Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Athletic Ticket Office at Ohio State University at 1-800-Go-Bucks or 614-292-2624. Phone orders for tickets will be accepted with a Mastercard or Visa, with a $6 per order processing fee added. General admission tickets may also be purchased online at: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com, with a 75-cents handling charge added per order.

Bill Davis Stadium (4,450) will be cleared after every game.

Bill Davis Stadium policies:
* A ticket or credential is required for stadium entrance and a ticket stub required for re-entry.
* Smoking is prohibited inside of Bill Davis Stadium.
* No alcoholic beverages, bottles, cans or coolers may be brought inside Bill Davis Stadium.
* Artificial noisemakers, signs and banners are not permitted inside Bill Davis Stadium.
* No pets allowed inside Bill Davis Stadium.

Suggested hotel: Holiday Inn on the Lane (614) 294-4848. MSU's team hotel in 1999 and within reasonable walking distance of the stadium.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/21/01
MSU baseball and SEC Baseball Tournament Info.

More tournament info.
All-Tournament Team...
SEC Baseball Tournament Stats...
SEC Baseball Tournament Pictures...
SEC Baseball Brackets...

05/20/01
Baseball - After two very close games with South Carolina, Saturday afternoon, MSU, with the 4-1 victory in the nightcap, earned the right to play LSU Sunday at 3 p.m. for the SEC Baseball Tournament Championship.

MSU (35-22, 18-14 SEC) and LSU (40-18-1, 18-12 SEC) have played each other three times this season with LSU victorious in two of the three. LSU won the first two games 9-1 and 7-1 behind the pitching of Pettit and Mestepey while MSU, behind the pitching of Tanner Brock, won the final game of the series 13-0.

Neither coach has said who will be starting for them Sunday.

LSU has easily gotten to the championship game by winning all three of its tournament games convincingly; Florida 10-0, Ole Miss 13-2 and 12-6. MSU, on the other hand, has played four games, winning three. First up was South Carolina who they defeated 2-1. Georgia was next. MSU defeated them 8-4. Saturday, MSU faced USC twice, losing the first game 7-6 and winning the second 1-0.

MSU has won its games the hard way, by using solid pitching, clutch hitting and outstanding defensive play.

Although State is batting just .256 during tournament play, they have successfully knocked in 11 of 14 (.786%) runners that were on third base with less than two outs. Their pitching is second in ERA (2.50) among all eight teams at the conference tournament. They have given up a total of 12 runs 10 of which were earned runs. They lead all teams with 3 saves and are second in strikeouts with 30. USC, which threw 44 innings compared to MSU's 36, had 31 strikeouts.

LSU is leading all teams with a .980 fielding percentage with MSU close behind at .974.

Individually, MSU is led at the plate by sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco (6-for-14) and senior outfielder Josh West (6-for-14), both of whom are hitting .429. No other MSU hitter is hitting over .286.

LSU has three hitters hitting over .400, including Matt Heath (6-for-11, .545), Todd Linden (4-for-10, .400) and Ryan Theriot (4-for-10, .400). Linden has 2 home runs and 6 RBIs. LSU has two other players who are hitting over .300, Mike Fontenot and Wally Pontiff, both of whom are hitting .333.

LSU and MSU dominate the tournament ERA stats. MSU has four pitchers with ERA's less than 2.00 while LSU has two. For MSU, Joey Collums and Brandon Medders are the leaders with an ERA of 0.00. Paul Maholm is next at 1.12, followed by Josh Wooten at 1.93. LSU has two pitchers, Jason Scobie and Lane Mestepey with 0.00 ERA's.

MSU, with its three tournament victories, now has 44 tournament victories. LSU is second with 43, followed by Florida with 38. No other team has more than 26.

MSU and LSU, since the tournament started in 1977, have played each other 11 times with both teams winning 5 games. One game was halted due to bad weather.

They have faced each other in the SEC Championship Tournament game three times with each team winning one. The third game was called due to bad weather conditions. Both teams were declared co-champions.

