left Field last year. And I told him if he would just sit down, because he was standing up where I could not see, that Travis would hit him a home run. Well, sure enough, Travis hit the homerun and it landed right on the back of my truck! And everybody was excited.

"I could stand here and talk the rest of the afternoon about all the exciting things that have happened. The alumni game is something I look really forward to when all the former players come back. I get to cook for them and entertain a lot of those guys that come back.

"I get started out here about two months before everyone else does getting ready for baseball. It has been a great experience for me. Meeting different people. People from all over the world.

"I have been to a lot of baseball stadiums and seen a lot of baseball games. But I have never seen anything like this place. And probably won't ever see another, even in the big leagues. There is no place in the world that compares to this."

Like many other fans, senior MSU student Brad Reeves has been attending games for years, starting when he was five years old.

He says, "Left Field Lounge to me is what differentiates Mississippi State baseball from any other program in the country. The loyal fans coming out here firing up their grills two to three hours before the game begins and staying another hour or two after they end.

"My favorite experience here was the regional held in Starkville in 1990 and Burke Masters' homerun. I don't think anybody will forget that game with Florida State. That was just an incredible experience.

"Being a part of the Left Field Lounge is also a great experience for me. Especially with all the students and fans coming out and really supporting the team. It is also the socializing, but always, whether we are winning or not, everybody is having a good time."

An administrative secretary with MSU athletes, Diane Keith has her own views on Dudy Noble. She saw her first game during the 1991 season.

"Being in Left Field, I enjoy the camaraderie and the fact that it feels like a family. And then when players' parents come, it is just so touching to see the way they feel you are taking care of their children. These are friends you make that keep coming back.

"Players that come here from other schools are so fascinated that you will take the time to give them a Coke or Spite or talk to them or let them sit on the trailers and just get that feeling. The people are just all in awe. To me, it is the ability of sharing Mississippi State and the good sportsmanship with other people. It is not a selfish 'I want to win' type of thing.

"My favorite memory was the 1997 regional when it was so hot. It was just wall to wall people. Then when we won, it was great to see the players on the field and all their friends running on the field to congratulate them. It was so awesome. I do not know if I had ever seen that many people.

"Last year when we were hosting a regional here and Notre Dame came here. I remember working the hospitality tent and the different teams that came through. There were parents who said that from the minute they got off the plane they felt the Southern hospitality. They were so excited and commented about how the people here were so friendly and so willing to share. One time, some were at our hospitality tent and were looking at the Left Field Lounge area and all the people in the stands. I told them to go visit because they would love the opportunity to talk and share with them. I said, 'Honey, you think you have food here. Go out there and get some.'

"We beat Notre Dame that last game. I will never forget it. It makes me want to cry. It was sad for them. But bigger than that was the feeling that they had as they sat in the dugout down the first baseline. They didn't want to leave. They didn't want to leave that feeling. Everybody in Left Field was running and taking them food and waving at them. It was just an awesome feeling.

"Watching kids, the little ones during and after the games, is also a big deal. They want to hit that ball. They want to know the feeling of what it is like to get on that field."

Dudy Noble Field has become not only a way of life for so many people, but also a second home. For two young people, it hits a little closer to home.

Logan and Wells McMahon, children of head baseball coach Pat McMahon, have their own memories of attending their father's games. Wells' highlight is a game he calls wall ball. The game is played by throwing a rubber ball at a wall. If the ball hits one of the players after it hits the wall, the player has to run and touch the wall before another player hits him/her with the ball. If the player is not successful in getting to the wall, he/she is out. He also gets a thrill out of seeing his favorite players hit grand slams. Logan enjoys watching the Bulldogs in a come-from-behind win, the atmosphere at the field, and the socializing. Above all, she likes being with all the fans at the games and witnessing a win.

Debbie Wade, office supervisor in the registrar's office, first experienced what Dudy Noble has to offer 22 years ago. Her description is representative of many loyal fans who have given their hearts to the Mississippi State baseball program.

"I started watching baseball in 1979 when we played a regional here. You just kind of get the fever for baseball because there is nothing like having, at that time, 8,000 and 9,000 people at a ball game cheering on a team where you know the guys. It is like family.

"Then I really got involved and got to know the players more. I got to meet the players and get to know them personally. When you know them personally, it makes going to a ball game totally different because it is like you are cheering for family really.

"The team that was my favorite was the 1989-90 team with Tommy Raffo, Burke Masters, Jon Shave, and Bobby Reed. I knew all of them one-on-one. They were good guys who bled maroon and white. And they took playing baseball at Mississippi State seriously. When they lost and didn't go to the World Series, I'd be there crying with them. You kind of cry with them and laugh with them and celebrate with them.

"There are two things that I will always remember about Mississippi State baseball. One is when Burke Masters hit that grand slam. It was just an unbelievable feeling. Ten thousand people going absolutely crazy. I could not believe that Burke just hit that grand slam. Then the next day, we had to play Florida State again. And we came back and won that game. That is just baseball in a nutshell.

"I have heard these guys talk about how there is nothing like going to the College World Series. In 1998, I got to go. When we turned off that ramp and could see Rosenblatt Stadium, I literally had chills. That place was unbelievable. I walked in on one of those ramps and told myself that this was almost baseball heaven. It was just an unbelievable feeling.

"The people that are there are not your fans from State, they are fans from Nebraska, who have adopted you. You could tell that the State players were their favorites. To sit there and watch that Left Field bunch spell out Rusty Thoms' name on their chests. They didn't even know this guy, and they just adopted him. And then when we lost, seeing the tears coming from those guys through my tears coming out of my eyes is an experience that I will never forget. And I want to go back.

"I am also in the foster parent program. I have loved getting to know the players more personally, and getting them off the baseball field and into your home. It has really been fun to meet their parents.

"If you have never been to a Mississippi State baseball game, you do not know what you are missing. And for someone to say that baseball is boring, I'm sorry, but you have not been to a baseball game with me. I think everybody should just come spend a weekend at Dudy Noble. You won't believe it if you have never been here."

03/21/01
Baseball - Mississippi State (12-7) used the big inning and plated a season-high 18 runs Wednesday afternoon in notching an 18-9 college baseball win over Tennessee Tech (7-16) at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs, after scoring four runs in the first inning off Golden Eagle starter Jonathan Stepp (1-1) and another five runs in the third, sent 13 batters to the plate during a victory-sealing eight-run, sixth-inning burst.

The first inning was a key to the MSU victory, according to Coach Pat McMahon.

"In the first inning Phillip Willingham starts with an infield base hit. Matthew (Maniscalco) does a good job and we move runners. Because of that we got up a plus four."

Jon Knott went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs while Matt Brinson's two hits included a career-first home run, a two-run blast in the third inning. Catcher Jason Burkley singled in the game's first two runs, walked four times and scored four runs. MSU used 22 players and eight of the nine in the Bulldogs' starting batting order hit safely.

"We swung the bats a lot better," said Coach McMahon. "This is a club that has to be gap-oriented, it has to produce runs. This park at this time of year is playing big. We have to be able to score runs in bunches by piecing it together."

Matt Curtis had four hits while Mark Gilliam singled in a run in the third inning and launched a three-run home run in the seventh to pace Tennessee Tech.

Brandon Medders (3-0) led a five-player split pitching staff for the Bulldogs, striking out five but allowing four runs in three innings of work. Freshmen Todd Nicholas and Jonathan Papelbon, junior Ryan Carroll and sophomore Steven Dowe followed Medders in the game.

Six Tennessee Tech pitchers combined to issue 13 walks, with seven of the walked Bulldog batters scoring during the three-hour, 22-minute game.

"When teams give you more than three outs in an inning and couple that with walks, you have to be opportunistic. To our guys credit I thought we did that today," said Coach McMahon.

Mississippi State opens a Super Bulldog Weekend three-game conference series at home against SEC Western Division rival Louisiana State Friday at 6:30 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 18, TENNESSEE TECH 9
Tennessee Tech (7-16) 022 100 301 - 9-10-5
Mississippi State (12-7) 405 108 00x - 18-12-3
WP - Brandon Medders (3-0). LP - Jonathan Stepp (1-1). HR - Matthew Brinson (1), Mark Gilliam (4). TIME: 3:22. ATT --- 1,225.
Medders, Nicholas (4), papelbon (6), Carroll (7), and Burkley and Parks, Dowe (9). Stepp, Warden (3), Patteson (4), Grigsby (6), Vincent (6), Fessler (8) and Meihls.

Reprinted with permission of the MSU Athletic Department.

03/20/01
Baseball - Eager to rebound from a pair of ninth-inning weekend road losses in Nashville, Tenn., Mississippi State (11-7, 4-2) entertains Tennessee Tech (7-15) and Louisiana State (17-6-1) during a five-game homestand this week at Dudy Noble Field.

Junior right-hander Brandon Medders (2-0, 0.87) has been tabbed for his third start of the campaign in Tuesday's opening contest of the two-game midweek set with Tennessee Tech. First pitch has been moved from 6:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate fans attending both the MSU-TTU baseball game and Mississippi State's 7 p.m. Women's NIT basketball game with James Madison. Wednesday's game is also set for 3 p.m. Medders earned his first career save with an effective three-inning game-closing performance in MSU's 7-2 win at Vanderbilt.