LSU has won 7 straight SEC Tournament games. The last time they lost was against Arkansas in the 1999 tournament.

This will be just the second time in the last six years that LSU and MSU have faced each other in the tournament. MSU won that meeting 7 to 5.

MSU, with the nightcap win over South Carolina, has now won 15 of 25 games against teams that were in the top 25 when MSU faced them.

05/19/01
SEC Baseball Tournament Notes

05/18/01
Baseball - Eight members of Mississippi State's 22nd-ranked baseball team have been named to the 2001 SEC Baseball Academic Honor Roll. Eighty-nine student-athletes representing the league's 12 baseball teams were named to the academic all-conference team.

The Mississippi State honorees include: freshman first baseman Matthew Brinson of Brandon, Miss. (3.4 grade point average in general business administration), sophomore pitcher Joey Collums of Germantown, Tenn. (3.89, English), freshman infielder J.T. Hardcastle of Manteca, Calif. (3.17, marketing), and sophomore outfielder Cager Garner of Sturgis, Miss. (3.85, teaching/coaching). Also included are freshman outfielder Brad Hutto (3.57, general business administration), senior outfielder Jon Knott of Venice, Fla. (3.38, MBA), sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco (3.27, general business administration), and senior pitcher Josh Wooten (3.52, electrical engineering).

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have a 3.0 grade point average for the past year or for his career, be a sophomore or higher in academic classification, and have earned 24 semester hours toward a degree.

With the eight Mississippi State players named to the 2001 academic all-conference team, MSU has now placed an SEC-leading 150 baseball players on the honor team since 1971, 45 more than the SEC's next highest team total.

"We take a great deal of pride in the academic achievements of the young men in the Mississippi State baseball program," said Bulldog baseball coach Pat McMahon. "We join the SEC in saluting their commitment to excellence in the classroom."

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

The honor marks Wilkerson's third-straight first-team accolades, but her first in the utility player position. An all-region honor is a requirement in order to capture all-American status. She was one of 13 Southeastern Conference players selected to the all-region teams.

Wilkerson turned in a .419 (70-167) clip at the plate this season to go along with 12 doubles, two triples 33 RBI and a school-record 14 home runs. She recorded a .766 slugging percentage, while also turning in a gaudy .555 on base percentage. She was also hit by pitch three times and nearly matched her own school record (49) with 48 walks.

As a double-threat serving as Mississippi State's closer, a role often times unmatched in collegiate softball, Wilkerson recorded a 9-1 record with a miniscule 0.44 ERA while tying for the national lead with 10 saves. She worked 47 2-3 innings this season, striking out 48 batters, while giving up just 10 hits and surrendered just three runs all season. In addition, Wilkerson set a new school record by working the first 42 innings of the campaign without allowing a run.

Wilkerson's run for her third-straight all-American accolade will commence on Wednesday, May 23, at the 2001 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City when the recipients are announced in a pre-WCWS banquet.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Junior catcher Lee Parks and senior outfielder Anna Joyce Lott represent Mississippi State University on this year's SEC At-Large Sports Good Works Team. Including one male and one female student-athlete from each of the league's 12 schools, the at-large Good Works Team represents 17 SEC sponsored sports.

Parks, a banking and finance major, serves as president of MSU's M-Club organization. The Suffolk, Va. native also volunteers with numerous community service projects in the Starkville area, including MSU's Discovery Day, Bully's Book Blitz and the MSU Walk-a-thon. On the field, Parks is batting .333 in nine appearances behind the plate for coach Pat McMahon's 22nd-ranked Bulldogs.

An accounting major at Mississippi State, Lott actively participates in the Adopt-A-Family and reading programs within the Starkville community. In addition, the Greenwood native also assists in Bully's Book Blitz and makes frequent visits to local nursing homes. On the diamond for coach Kathy Arendsen's softball Bulldogs, Lott hit .195 as a 30-game starter this past season.