Later this week the Bulldogs and the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers square off in a three-game weekend set at Dudy Noble Field, with all three games tabbed for live telecasts. Friday's series-opener is set for 6:30 p.m., and will be shown by Comcast Sports Southeast. The 3:15 p.m. Saturday game will kick of the SEC's Game of the Week series on FOX Sports Net South, while Sunday's 1:30 p.m. series finale will be shown in Louisiana on Guaranty Sports. LSU becomes the third top 10 opponent for the Bulldogs this season.

MSU VS. TENNESSEE TECH
Mississippi State and Tennessee Tech tangle for the first time in regular season baseball competition in this week's two-game set at Dudy Noble Field. The two teams did meet in the 1997 NCAA Mideast Regional, with the Bulldogs prevailing 25-5.

Tech claimed one of three games last weekend in their Ohio Valley Conference season-opening series at Eastern Kentucky (4-3, 4-6, 7-10).

MSU VS. LOUISIANA STATE
The Bulldogs and the Tigers square off for the 330th time with Friday's series-opener at Dudy Noble Field. In a hotly-contested rivalry that dates back to 1907, the Bulldogs have logged a 187-141-1 series lead, including a 2-1 showing (15-13, 15-18, 10-3) in last year's high-scoring series at Alex Box Stadium. In that series the two teams combined for 70 runs on 90 hits, including 10 home runs, nine of them by Mississippi State batters.

MSU HURLERS TAKE EARLY SEC LEAD
Mississippi State's pitching staff, after allowing nine runs in three games at Vanderbilt, has taken the early lead in SEC pitching stats. MSU hurlers owns a staff 2.62 ERA (2.03 vs. SEC). Freshman lefty Paul Maholm (2-1, 1.96) currently leads the club with 27 strikeouts in 23 innings. State pitching has totaled 153 strikeouts in 161-1/3 innings.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/19/01
Baseball - MSU baseball update.

Overall record: 11-7 (Home-9-4, Away: 2-3), SEC: 4-2 (Home-3-0, Away: 1-2)

Last week's results: 2-2
Mar. 13 MSU 6, New Orleans 5 (at New Orleans)
Mar. 16 Vanderbilt 4, MSU 3 (at Nashville)
Mar. 17 MSU 7, Vanderbilt 2 (at Nashville)
Mar. 18 Vanderbilt 3, MSU 2 (at Nashville)

This week's schedule:
Mar. 20 Tennessee Tech (Starkville --- 3 p.m. CT)
Mar. 21 Tennessee Tech (Starkville --- 3 p.m. CT)
Mar. 23 Louisiana State (Starkville --- 6:30 p.m. CT) --- Comcast Sports Southeast
Mar. 24 Louisiana State (Starkville --- 3:15 p.m. CT) --- FOX Sports Net South
Mar. 25 Louisiana State (Starkville --- 1:30 p.m. CT) --- Guaranty Sports

Mississippi State hit the road for only the second time this season during spring break week, returning to Starkville with a 2-2 worksheet. The Bulldogs rallied to nip the New Orleans Privateers but dropped a pair of one-run decisions during a three-game conference road series against Vanderbilt. A fifth scheduled game during the period (Mar. 14 at New Orleans) became MSU's sixth rainout of the season. Here are some notes from the week just completed:

The Bulldogs' top hitter in the past week was junior catcher JASON BURKLEY, who hit .400 (6-for-15, 2-doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 3 walks, 1 HBP). He posted a .733 slugging percentage and a .526 on-base percentage.

MSU ended its season-opening home run drought in Game 15 (at the University of New Orleans) when JON KNOTT launched a two-run roundtripper against the Privateers. State also homered in each of the three games at Vanderbilt (JASON BURKLEY, BRENT LEWIS and JON KNOTT). Knott's two home (No. 44 & 45) runs tied him for sixth place among MSU's career home run leaders with Tommy Raffo (1987-90). He now stands eighth among career RBI leaders with 174 and is five hits away from the 200-hit milestone.

Shortstop MATTHEW MANISCALCO, who earned freshman all-America honors and ranked as the SEC's top-fielding shortstop, saw his season-opening string of fielding plays without an error stopped at 100 during the Vanderbilt series. The Oxford, Ala., product currently sports a sparkling .990 fielding percentage (38 putouts/63 assists/1 error).

Freshman designated hitter BRENT LEWIS (.297) ran his team-best hitting streak to 14 games before going hitless in MSU's series finale at Vanderbilt. Lewis doubled, belted a career-first home run and drove in four runs in State's 7-2 win over the Commodores.

Mississippi State pitchers have compiled a dandy 2.62 staff earned run average 18 games into the 2001 campaign. Freshman lefty PAUL MAHOLM (2-1, 1.96) picked up his second win in as many conference starts Mar. 17 at Vanderbilt. He leads the club with 27 strikeouts in 23 innings. Junior righty BRANDON MEDDERS (2-0, 0.87) notched a career-first and team season-first save in the 7-2 win at Vanderbilt.

Clutch hits have eluded the Bulldogs for much of the early portion of the 2001 season. Missed scoring opportunities proved costly in the Vanderbilt series, where Bulldog batters hit a frosty .086 (3-for-35) with base runners in scoring position. MSU is averaging less than five runs per game.

Mississippi State is averaging better than a double play per game, with 19 twin-killings in 18 outings. The team is fielding at a .972 clip.

All three MSU-LSU games this weekend at Dudy Noble Field will be televised --- Friday's game by Comcast Sports Southeast, Saturday's as the seasonal debut of the SEC Game of the Week Series on FOX Sports Net South, and Sunday's game on Louisiana-based Guaranty Sports.

Team numbers:
Hitting: .264 (23 doubles, 4 triples, 4 HR, 72 RBI)
Pitching: 2.62 ERA (161.1 IP, 135 hits, 54 runs, 47 earned runs, 58 walks, 153 strikeouts)
Fielding: .972 (484 putouts, 214 assists, 20 errors, 19 double plays)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/18/01 (9:40 p.m.)
Baseball - Rob Bedwell's run-scoring single in the ninth inning lifted Vanderbilt (15-7, 4-2 SEC) to a 3-2 win Sunday, clinching the three-game weekend series with No. 21 Mississippi State (11-7, 4-2 SEC).

Vanderbilt trailed 2-1 heading into the final inning. But Josh Wooten, who retired the three batters he faced in the eighth, gave up a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Karl Nonemaker. MSU turned to relief ace Adam Larson, who struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a game-tying double to John Kaye. A wild pitch advanced Kaye to third, and the Bulldogs intentionally walked the bases to set up a potential inning-ending double play. But Bedwell laced a single to right, scoring pinch-runner Chris Broadus with the winning run.

The Bulldogs did their scoring in the sixth inning when Phillip Willingham reached on a two-out single and scored when Jon Knott launched a towering home run over the left field wall at Hawkins Field. It was Knott's second home run of the year and the Bulldogs' third of the weekend.

Starter Tanner Brock worked seven strong innings for State, holding Vanderbilt to a run on three hits before giving way to Wooten in the eighth.

Vanderbilt starter Chris Maultsby left the game with one out in the seventh, an inning after giving up Knott's two-run shot. Robert Ransom successfully shut down the Bulldogs the rest of the way, allowing two base-runners in 2-2/3 innings and picking up the win on Bedwell's RBI single.

The Bulldogs out-hit the Commodores 8-6, with Jason Burkley and Matt Brinson picking up two hits each. Kaye and Scott Worth had two hits apiece for Vandy.

Mississippi State opens a five-game homestand Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium, entertaining Tennessee Tech in a 3 p.m. contest.

VANDERBILT 3, MISSISSIPPI STATE 2
MSU (11-7, 4-2) 000 002 000 --- 2-8-1
Vanderbilt (15-7, 4-2) 010 000 002 --- 3-6-1
WP --- Robert Ransom (4-1). LP --- Adam Larson (2-3) HR --- Knott (2). Brock, Wooten (8), Larson (9) and Burkley. Maulstby, Ransom (7) and Douillard.
Att: 425. Time: 2:38.

More baseball info:
Game time for the Mississippi State-Tennessee Tech baseball game Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium has been moved up to accommodate fans attending both the MSU baseball game and the Women's NIT matchup between Mississippi State and James Madison University in Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will now meet at 3 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Lady Bulldogs (17-13) topped Illinois 86-77 Saturday night in Champaign, Ill., to advance to Tuesday's 7 p.m. third round WNIT meeting with JMU in Starkville.

Following the two-game set with Tennessee Tech, Mississippi State continues its baseball homestand this weekend, entertaining longtime SEC Western Division rival LSU in a three-game series . Friday's series opener, a part of Super Bulldog Weekend spring homecoming activities on the MSU campus, is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast. Saturday's MSU-LSU game is set for 3:15 p.m. and will launch FOX Sports Net South's SEC Game of the Week television series.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Kellie Wilkerson managed State's only hit of the game with a double in the seventh as the Bulldogs struggled to solve the riddle handed to them by Matthews' pitching. Bulldog starter Jennifer Pursell (6-8) allowed a pair of earned runs on seven Gamecock hits, striking out two, to take the loss for Mississippi State.

Pursell ran into her first real trouble in the third, allowing South Carolina to load the bases with two outs, but got Amber Curtis on a groundout to second base to end the threat. However, the Gamecocks took advantage of Pursell in the sixth, getting its leadoff batter on with a single before Adrianna Baggetta belted a RBI triple over centerfielder Kellie Wilkerson’s head to score pinch runner Nancy Crane from first base.

Amber Curtis' RBI single with the next at bat plated Baggetta with the insurance run. Wilkerson broke up Matthews' (11-6) bid for a no-hitter with a double to right centerfield with two outs in the seventh.

Mississippi State will return to action this weekend when they return to Starkville to host a three-game Southeastern Conference series with the Georgia Bulldogs as part of Super Bulldog Weekend.

State and Georgia will open their three-game series with a single game on Friday at 5 p.m. and will close the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. All games of the series will be played at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

#17 South Carolina 2, Mississippi State 0
Mississippi State 000 000 0 - 0 1 0
#17 South Carolina 000 002 0 - 2 7 0
W – Matthews (11-6). L – Pursell (6-8). 3B – Baggetta (1).

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/18/01
Baseball - Freshman designated hitter Brent Lewis doubled, homered and drove in four runs Saturday afternoon to lead No. 21 Mississippi State (11-6, 4-1 SEC) to a 7-2 win over Vanderbilt (14-6, 3-2 SEC) at Hawkins Field. The two teams close out their three-game weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m. Junior pitcher Tanner Brock will start for Mississippi State.

"I was very proud of our team today," said Mississippi State coach Pat McMahon. "It was really chilly and very tough conditions to play in."

Lewis followed a game-opening single by Matthew Maniscalco with a season-first home run over the right field wall to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the first. The Jackson, Tenn., native walked in the third inning and scored MSU's third run and later laced a two-run single in the ninth to cap his most productive outing as a Bulldog. Lewis now owns a team season-high 14-game hitting streak.

"(Brent) had really done a good job for us offensively," said Coach McMahon. "He is learning to hit in this league and be productive."

Freshman left-hander Paul Maholm (2-1) picked up his second SEC win in as any outings, holding Vanderbilt to two runs on six hits, five walks while striking out seven during a six-inning performance. "(Paul) has a chance to be a very special young man in our program," said Coach McMahon. "He really competed and made quality pitches. Paul got better as the game went on and really dominated." Junior Brandon Medders blanked the Commodores over the final three innings, allowing two base-runners (1 walk and 1 hit) and fanning five to earn his first career save. "I thought Brandon Medders was special today," said Coach McMahon. "If he continues to pitch as he has so far this season, then he will be special. He really overmatched (their hitters)."

According to Coach McMahon, "we are trying to mix and match our pitchers. In other words when you throw a lefthander with movement, then throw a power righthander behind him, the velocity deferential is very tough for college hitters to adjust to."

State scored four runs off Vandy starter Jeff Little (3-1), who gave up seven hits and struck out five in eight innings. "We were facing their number one guy today," said Coach McMahon. "He is an outstanding collegiate pitcher."

The Bulldogs jumped on VU relief pitcher Rob Bedwell in the ninth, loading the bases on singles by Matt Brinson and Michael Brown and an intentional walk issued to Maniscalco. Lewis then ripped his two-run single to right and Casey Long drove in another run with an infield groundout to complete the game's scoring.

MSU turned one double play, overcame a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and a two-error inning in the sixth to nail down its fourth league win in five games. The Commodores stranded 13 base-runners in the game.

Vanderbilt's Chris Broadus walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Flubacker in the second and scored again in the fifth when Ulises Cabrera doubled and came home on a single by Karl Nonemaker.

MSU, after not hitting a home run in their first 14 games, have now hit a home run in each of their last three games.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, VANDERBILT 2
MSU (11-6, 4-1 SEC) 201 100 003 --- 7-10-2
VU (14-6, 3-2 Sec) 010 010 000 --- 2-7-1
WP --- Paul Maholm (2-1). SV --- Brandon Medders (1). LP --- Jeff Little (3-1).
HR --- Brent Lewis (1). ATT: 278. TIME: 2:59.
Maholm, Medders (7) and Burkley. Little, Bedwell (9), and Wallace, Blue (9) and Douillard.

Portions of this article was provided by the MSU Athletic Department

Wilkerson hit 2-3 at the plate including her second home run of the day with two outs in the sixth. Starter Jennifer Pursell (6-7) worked the first six innings before giving way to Wilkerson in the seventh.

Pursell allowed just three hits, striking out three, to earn her third-straight victory of the campaign, while Wilkerson allowed just a lone hit in the final inning of play to earn her second save of the season. Iyhia McMichael had her 11-game hitting streak snapped on an 0-4 showing at the plate.

With the teams deadlocked with two outs in the sixth inning, Wilkerson hit a screamer over the right field fence on the first offering from USC starter Stacey Johnson (9-4). Pursell ran into trouble in the seventh, giving the Gamecocks a runner in scoring position with one out, but Wilkerson came in and shut South Carolina down to preserve the victory.

In the opener of the twinbill, South Carolina belted four doubles and a single in a five-run first inning as the Gamecocks blew past Mississippi State, 7-1, to open the three-game series with the Bulldogs in Columbia.

Three different players recorded hits for the Bulldogs with Wilkerson providing State's only run support with a solo home run in the seventh. State starter Jennifer Nelson (1-3) lasted just one-third of an inning after surrendering three runs on three Gamecock hits. Kasey Whitehead worked the remainder of the game, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out two South Carolina batters, to earn the no decision.

After a leadoff double by Joyce McMillin, Nelson got Megan Donohoo on a flyout before the floodgates opened. Debralee Troesh's RBI single was followed by a RBI double by Adrianna Baggetta that chased Nelson from the circle. Carolina plated two more runs on consecutive doubles by Amber Curtis and Adrienne Genovese, before Danielle Quinones' fielder's choice RBI ended the scoring.

Gamecock starter Megan Matthews (10-6) shut down the Bulldog bats the rest of the way out before Wilkerson belted a home run to right centerfield to lead off the seventh.

Mississippi State and South Carolina will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday as the two resume their series at Beckham Field in a game regionally televised y Fox SportsSouth

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/17/01
Baseball - Sean Luellwitz delivered a game-winning double in the ninth inning and Steve Faulkner went the distance for Vanderbilt Friday night as the Commodores (14-5, 3-1 SEC) rallied for a series-opening 4-3 win over No. 21 Mississippi State (10-6, 3-1 SEC) at Hawkins Field. The 3-1 start in league competition is Vanderbilt's best since 1982.

Vanderbilt scored three runs in the sixth to overcome a 3-0 deficit and completed the comeback when Karl Nonemaker opened the ninth with a walk and raced home with the winning run when Luellwitz doubled to deep left-centerfield.

Mississippi State, making a bid for its second consecutive 4-0 start in SEC play, scored single runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings. Matthew Maniscalco and Jason Burkley doubled in the first, Burkley added a solo home run in the fifth, and Phillip Willingham doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the sixth to stake MSU starter Joey Collums to a 3-0 advantage.

But Vanderbilt broke scoring ice on a solo shot by Ashley Freeman in the bottom of the sixth, and strung together four consecutive two-out hits to score two more runs and tie the score.

Faulkner (3-0) allowed just three Bulldog base runners the remainder of the game, including a ninth-inning double by Brent Lewis that extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Faulkner dodged major problems in the sixth when MSU loaded bases with no one out but ended up yielding one run on a sacrifice fly by Michael Brown.

Adam Larson (2-2) took the loss for State, giving up three hits and a run in one inning of relief work.

State and Vanderbilt continue their weekend series at Hawkins Field/McGugin Center Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT). Freshman Paul Maholm (1-1) is expected to draw starting duties for the Bulldogs opposite Vandy's Jeff Little (3-0).

VANDERBILT 4, MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
MSU (10-6, 3-1 SEC) 100 011 000 --- 3-6-2
VANDERBILT (14-5, 3-1 SEC) 000 003 001 --- 4-12-0
WP --- Steven Faulkner (3-0). LP --- Adam Larson (2-2) HR --- Burkley (1). Freeman (1). ATT -- 348. TIME: 3:03. Collums, Young (6), Larson (8) and Burkley. Faulkner and Wallace and Douillard (9).

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

The two will open the series with a Saturday twinbill set for 12 p.m. CST and will conclude the series on Sunday with a single game slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Sunday's game will be regionally televised by Fox SportSouth. All three games of the series will be played at Beckham Field on the campus of the University of South Carolina.

With the Gamecocks maintaining their spot in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 on Wednesday, Mississippi State will face a nationally-ranked South Carolina team for the ninth time in the history of the 12-game series between the two clubs. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series 7-5 with the Bulldogs taking the last meeting, 6-2, over the then-17th-ranked Gamecocks last season in Columbia.

In a roadtrip that began with the team departing from Starkville on March 6, the Bulldogs will enter Saturday's doubleheader having lost 10 of its last 14 games. With its doubleheader loss to Florida on Wednesday, State dropped below the .500 plateau for the first time since February 13 of last season.

However, the Bulldogs showed signs of life on Thursday night when they exhibited domination of the Gators in the series finale. State got a career day at the plate from Blaire Brown (2-3, HR, 4 RBI) and a dominant performance from Jennifer Pursell in the circle (7.0 IP, 8 K) in a 5-1 throttling of home-standing Gators.