Also sponsoring such teams in football, men's basketball and women's basketball, the SEC Good Works Teams look to highlight student-athletes from each member institution who give back to their community in superior service efforts.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/18/01
Baseball - Mississippi State and Georgia got together in a winners bracket game Thursday night. Mississippi State, due to excellent relief pitching and clutch hitting, defeated Georgia 8 to 4.

The three earlier games saw Florida knock Tennessee out of the tournament with a 9 to 3 victory. South Carolina squeak by Auburn 5 to 4 in the second game of the day and LSU romped all over Ole Miss 13 to 2 in the next game.

Georgia came into the game as one of the two hottest teams in the SEC with 17 wins in their last 19 games.

Mississippi State, with the victory over number 9 ranked Georgia, is now 7-4 against teams that were ranked in the top ten when State faced them. State is also 14-9 against teams ranked in the top twenty-five.

Mississippi State, along with LSU, are in the drivers seat for a possible SEC Tournament Championship. MSU will not play again until Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Their opponent will be the winner of the South Carolina vs. Georgia Friday elimination game.

Coach McMahon, when asked who would start the Saturday game, said he had a few ideas but was not sure at the moment. Possibilities include senior Jeff Hunter, junior Brandon Medders and sophomore Joey Collums. MSU also has Steven Dowe, Ryan Carroll, Jonathan Papelbon for middle and long relief. Josh Wooten could pitch a few pitches Saturday if needed.

05/17/01
Baseball - After two blowouts in the first two games of the SEC Baseball Tournament - both were called after seven innings - 4th seed Mississippi State and 5th seed South Carolina went head to head in a pitchers duel and great defensive battle, that ended up seeing Mississippi State pull out a a 2-1 victory.

Mississippi State jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning when MSU's Michael Brown hit a long drive to centerfield on a 3-2 count that was just off the glove of South Carolina's centerfielder Marcus McBeth. McBeth, after attempting to catch the ball, ran into the wall and fell to the ground injured. All the while Brown was running around the bases and wound up with an inside the park home run.

Mississippi State freshman pitcher Paul Maholm, staked to a 1-0 lead, shut the Gamecocks down until the 5th inning.

USC's Byron Jeffcoat led off the 5th with a single. Maholm came right back and struck out Chris Plummer. Marcus McBeth then grounded out to the catcher for the second out of the inning. Maholm appeared to be about to get out of the inning unhurt. However, on a 1-1 count, Drew Meyer hit a RBI single to tie the game up.

After the score by South Carolina, both teams would threaten, although not seriously, until MSU's 8th inning. After Brent Lewis grounded out to the second baseman and Jason Burkley lined out on a great play by the USC leftfielder, Josh West hit a solid single to start MSU's rally. Jon Knott hit a ball over the leftfielder's head for a RBI double.

Mississippi State, now with a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 9th, brought in junior righthander Brandon Medders in relief of Maholm who had thrown 95 pitches. USC's first batter, Michael Floyd, had been up three times and had gotten three hits. On an 0-1 count, he hit a shot that was to the right of second baseman Michael Brown. Michael, reacting to the hit ball, dove to his right and fully extended caught the ball for the first out. The next batter hit a fly ball out to the rightfield. The final out was on a called third strike giving the Bulldogs their first SEC Baseball Tournament victory since 1999.

Mississippi State's Paul Maholm, now 7-4 on the season, threw eight innings, allowing one run on seven hits - all singles - and two walks. He struck out four.

Brandon Medders, showing more and more confidence in each outing, earned his 5th save of the season.

Mississippi State was led in hitting by Josh West, Jon Knott and Matthew Maniscalco, all of whom had two hits each. Jon Knott extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Michael Brown also contributed a home run.

South Carolina was led in hitting by Michael Floyd with three hits.

South Carolina's ace, Kip Bouknight, threw a complete game allowing two runs on nine hits and three walks. Mississippi State is now 3-2 versus Bouknight during his career. It was also Bourknight's first loss since a 5-3 loss to LSU on April 6th.