But, in order to upset the Gamecocks on their home turf, Mississippi State must find a way to attack South Carolina ace Megan Matthews (9-6, 1.42 ERA) who is the league leader in strikeouts this season (113.1 IP, 161 K). Matthews anchors a South Carolina staff that currently holds down a 1.34 team ERA.

The Bulldogs will try to solve Matthews riddle with two-time all-american Kellie Wilkerson (.411 Avg., 6 HR, 16 RBI) and freshman Iyhia McMichael who has come on as of late to become one of the Bulldogs most consistent hitters in the lineup. The Bulldogs will likely face Matthews in the opener of Saturday's twinbill. South Carolina will likely throw Stacey Johnson (9-3, 1.23) in game two.

Mississippi State will use a probable combination of sophomores Pursell (5-7, 1.94) and Jennifer Nelson (1-2, 1.21) in the doubleheader.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/16/01
Baseball - Riding a season-longest four-game winning streak, No. 21 Mississippi State (10-5, 3-0 SEC) opens a three-game conference weekend series against Vanderbilt (13-5, 2-1 SEC) Friday night in Nashville, Tenn.

The Bulldogs and the Commodores hit the diamond at Hawkins Field/McGugin Center at 7 p.m. (CT) Friday and square off in 2 p.m. games both Saturday and Sunday. Sophomore left-hander Joey Collums (1-1, 2.60) has been tabbed for his second consecutive Friday night start in SEC play in this weekend's series opener.

Solid pitching performances last weekend carried Mississippi State to an impressive sweep of seventh-ranked Auburn last weekend at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium. Starters Collums, Paul Maholm and Tanner Brock and relief men Adam Larson and Chris Young to check the highly regarded Tigers on three runs in three games. Maholm, a freshmen southpaw from Holly Springs, Miss., and Young, a sophomore right-hander from Stow, Ohio, combined for a two-hit, 4-0 shutout in the Saturday game and registered MSU's fifth blanking of the year.

Friday's game marks MSU's first visit to the Vanderbilt campus since 1997 as well as the end of a nine-game run of road competition for the Commodores.

Mississippi State showed improved offensive punch and a measure of clutch hitting in its last outing, a 6-5 win Tuesday night at the University of New Orleans. Trailing by a run and down to their last out in the ninth, the Bulldogs got back-to-back doubles by Matthew Maniscalco and Brent Lewis to tie the game and made a winner out of relief pitcher Josh Wooten on a run-producing single by Josh West. Lewis' two-bagger extended his hitting streak to a team season-high 12 games while West, the team's hitting leader with a .357 batting average, hit safely in his seventh consecutive game.

Earlier in the game Bulldog senior Jon Knott ended the team's run of 14 games without a home run, blasting a two-run shot that helped State take a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning. It was the 44th career home run for the Bulldog co-captain, who is now tied with David Hayman (1993-96) for seventh place among MSU's all-time home runs leaders.

The victory was the 2,000th in 111 seasons of Mississippi State baseball, making MSU the 18th college baseball program to reach the lofty milestone.

Since opening the year with a 1-3 mark, the Bulldogs have reeled off wins in nine of their last 11 games. State returns from the weekend road trip to host Tennessee Tech Mar. 20-21 and then entertains long-time SEC Western Division rival LSU Mar. 23-25 during Super Bulldog Weekend on the MSU campus.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Brown's performance paced the Bulldog hitting with her performance that included a three-run dinger in the first while Kellie Wilkerson walked and scored twice. Iyhia McMichael turned ina 1-3 performance at the plate to extend her hitting streak to 10 games.

Pursell (5-7), in her third appearance in seven days, went the distance, striking out eight while giving up a lone earned run, to earn her second consecutive victory. The Rancho Cucomunga, Calif., native was perfect through two outs in the fourth.

With two outs and two on in the opening frame, Brown gave State an early 3-0 lead when she belted Florida starter Renise Landry's second offering down the left field line and over the fence, plating Kasey Whitehead and Kellie Wilkerson.

With Pursell still showing her grit in the circle, Jennifer Jessup laced a shot to right field in the fifth that was misjudged by Andrea Zimbardi, resulting in an inside the park home run and a 4-0 lead for the Bulldogs. Wilkerson drew a walk with the next at bat, swiped second base and scored on a RBI double by Brown with no outs to extend the Bulldog lead to 5-0.

The Gators prevented the shutout with two outs in the seventh when Jackie Marchetta caught the Bulldogs napping and stole home.

Mississippi State will return to action on Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Columbia, S.C., for a three-game series with the nationally-ranked South Carolina Lady Gamecocks. The two will open up their series with a 12 p.m. CST doubleheader on Saturday and will conclude with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday's game will be regionally televised by Fox SportSouth.

The South Carolina series will also conclude a 13-day, 12-game roadtrip for the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State 5, Florida 1
Mississippi State 300 020 0 - 5 6 0
Florida 000 000 1 - 1 4 1
W - Pursell (5-7). L - Landry (8-2). HR - MSU: Brown (3), Jessup 1. Time - 2:00.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/15/01
Baseball - Mississippi State's scheduled college baseball game at the University of New Orleans Wednesday afternoon has been cancelled by rain. It is the sixth rainout this season for the 21st-ranked Bulldogs (10-5), who notched a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Privateers Tuesday night.

MSU resumes Southeastern Conference play Friday in Nashville, Tenn., opening a three-game series at Vanderbilt with a 7 p.m. contest at Hawkins Field/McCugin Center.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Kellie Wilkerson turned in a 2-4 showing with a pair of RBI and two runs scored, but could only watch as Florida erased a comfortable cushion by the Bulldogs in the fifth and sixth innings. Starter Jennifer Nelson (1-2) lasted five innings, surrendering a pair of earned runs on five hits, to take the loss for the Bulldogs.

Iyhia McMichael stretched her hitting streak to a team season-high nine games with a one-out double in the third, before Florida opted to intentionally walk Wilkerson in favor of State's four and five hitters. Florida starter Amanda Moore got Jennifer Waterman on a ground out to first base, but Blaire Brown gave the Bulldogs the lead on a two-run double up the middle.

State took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer by Wilkerson, but Florida leadoff hitter Jennifer Mossadeghi tied the score on a three-run dinger with two outs in the bottom of the frame. The home run came two pitches after State called a timeout to calm Nelson down.

Mylin Prieto's solo homer on a one-ball, two-strike count with no outs in the sixth iced the game for the Gators.

In opening game of the series-opening twinbill, Florida plated five runs in the top of the first, then held back any and all Mississippi State rallies the rest of the way out, as the Gators took the game by a score of 6-0.

Four different players recorded hits for the Bulldogs who struggled to find their groove at the plate. Starter Iyhia McMichael (4-2) lasted just one out in the first, surrendering three runs, two of which were unearned, on a pair of hits before giving way to Kasey Whitehead. Whitehead worked the remainder of the contest, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks to get the no decision.

Florida loaded the bases with its first four at bats before Bree Berger lit up the scoreboard on a RBI single to centerfield that scored Ashley Boone from second. The Gators put two more runs on the board with its next at bat after an errant throw home by Jennifer Jessup brought both Emily Marino and Prieto across the plate. Prissie Walden's RBI groundout and Amanda Judd's RBI single brought the final runs of the inning across the plate for the Gators.

State got its best chance to score in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs, but Gator starter Renise Landry (7-1) retired the next three batters.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/14/01
Baseball - Down to its last out and trailing by a run, No. 21 Mississippi State rallied for a pair of runs in the ninth inning Tuesday night to take a 6-5 win over the University of New Orleans at Privateer Park. It was the 2000th win in 111 seasons of Mississippi State baseball.

"It was a big win for our ballclub," said Coach McMahon. "What a clutch comeback. Tonight's win, particularly because of the way that we did it, was a big, big plus for our ballclub."

Consecutive doubles by Matthew Maniscalco and Brent Lewis and an RBI single by Josh West off UNO relief pitcher Kevin Uhles (0-1) gave the Bulldogs their seventh win in eight games.

"Our guys refused to lose," said Coach McMahon. "Brent Lewis clutched up and drove the ball to left-center. Josh West just crushed the ball."

Mississippi State (10-5) plated four runs in the fourth on a two-run home run by Jon Knott, the first home run of the season for State, and a two-run double by Steve Gendron to take a 4-1 lead. "It has been a long time for us to not hit one," said Coach McMahon referring to the home run hit by Jon Knott. MSU almost got their second home run of the night when Jason Burkley hit a ball that UNO's outfielder caught above the outfield fence.

But New Orleans (8-8) battled back, tying the game with three runs in the sixth off freshman relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon. Steve Rowell opened the inning with a solo home run and J.D. Huether doubled in a pair to knot the score at 4-4. Chris Young was brought in in relief of Papelbon with no outs and Huether at second base. After the first batter moved Huether to third on a flyball, Young retired the next two batters without allowing the runner to score.

"I thought that Jonathan Papelbon threw the ball very well," said Coach McMahon. "He did get roughed up. He has to understand that location and being able to throw breaking balls when behind in the count to expand the plate are very important. They hit some balls very hard and took advantage in that inning."

The Privateers took the lead in the seventh when Donnie Bollich opened the frame with a single, stole second and scored on an infield single by Jeff Lipari. MSU second baseman Michael Brown knocked the hard-hit ball down but was unable to pick it up in time to throw the runner out at the plate.

"Michael did a great job getting to that ball," said Coach McMahon. "He got up and threw the ball accurately. He did everything that he could but Bollich did a great job of running from second to home to score. It was a very close play at the plate but he was safe."

Jeff Stander, who replaced his brother, Mark Stander, on the mound in the fourth, recovered from a shaky start and shut the Bulldogs out over his last four innings. Uhles came on to work the ninth, retiring pinch-hitter Robby Goodson and Steve Gendron, before giving up three hits, a walk and two runs.

The Bulldog rally made a winner of Josh Wooten (1-1), who allowed one hit in two innings and retired UNO in order in the ninth.

"He is a strike-thrower," said Coach McMahon. "He got the guys out that he needed to."

Josh West and Michael Brown singled twice for MSU, while Jeff Miller singled twice to pace UNO.

Mississippi State, with this win, its fourth straight and seventh in its last eight games, became the 18th college baseball team to win 2,000 games.

"I am so proud and honored to be a part of this wonderful tradition," said Coach McMahon. "Tonight's win is for all our great fans."

Mississippi State concludes its two-game set with UNO with a 3 p.m. game Wednesday.

"We will start (junior righthanded pitcher) Brandon Medders (Wednesday)," said Coach McMahon. "From there, we will mix and match (with our pitchers). We will have to pitch and defend well because UNO is a good ballclub."

MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, NEW ORLEANS 5
MSU (10-5) 000 400 002 --- 6-10-1
UNO (8-8) 100 003 100 --- 5-9-2
WP ---Josh Wooten (1-1). LP --- Kevin Uhles (0-1). HR --- Jon Knott (1).
Steve Rowell (1). Adam Larson, Jonathan Papelbon (4), Chris Young (6), Josh Wooten (8) and Burkley. Mark Stander, Jeff Stander (4), Kevin Uhles (9) and Sanchez. Att --- 1,399. Time: 2:47.

Portions of this article was supplied by the MSU Athletic Department

03/12/01 (10:15 p.m.)
Baseball - Buoyed by a three-game weekend sweep of No. 7 Auburn and a return to this week's national rankings, Mississippi State's Baseball Bulldogs (9-5) open a five-game road trip Tuesday with a 6:30 p.m. clash with the University of New Orleans Privateers (8-7).

After a two-week absence, Mississippi State climbed back into the national spotlight with a No. 21 ranking by Collegiate Baseball magazine. The Bulldogs, coached by fourth-year Bulldog skipper Pat McMahon, posted an 8-2 record during their just-completed 10-game homestand, capping the run with a three-game sweep of Auburn. Stellar pitching performances by starters Joey Collums, Paul Maholm and Tanner Brock and relief hurlers Adam Larson and Chris Young sparked MSU to its first three-game sweep of the Tigers since 1991.

Maholm and Young combined for an impressive two-hit, 4-0 shutout of the Tigers, the fifth blanking by Bulldog pitchers in 14 games. MSU enters the two-game set at UNO's Privateer Park sporting a 2.34 team earned run average.

Tuesday's game will open with a touch of Mississippi State flair as former MSU All-American and recently retired major league star Will Clark will be on hand for a pregame autograph session and to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The Bulldogs, who had a season-opening Dudy Noble Field battle with UNO in the opening game of the NBC Classic cancelled by stormy weather, close out the two-game set with UNO Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Then its off to Vanderbilt (12-5, 2-1) for a three-game SEC weekend series with the Commodores, fresh from a 2-1 road showing against Alabama last weekend in Tuscaloosa.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/12/01
Baseball - Junior right-hander Tanner Brock struck out a season-best eight Sunday afternoon as Mississippi State (9-5, 3-0 SEC) topped No. 7 Auburn 8-2 to complete a sweep of the three-game weekend series at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium, State's first since 1991.

"I am very proud of Tanner Brock," said Coach Pat McMahon. "Tanner pitched through everything and really competed. He threw the ball through the strikezone." Of Brock's 128 pitches, 82 were for strikes.

Auburn (16-4, 0-3 SEC) got to Brock for single runs in the second and third innings. "Once again I got off to a rough start," said Brock. But Brock, who was throwing just as hard (87 to 90 mph) in the sixth and seventh innings as he was in the first, allowed just three baserunners the remainder of his team season-high eight-inning performance. "I felt like I got stronger as the game went on," Brock said. "I got in a comfort zone where everything felt great." Relief hurler Chris Young completed the game with an inning of shutout pitching in the ninth. Young threw just 12 pitches during his one inning.

Gabe Gross walked on four pitches, stole second, advanced to third on an infield groundout and scored on a wild pitch for Auburn's first run in the second. Scott Schade, who had two of Auburn's six hits, singled and scored on an infield groundout by Javon Moran.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the fourth off AU starter Levale Speigner (4-1). Phillip Willingham and Jon Knott singled and Matt Brinson walked to load the bases. Willingham scored MSU's first run when Michael Brown's double-player grounder at second base was misplayed, and Knott tied the game when he scored on an infield groundout by Steve Gendron.

"We are starting to do the little things that will make this team successful," said Coach McMahon.

Willingham reached on an error to lead off the sixth and scored MSU's go-ahead run when Matthew Brinson lashed a doubled to left, chasing Speigner from the game.

"Speigner was a good pitcher," said MSU DH Brent Lewis. "He spotted up real good. He didn't throw too many pitches to hit. We finally started getting to him at the end."

The Bulldogs used two hits and another Auburn error to score a run and take a 4-2 lead in the seventh, and put the game away with a four-run eighth off Brandon Luna, who came into the game allowing opposing hitters a batting average of .075. That did not seem to bother Matthew Maniscalco and Brent Lewis since both singled in runs and both scored on wild pitches.

"We have seen a lot of good pitching," said Lewis. "We have seen two of the best pitchers in the nation (USC's Prior and Notre Dame's Heilman). Now, when we see good pitchers, it is a step down from those guys."

Lewis went 3-for-5 and extended his team-leading hitting streak to 11 games. For the weekend, Lewis batted .357. "I am feeling very comfortable at the plate right now," said Lewis. "I hit a changeup my first at-bat. My second and third at-bats I hit fastballs." Phillip Willingham, who batted .444 during the three-game series, had a pair of singles. Phillip also had a very impressive on-base percentage of .615 for the series. Redshirt freshman first baseman Matthew Brinson batted .375 and reached base .545 of the time for the series. Junior catcher Jason Burkley had a unique weekend. Although he had no hits, he reached base .429 of the time due to six walks in 14 at-bats.

A Sunday crowd of 3,357 attended the game.

For the three-game series, Bulldog pitchers allowed just three earned runs for a 0.96 ERA. Auburn batted .175 against State's pitchers. MSU's hitters batted .226 against the Auburn pitchers.

Mississippi State travels to New Orleans, La., for a pair of midweek games, meeting UNO Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs, now 3-3 against top 25 teams this season, resume SEC competition next weekend with a three-game series at Vanderbilt.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, AUBURN 2
Auburn (16-4, 0-3) 011 000 000 --- 2-6-4
Mississippi State (9-5, 3-0) 000 201 14x --- 8-9-0
WP --- Tanner Brock (2-1). LP --- Levale Speigner (4-1). Att --- 3,357. Time --- 2:26. Brock, Young (9) and Burkley. Speigner, Dueitt (6), Luna (7) and Pratt.

03/11/01
Baseball - Mississippi State freshman left-hander Paul Maholm (1-1) turned in the pitching performance of his young career Saturday afternoon, striking out a team season-high 10 and sparking Mississippi State (8-5, 2-0 SEC) to a 4-0 win over No. 7 Auburn at Dudy Noble Field.

"For a freshman in his first SEC outing in what was probably the biggest crowd he has pitched in front of, he just filled the strikezone up," said MSU pitching coach Jim Case.

"He had everything going," said MSU catcher Jason Burkley. "He threw any pitch he wanted to for a strike today. That is when you know you are in a zone. He has four pitches and everyone of them are hard to hit."

Maholm endured one shaky inning, working around a leadoff double by Gabe Gross and a pair of walks in the second inning. The final out of the inning was on a great play by MSU centerfielder Phillip Willingham. "Phillip Willingham's play in centerfield with two outs was a huge play," said Coach McMahon. "If he doesn't make that play it is probably two runs for Auburn."

During his staff-longest 7-2/3 inning performance Maholm retired 18 consecutive batters before giving up a two-out double by Jonathan Schuerholtz in the eighth inning. "Once he settled down, he had all of his pitches really working. He was challenging them," said Coach Case.

"I had thrown 111 pitches and it was late in the game," said Maholm. "I figured that I wouldn't go the full nine the first outing. I understand that the coaches know exactly what they had to do early in the season."

Chris Young then came on to retire the four batters he faced to preserve the Mississippi State shutout. "Chris Young came in and did an outstanding job," said first baseman Matthew Brinson.

The two hits represent the lowest hit total by an Auburn team since 1996.

The Bulldogs (8-5, 2-0 SEC) did all their scoring in the fifth and sixth innings. Freshman designated hitter Brent Lewis extended his hitting streak to 10 games when he beat out an infield single in the fifth and plated the game's first run on a single to right by Josh West on a 2-1 count.

"A healthy Josh West is a run-producer. He is a clutch performer for us," said Coach McMahon.