Mississippi State has now defeated South Carolina in the opening round of the SEC Baseball Tournament four straight times and have also defeated South Carolina three of four meetings this season.

Mississippi State will play Georgia Thursday night at 8 p.m. Junior righthander Tanner Brock (7-1, 3.28) will start for Mississippi State. Georgia will start junior Jeremy Brown (7-2, 3.86)

05/16/01
Baseball - 22nd ranked Mississippi State (32-21, 17-13 SEC), after taking two of three from Mississippi at Oxford this past weekend, earned the four seed in the SEC Baseball Tournament and the chance to face number five seed and 16th ranked South Carolina (41-15, 17-13 SEC) Wednesday in a 5:00 p.m. game to be played at Hoover Met Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

South Carolina, hosting one of sixteen NCAA regional sites after winning 11 of their last 13 games , will throw senior Kip Bouknight (9-2, 3.95) while Mississippi State will counter with either freshman Paul Maholm (6-4) or junior Tanner Brock (7-1, 3.28).

During their earlier three-game series in Starkville, Mississippi State won two of the three games.

MSU sophomore lefty Joey Collums got the Friday night start against USC's Bouknight. Bouknight earned the victory, throwing 7.2 innings of 2-run, 7-hit, 6-walk ball. He also struck out 8. MSU freshman Maholm, pitching the Saturday game for MSU, threw 8 innings to earn the victory. He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks, while striking out a season high 13 batters. Brock pitched the Sunday game, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings. MSU's Josh Wooten came on in relief of Brock and earned the victory after throwing 2 innings of 1-hit, no-run ball. Five of his six outs were strikeouts. MSU won the game on a dramatic ninth inning, two-out, three-run home run by first baseman Jon Knott.

For the three-games series, MSU batted .223 while USC batted .230. MSU's top hitters during the series were freshman DH Brent Lewis (6-for-13, .450) and senior first baseball Jon Knott (4-for-11, .364, 2 homers, 6 RBIs). Against Bouknight, Lewis went 2-for-4 while junior catcher Jason Burkley knocked in the only runs scored against him with a 2-run home run. South Carolina hitters who had a good hitting series were Garris Gonce (6-for-11, .545, 2 homers, 4 RBIs) and Marcus McBeth (4-for-12, .333, 1 homer, 4 RBIs)

The winner of this game will face the winner of the Georgia/Auburn game Thursday night at 8 p.m. while the loser takes on the loser of the Georgia/Auburn game at 1 p.m. Thursday in an elimination game.

05/15/01
Baseball - MSU failed in its bid to host an NCAA Baseball Regional. SEC schools Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and South Carolina were awarded bids along with Cal State Fullerton, Clemson, East Carolina, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Rice, Southern California, Stanford, and Tulane.

Brock finished the regular season with a 7-1 record and a 3.28 earned run average. The Longwood, Fla., product held opponents to a .210 batting average and registered 68 strikeouts over 82-1/3 innings. He also finished conference competition with a 6-0 record and a 2.75 earned run average.

"We're very proud of Tanner's accomplishments this year and his being selected by the league coaches as one of the top pitchers in one of the nation's most competitive conferences," said MSU head coach Pat McMahon. "Tanner made a commitment to get better after last season and that commitment and hard work has resulted in an outstanding junior season."

No. 4 seed Mississippi State (32-21), 22nd in this week's Collegiate baseball poll, takes on No. 5 seed and 24th-ranked South Carolina (41-15) Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the opening round of the 2001 SEC Baseball Tournament. The double-elimination is being held May 16-20 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium near Birmingham, Ala.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/14/01
Baseball - Mississippi scored five runs in the fifth inning Sunday and went on to salvage a 6-3 win over Mississippi State in the final game of their three-game series at Oxford-University Stadium. The win by the Rebels (36-19-1, 17-13) snapped a five-game series win streak by the Bulldogs (32-21, 17-13).