An inning later AU senior starter Hayden Gliemmo (4-1) walked lead-off hitter Phillip Willingham and left the game after Matt Brinson's run-scoring double. "On my double, he threw a fastball on the inside corner a little up and I turned on it," said Brinson. "Right when I hit it I knew it was a double." State scored two more times in the frame off relief man Cory Dueitt when freshman Steve Gendron tripled down the right field line and raced home on Matthew Maniscalco's sacrifice bunt. "They had the infield in," said Coach McMahon. "We felt like it was a good time to call it. Matthew executed it along with Steve."

Auburn's Gliemmo, who had an earn run average of 0.34 coming into the game, struck out four, gave up five hits and walked five during his 5-1/3-inning stint on the mound.

"Hayden Gilemmo pitched an outstanding game tonight," said Matthew Brinson. "He was getting ahead of batters and throwing his curveball and fastball for strikes."

West and Brinson had two hits each to lead the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State and Auburn conclude their three-game SEC series with a single game Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Junior righthanded pitcher Tanner Brock (1-1, 5.93) will start for State, while sophomore righthander Levale Speigner (4-0, 1.74) will start for Auburn. So far this season, Speigner has defeated Western Carolina, Campbell, North Carolina and number 1 ranked Georgia Tech. Speigner has started against State once during his career. During that stint, he threw 8 innings of 2-run, 4-hit ball in his first career SEC start last season. He struck out 5, while walking none.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 4, AUBURN 0
Auburn (16-3, 0-2) 000 000 000 --- 0-2-1
Mississippi State (8-5, 2-0) 000 013 00x --- 4-6-0
WP --- Paul Maholm (1-1). LP --- Hayden Gliemmo (4-1). Maholm, Young (8) and Burkley. Gliemmo, Dueitt (6), Watts (8) and Pratt. Att --- 3,495. Time --- 2:15.

Portions of this article was provided by the MSU Athletic Department

Iyhia McMichael and Kellie Wilkerson both turned in two-hit showings to highlight the Bulldog offense with Kasey Whitehead and Jennifer Waterman turning in one RBI apiece. McMichael (4-2) held the FAU bats at bay for most of her four innings of work, but was chased after allowing three earned runs n the FAU rally. Whitehead came on to begin the fifth and allowed one hit while striking out four Owls to get the no decision.

The elimination loss put an end to State's quest for its third-straight semifinal appearance at the Speedline, while also marking the Bulldogs' earliest exit in its four appearances at the tournament. With its 3-3 showing at the tournament this weekend, Mississippi State ran its record to 18-11 in its four years at the South Florida tournament.

State got three-straight hits to begin the third, using Waterman's RBI single to score Wilkerson from second and Whitehead's sharp hit to right centerfield to score Waterman from third. McMichael retired Nicole Myers, FAU's best hitter, to begin the bottom frame, but then ran into trouble.

Callie Piper reached on a walk, before a sacrifice hit by Diane Sanchez put Piper into scoring position with two outs. A RBI single by Jaime Sawyer scored Piper from second and was followed with a double by Annie Norton that plated Sawyer. A wild pitch by McMichael brought Norton home from third with the inning and game's final run.

In earlier action, Mississippi State used a two-run dinger by McMichael and solid pitching and defense to complete round-robin pool play with a 3-0 shutout of Temple to qualify for its fourth-straight championship tournament appearance.

All the offensive highlights came from the bat of McMichael, who turned in a 2-3 performance at the plate with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Whitehead worked the first four innings, scattering four hits, before giving way to Jennifer Pursell (4-7) with two outs in the fourth. Pursell gave up one hit over the final three-plus innings to earn the victory for the Bulldogs.

State put a runner on with its first at bat of the third as Jennifer Jessup crushed a hard hit to right centerfield before McMichael gave the Bulldogs the lead with a blast to straightaway center. McMichael belted a triple with MSU's second at bat of the fifth, before stealing home with the game's final run.

Mississippi State will return to action on Wednesday when they begin conference play with a three-game series at Florida. Wednesday's doubleheader is slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch with Thursday's single game also set to begin at 4.

Florida Atlantic 3, Mississippi State 2
Mississippi State 000 200 0 - 2 7 0
Florida Atlantic 000 300 0 - 3 5 0
McMichael, Whitehead (5) and Waterman; Sutcliffe, Myers (5) and Sanchez. W - Sutcliffe. L - McMichael (4-2). Save - None.

Mississippi State 3, Temple 0
Temple 000 000 0 - 0 5 2
Mississippi State 002 010 0 - 3 6 0
Pflueger and Mennig; Whitehead, Pursell (4), Brown and Schlagheck (6). W - Pursell (4-7). L - Pflueger. HR - MSU: McMichael (2).

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/10/01
Baseball - Jon Knott slapped a fastball for a bases-loaded single to right over a drawn in outfield to drive in the winning run Friday night as Mississippi State (7-5, 1-0 SEC) nipped seventh-ranked Auburn (16-2, 0-1 SEC) 2-1 at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium in a very exciting game.

"It was one of those ballgames that was tough for either team to lose," said MSU coach Pat McMahon.

Pitching, as expected, dominated in the Southeastern Conference opener for both schools, with starting pitchers Eric Brandon (a true freshman) for Auburn and redshirt sophomore Joey Collums for Mississippi State allowing just one run each during their respective 6-1/3-inning stints. Coming into the game, hitters were batting .186 against Brandon, while hitters were batting .243 against Collums. Auburn's pitching staff was allowing 2.28 earned runs per game while Mississippi State was allowing 2.73 earned runs per game.

"You can't say enough about the job the pitchers did," said MSU outfielder Phillip Willingham. "Joey did an outstanding job. It was unbelievable poised that he showed out there. He was spotting his stuff. I wished he had been able to go the entire nine but it was good for Larson to get in there and do as good of a job as he did. Larson did an outstanding job." Willingham also noted the outstanding performance of Auburn's starting pitcher. "(Brandon) was moving the ball around really well and getting a lot of us off-balance."

Coach McMahon was also impressed with Collum's performance. "Joey pitched outstanding. He did a great job controlling the running game."

MSU's Collums had a different perspective of his performance. "I really was fortunate to get by with the stuff I had today. I wasn't really sharp. There is definitely a lot of room for improvement which is exciting to me."

Collums, in describing Auburn's hitting, said that they "have a kind of pesky team that is not going to strike out and that keeps battling to put the ball in play." Collums went on to say that "you throw strikes and let them hit it and let your defense make the plays."

Auburn, which had defeated number one ranked Georgia Tech this past Tuesday night, had the first scoring threat of the game when Gabe Gross led off the second with a double. He was wild pitched over to third base with no outs. The next batter, Trent Pratt, walked, setting up a first and third with no outs situation. Brett Burnham lined a shot back to MSU pitcher Joey Collums that snagged in mid-air and then threw to first to double up the runner. "I was fortunate to catch that line drive and make that play," said to Collums. The next batter, Hayden Gilemmo struck out swinging.

MSU also threaten to score in the bottom of the second when Phillip Willingham singled, one of two hits that he would get on the night, and, after one out, the next batter got on by way of a fielder's choice and an error. State failed to score when true freshman Steve Gendron popped up and junior college transfer Chad Henry grounded out to second base.

State finally broke the scoreless deadlock with a run in the sixth when Matthew Maniscalco doubled down the left field line and came home on a double by Josh West. On the same play, Jason Burkley, who was waved home by the third base coach, safety slide home but, on a controversial call, was signaled out by the plate umpire. Auburn answered in its next at-bat when Trent Pratt singled, advanced to third on a double by Brett Burnham, and scored on Scott Schade's infield single.

True freshman Colby Paxton (2-1), allowing hitters a .145 batting average, replaced Brandon in the seventh, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and blanking the Bulldogs with no-hit pitching into the 10th.

"We had some situations that we could have taken advantage of but we didn't," according to Willingham.

In the 10th, true freshman Brent Lewis greeted Paxton with a double down the right field line, Jason Burkley walked for the fourth time in the game, and with one out Phillip Willingham was intentionally walked to load the bases. That set the stage for Knott's game winning single to right, which made a winner of MSU relief pitcher Adam Larson (2-1). Larson, who was throwing in the 87-91 mph range, struck out five of the first six batters he faced (the sixth batter got on with a base hit), left the bases filled with Auburn Tigers in the 9th and 10th innings and finished the game with 3.2 innings of three-hit, shutout pitching.

"In my first few innings, they saw some sliders that they had not seen before. I had a fresh arm and was overpowering," said Larson, referring to the five batters that he struck out in his first two innings of work. According to Larson, in the ninth and tenth innings, "I had a few mental mistakes out there but I seem to always have composure on the mound. In this league you have to because there are always going to be errors made. You can't let it get you down."

According to Coach McMahon, "Adam pitched himself out of some spots. He had a couple of dominating innings."

Auburn out-hit the Bulldogs 9-6, getting two hits each from Mailon Kent and Gabe Gross. Phillip Willingham singled twice for two of MSU's six hits.

Up until this game, Willingham was hitting at a .130 clip even though he had been hitting the ball well. Coach McMahon made note of this. "If you talk about a hard-luck hitter, that has been Phillip. He has hit so many balls so hard but has nothing to show for it statistically."

Mississippi State and Auburn will square off again Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 2, AUBURN 1
Auburn (16-2, 0-1) 000 000 100 0 --- 1-9-1
MSU (7-5, 1-0) 000 001 000 1 --- 2-6-2
WP --- Adam Larson (2-1). LP --- Colby Paxton (2-1). Collums, Larson (7) and Burkley. Brandon, Paxton (7) and Pratt. Att --- 2,226. Time: 3:24.

Portions of this article was provided by the MSU Athletic Department

Five different players recorded hits for the Bulldogs who battled the entire game with light rain and Red Raider pitcher Amanda Renfro, who shut down the Bulldog offense with timely strikeouts. Mississippi State starter Jennifer Nelson surrendered her first hit of the game in the sixth inning, but fell victim to first inning errors by her defense, to take the loss for the Bulldogs. Nelson (1-1) scattered three hits over six and two-thirds innings of work and struck out one Red Raider in the loss.

With just one out showing on the first-inning scoreboard, Sandy Butler received a free pass due in part to a fielding error by Mississippi State left fielder Krystal Tillman, then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch by Nelson. Eva Harshman reached base with the next at bat on a muffed catch by second baseman Brooke Best before Shauna Briggs plated Butler on a fielder's choice RBI.

State had its chances to plate the tying run in the innings following, but stranded four different runners in scoring position, including a Texas Tech pickoff of pinch runner Robyn Schlagheck in the bottom of the seventh that iced the game for the Red Raiders.

The loss put the Bulldogs into a must-win situation in the final game of round-robin pool play against Temple on Saturday in order to advance to the single-elimination championship bracket. Game time is set for 9 a.m. CST at the Greco Complex adjacent to the University of South Florida campus.

In earlier action, Mississippi State used two fourth-inning Michigan State errors to plate four unearned runs, and then used a combination of timely hits and a stingy defense to thwart the Spartans 6-2.

Freshman Iyhia McMichael provided highlights on both offense and defense, turning in a 2-4 performance at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored, in addition to earning the victory in the circle. McMichael (4-1), in her first appearance since February 24, went the distance, giving up six hits while striking out three Michigan State batters, to earn the win for the Bulldogs.

State climbed on the Spartans early, using a RBI single by Jennifer Waterman to plate McMichael from second base, and took a 1-0 lead into the second. Michigan State used three doubles to take the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/09/01
Baseball - Mississippi State launches its 67th season of Southeastern Conference baseball competition against a long-time divisional foe this weekend when the Bulldogs (6-5) play host to seventh-ranked Auburn (16-1) at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs and the Tigers open the three-game set with a 6:30 p.m. game Friday. Fourth-year Bulldog skipper Pat McMahon will send sophomore lefty Joey Collums (1-1, 3.27) to the hill opposite AU freshman right-hander Eric Brandon (2-0, 2.28). The game also marks the SEC coaching debut of first-year Tiger skipper Steve Renfroe, the lone coaching newcomer in the SEC this year after having served 18 seasons as an assistant under now-retired veteran Auburn baseball coach Hal Baird.

The weekend series opens a run of 10 consecutive weekends of conference baseball play and wraps up a season-longest 10-game homestand for the Bulldogs. MSU is 5-2 in the latest run of games at Dudy Noble Field, splitting a pair of midweek tilts with Louisiana-Monroe. MSU registered its fourth shutout with a 4-0 win Tuesday night before dropping a 8-7 10-inning decision to the Indians Wednesday.

Auburn (2.28) and Mississippi State (2.73) rank 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference in team earned run average, while Bulldog catcher Jason Burkley stands fourth among league hitters with a .464 hitting percentage. Burkley also enters the weekend series with a league-best .590 on-base percentage.

Auburn claimed a pair of wins in the three-game Bulldog-Tiger series last year at Auburn, trimming MSU's lead in the series to 74-68-1. The two teams have met on the diamond every year since 1975, though the series got its start in 1908.

MSU and Auburn square off at 4 p.m. Saturday and wrap up the three-game set with a 1:30 p.m. game Sunday. Stadium ticket windows and gates open two hours prior to game time for all three games.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Kellie Wilkerson paced the Bulldog offense on a 1-1 performance with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Starter Jennifer Pursell (3-7) lasted six innings, scattering five hits and striking out nine Utah batters, but took the loss for Mississippi State. Wilkerson struck out two of three Utah batters to get the no decision.

Utah came out of the gate early, scoring a run in the bottom half of the first on a Lyndsey Trevis RBI double that scored Amberly Jeppson from first base. Wilkerson tied the game in the fourth on a solo home run to right centerfield, and then gave the Dogs a 2-1 lead in the sixth when she stole home after catching Utah catcher Christa Pfeninger asleep behind the plate.

However, Utah loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on a bases loaded walk by Pursell and a sacrifice fly by Niki Hayhurst.

In earlier action, Kasey Whitehead's pinch hit sacrifice fly to right field with one out in the bottom of the ninth brought plated Cheri Smith with the winning run as Mississippi State fought off a valiant charge by Georgia Southern to defeat the Eagles 3-2 in extra frames.

Although Whitehead turned in the heroic at bat, the offensive highlights for the Bulldogs came from the bat of freshman Jennifer Waterman who turned in a 2-3 showing at the plate with a pair of RBI. Starter Jennifer Nelson surrendered a pair of unearned runs in five and one thirds innings of work before giving way to Wilkerson (2-0) in the sixth. The two-time all-american worked the remainder of the game, giving up just one hit in three and two thirds innings, to earn the victory.

Georgia Southern took a 1-0 lead in the second, scoring Jennifer Blazi from first base on a two-base error by leftfielder Krystal Tillman. State scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on RBI singles by Waterman, but Georgia Southern knotted the game back up in the top of the sixth on a RBI single by Julie Peel.

Mississippi State 000 101 0 - 2 4 0
Utah 100 002 x - 3 5 2
Pursell, Wilkerson (7) and Waterman; Arbogast and Pfeninger; W - Arbogast. L - Pursell. HR - Wilkerson (5).

Georgia Southern 010 001 000 - 2 7 2
Mississippi State 000 110 001 - 3 4 1
Savage and Pansulla; J. Nelson, Wilkerson (6) and Waterman; W - Wilkerson (2-0). L - Savage.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

03/08/01
Baseball - Jaime Estrada's two-out, 10th-inning double drove in the winning run Wednesday afternoon as Louisiana-Monroe (11-6) nipped Mississippi State 8-7 in college baseball at Dudy Noble Field. It was the second extra-inning loss at home this year for Mississippi State, now 6-5.

With the score tied 7-7 in the 10th, senior relief pitcher Josh Wooten (0-1), the fifth Bulldog pitcher in the game, retired the first two batters he faced. But Scott Cadwallader legged out a double to left-centerfield and scampered home with the go-ahead run on Estrada's two-bagger just inside the left field foul line.

Estrada's double made a winner of UL-M's fourth pitcher, Robert Carro (2-0), who checked MSU on one hit in three innings of scoreless relief work.

The Indians used three walks and a two-run double by Haydn Chinn off MSU starter Todd Nicholas to take a 2-0 lead in the first frame. A walk, four singles and a sacrifice fly off MSU pitchers Ryan Carroll and Chris Young in the fifth enabled UL-M to plate four more runs and claim a 6-1 lead.

MSU answered with a six-run fifth sparked by Josh West's two-run double and a two-run single by Matthew Brinson that put MSU on top 7-6. It was the last of the scoring in the game for the Bulldogs, who were blanked over the final 5-2/3 innings by Lee Graves and Carro.

UL-M, meanwhile, tied the score in the eighth when Cadwallader walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Estrada, and scored on a pinch-hit single by Mike James.

That set the stage for Estrada's 10th-inning heroics which gave UL-M a split of the two-game set and snapped an eight-game MSU series win streak.

Catcher Joe Jensen singled and scored twice to pace the Indians' 10-hit plate performance. Josh West matched a career-high with a 3-for-5, 2-RBI showing that included a pair of doubles. Matthew Brinson singled twice and drove in two runs while Jason Burkley singled in a run and drove in another with a bases-loaded walk. Shortstop Matthew Maniscalco walked once, was struck by a pitch and scored twice, but his team-leading and career-best 10-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-3 outing at the plate.

Mississippi State wraps up its 10-game homestand and opens a 10-weekend run of Southeastern Conference play this weekend, playing host to seventh-ranked Auburn (15-1) at Dudy Noble Field. The series-opener is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday.

LOUISIANA-MONROE 8, MISSISSIPPI STATE 7
UL-M (11-6) 200 040 010 1 ¯ 8-10-1
MSU (6-5) 001 060 000 0 ¯ 7-8-0
WP - Robert Carro (2-0). LP - Josh Wooten (0-1). Schriner, McConnell (5), Graves (5), Carro (8) and Hayward and Jenson (9). Nicholas, Carroll (1), Young (5), Dowe (8), Wooten (9) and Burkley. Time¯ 2:59. ATT - 1,038.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Post-game Interviews:

MSU Coach Pat McMahon:
The team came back after getting down 6 to 1.
Coach McMahon: It showed a lot about our kids to get down 6 to 1, then go up 7 to 6. That was a key for us. It will pay dividends down the line. It hurts right now and it is tough to see through the hurt right now. We will find a way. We have a lot of young men who are battling their hearts out right now. We are not swinging the bats very well collectively right now.

You mentioned that you didn't get the clutch hits that you would have liked to have gotten but there were two well hit balls in the 8th inning that Louisiana-Monroe made great catches on.
Coach McMahon: The play in centerfield on Willingham's ball was an unbelievable play. Phillip has been a hard-luck hitter right now. Then the rightfielder makes a great catch on Chad Henry's ball which is a double if it falls in or gets by him.

Chris Young pitched well today.
Coach McMahon: I thought that Chris pitched well. He was a bright spot on the mound today. He is getting better each time out.

True freshman pitcher Todd Nicholas started for the first time this season. Talk a little about him. Coach McMahon: Todd is going to be an outstanding performer here. He has to throw the ball in the strike-zone and will. The first time out is a little bit tough. He'll get better because he has a great work ethic.

The defense seems to continue to improve.
Coach McMahon: I thought we defended much better. We put a completely different defense out there with Brent Lewis at third base and Michael Brown at second base. These are things that we wanted to have done already going into the SEC weekend series. We wanted to make those moves today in case some injuries occur later on.

We wanted to give (true freshman) Robby Goodson four or five quality at-bats because we feel that his bat is going to be a big factor for our ballclub. We accomplished that goal.

We still have some tough decisions to make because when it gets down to this time of year it gets down to production.

03/07/01
Baseball - Sophomore lefty Joey Collums struck out a career-high seven Tuesday night as Mississippi State (6-4) blanked Louisiana-Monroe 4-0 at Dudy Noble Field. It was the fifth win in the last six games for the Bulldogs and their fourth shutout win of the campaign. UL-Monroe dropped to 10-6.

In his most impressive performance at Mississippi State, Collums allowed just three baserunners on two singles and a walk in four innings of work. Adam Larson, Paul Maholm and Josh Wooten completed the split pitching assignment for State.

State jumped on UL-Monroe starter Jeremy Fletcher (1-1) early, scoring three runs on four hits in the first inning. Matthew Maniscalco extended his team-leading hitting streak to 10 games with a leadoff single and Jason Burkley and Josh West followed with run-scoring singles. Maniscalco and Jon Knott led the Bulldogs with two hits each. Knott opened the fourth with a single and scored on a hit by Steve Gendron to round out the game's scoring.

Toby Childers doubled and singled to lead the Indians' five-hit plate performance.

Mississippi State and Louisiana-Monroe conclude their two-game set in a 3 p.m. game Wednesday.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 4, LOUISIANA-MONROE 0
UL-M (10-6) 000 000 000 ---- 0-5-1
MSU (6-4) 300 100 00x --- 4-9-0

WP --- Joey Collums (1-1). LP --- Jeremy Fletcher (1-1). Collums, Larson (5), Maholm (7), Wooten (9) and Burkley. Fletcher, Graves (7) and Jensen.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Post-game Interviews:

MSU Coach Pat McMahon:
During the six MSU victories the pitching has allowed either zero runs or one run. How about talking about the pitching.
Coach McMahon: I think that we have pitched the ball extremely well. If we could take one of two innings away from the other games, our entire won-loss would be significantly different. But big-run innings are part of the game and will beat you at times. The key to being successful is to pour the ball into the strike-zone, which is what our kids did tonight.

I also thought that we defended very well. (Second baseman) Chad Henry and (first baseman) Matthew Brinson made some plays. Matthew Maniscalco has been very steady. Our outfield, for the most part, made plays.

Coupling the improved defense with some outstanding pitching has to continue because, offensively, we have some holes. We are not driving the ball. That will come. We have some guys that have done that in the past that we have to count on. Matthew Maniscalco, Jason Burkley and Steve Gendron are swinging the ball very well.

Talk about Joey Collums' performance.
Coach McMahon: I thought Joey pitched extremely well. He threw the ball in the strike-zone very well. It was an outstanding performance for Joey Collums.

Did you throw all the pitchers that you wanted to pitch tonight?
Coach McMahon: Yes, we did. We had pre-determined the game. We are on pitch counts during the mid-week games so that we can be set up for the weekend games. Tomorrow, we will pitch a lot of people. We will throw between five and six guys. We are going to meet as a staff to determine who to start.

This Louisiana-Monroe team is a good team. They defeated LSU at Baton Rouge.
Coach McMahon: They are well-coached. They play hard. They are an outstanding ballclub. Their record indicates that. Tomorrow will be another outstanding challenge. They have a nice offensive ballclub. They run the bases very well. I think us getting out the gate early was a big factor.

We had one hit late in the game after getting up early. That has to be a concern.
Coach McMahon: It is a concern. The guys have worked extremely hard but we have to produce. We have to swing the bats and drive the balls, so that we can pressure the defenses. That is something that we have got to find. We have to find the guys who want to do that.

Matthew Brinson looks very comfortable out at first base.
Coach McMahon: Matthew is an outstanding defender at first base. He is swinging the bat. He has worked extremely hard on that. It was good to see him in the ballgame tonight.

You have guys who are battling for a spot on the SEC roster this weekend.
Coach McMahon: I am not in favor of the 25-man roster because it makes it very tough. You have to make some decisions and judgements that hurts but you have to make them. Tomorrow will dictate some key decisions that we will have to make.

Why did you decide to start Matthew Brinson the past two games?
Coach McMahon: Not to belabor the point but the weather has been a huge factor because some of these (lineups) you would have already seen by now as you play. Because of the number of young players that we have on this ballclub, there are some combinations that we are trying to look for. The only way to find those combinations is to play the players. As a result of that, we are trying to find those combinations through playing and performance.

Will you see Matthew Brinson at first base a lot? Yes, against certain teams and certain matchups. We are very proud of his performance.

Chad started at second base again. Talk a little about him.
Coach McMahon: Chad is defending very well. Chad was an outstanding junior college hitter and will swing the bat.

03/06/01
Baseball - After notching wins in four of their last five games, Mississippi State's Baseball Bulldogs hit the field Tuesday night in the opening contest of a two-game set with the University of Louisiana-Monroe. First pitch for the first scheduled night game of the year at Dudy Noble Field is 6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State enters the second half of a season-longest 10-game homestand with a 5-4 worksheet after posting a Sunday doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville (Ala.) State. Three of the MSU's four losses have come at the hands of Notre Dame and Southern Cal, both currently ranked in the top 12 nationally.

Junior catcher Jason Burkley enjoyed a 7-for-11, 4-RBI week that helped raise his team-leading batting average to .478. He shares the team RBI lead (8) with senior outfielder Josh West, while sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco (.351) has now hit safely in a team-leading and career-high nine games.

UL-M, which earlier this season notched an extra-inning road win over LSU, split a Monday doubleheader with Southland Conference rival Lamar (6-10, 4-3) and brings a 10-5 record to Dudy Noble Field. The Indians, coached by first-year skipper Brad Holland, are the fourth Bulldog opponent from the 2000 NCAA Baseball Tournament field.

Sophomore left-hander Joey Collums (0-1, 5.14) of Germantown, Tenn., has been tabbed for his first start of the young season Tuesday, with several other Bulldog hurlers expected to make pitching appearances against the Indians.

In their lasting meeting, the Bulldogs claimed 13-6 and 18-1 wins over UL-Monroe at Dudy Noble Field in 1999, extending State's series win streak to seven games and MSU's lead in the overall series to 16-5.

Mississippi State takes on UL-Monroe Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the final tune-up before this weekend's SEC season-opening three-game series against seventh-ranked Auburn (14-1).

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Over the last four years, the Bulldogs are 60-31 in the month of St. Patrick, with last season's 20-6 clip. Included in those 60 victories are wins over five top 25 opponents, including last season's 2-1 upset victory over then-No. 9 Stanford at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. The Bulldogs have also posted its only other victory over a top 10 opponent in March (def. then-#10 South Carolina, 5-2 on 3/26/99).

But, for the month of March to be a success, the club must snap a current five-game losing streak that began with four-straight losses to UNLV and Penn State, respectively, at the UNLV Tri-Tournament two weeks ago. The skid continued with Thursday's loss to the Wolverines in Starkville.

Mississippi State (9-9), three weeks removed from the NFCA Top 25, will embark on a 13-day, 11-game roadtrip beginning Tuesday as the Bulldogs head south to begin preparation for the USF Speedline Invitational which begins March 9 in Tampa, Fla. State will open up its portion of round-robin play on Thursday at 11 a.m. EST when the Bulldogs suit up to play Georgia Southern. The Bulldogs will follow that game with a 1 p.m. contest against Utah.

State will close out round-robin play at the tournament with Friday games against Michigan State and Texas Tech and a Saturday contest with Temple. Quarterfinal, semifinal, consolation and championship rounds will take place later Saturday evening and Sunday.

"The Speedline has been a tournament where we have come together as a team in the past. We hope it will be the same this year," Arendsen said. "We will face outstanding competition in what we hope will be good weather conditions. It should be the key to our season. As a team we are searching for consistency in our performance and this strong field should give us every opportunity to find it."

Traditionally, the Speedline has been a tournament that the Bulldogs have fared well in. In three appearances at the tournament, State has compiled a 15-8 record, including two semifinal appearances. Last season, the Bulldogs reeled off a 6-2 record on Tampa's gulf coast before falling in extra innings to then-18th ranked South Carolina in the semifinals.

Following tournament action on