The loss proved to be a costly one for the Bulldogs. A win would have given State a share of the SEC Western Division crown with LSU, which dropped a 9-7 decision to Auburn. The setback also cost the Bulldogs a seeding position in the upcoming SEC Baseball Tournament, where the fourth-seeded Bulldogs now face fifth-seeded defending SEC champion South Carolina Wednesday at 5 p.m. CDT.

State senior Jeff Hunter, making his first start since Feb. 28, quieted the Rebel bats with four innings of one-hit pitching. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, took the lead on a Jason Burkley single in the first inning and expanded the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs off UM starter Dan McShea (4-5) in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the inning Hunter gave way to relief man Adam Larson, who retired but one of the eight batters he faced. Josh Christian opened the inning with a double and later singled in the Rebels' final run in the frame for a 5-3 UM lead. The Rebels used a pair of Bulldog errors in the eighth to add an insurance run.

McShea, who scattered seven hits and struck out six over 6-2/3 innings, got solid relief assistance from Nathan Lyons and Glen Morris. Morris allowed two base-runners during his two-inning stint and picked up his team-leading eighth save.

The game's momentum shifted in the fifth when UM left fielder Craig Nugen snared a Matthew Brinson line drive with the bases loaded and then fired a perfect throw to catcher Charlie Waite to nail Brent Lewis at the plate. The inning-ending double play ended a Bulldog scoring threat and set the stage for the Rebels' fifth-inning barrage. Clint Farrar went 2-for-4, including a bad-hope RBI single at second base in the fifth.

The Bulldogs mounted one other serious threat, loading the bases in the eighth with a pair of walks and a pinch-hit single by Chad Henry. But Morris fanned Matthew Maniscalco and got Michael Brown to fly out to center field to snuff out the MSU rally.

MSU played without its leading hitter. Jon Knott missed his second start in two seasons, sitting out the game with an injured shin.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the SEC Tournament, where No. 4 seeded MSU meets No. 5 seed South Carolina in opening round tournament action. Top-seeded SEC regular season champion Georgia faces No. 8 seed Auburn at 8 p.m. in the bracket's other game. In the opposing bracket No. 3 seed Tennessee takes on No. 6 seed Mississippi at 10 a.m. and No. 2 seed LSU meets No. 7 seed Florida at 1 p.m. The double-elimination tournament is being held at the Hoover Met near Birmingham, Ala.

MISSISSIPPI 6, MSU 3
Mississippi State (32-21) 100 020 000 --- 3-8-4
Mississippi (36-19-1) 000 050 01x --- 6-10-2
WP -- Dan McShea (4-5). SV -- Glen Morris (8). LP -- Adam Larson (5). A -- 3871. T -- 2:51.
Hunter, Larson (5), Carroll (5), Dowe (8) and Burkley. McShea, Lyons (7), Morris (8) and Waite.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs waited 30 minutes for an announcement that never came.

Although the names of four Southeastern Conference teams were announced, Mississippi State (36-26) was not amongst the field of 48 teams that will be making a trip to the NCAA postseason. The reaction spurned a mix of tears and anger, with State's 2001 senior class - Robyn Schlagheck, Anna Joyce Lott and Cheri Smith - requiring the most consoling.

"We are shocked and incredibly disappointed," said Mississippi State head coach Kathy Arendsen who was herself fighting back tears of sadness. "We felt we were a very solid number four in our conference. Four teams did go, but I felt we deserved it. Our team did everything they needed to. It's hard. I don't know how or why it happened this way."

Third-ranked and conference champion LSU (53-9) who, Sunday, won their second SEC Tournament title in three years, and seventh-ranked Alabama (48-9) were both announced as host schools. South Carolina (40-18-1), who dropped a 1-0 decision to LSU in the SEC Tournament championship game, will be the third seed at Regional 7 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Florida (36-25), who suffered a 1-0 setback to the Bulldogs in the opening round of the conference tournament on Thursday, will represent the conference as the number four seed at Regional 8 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Mississippi State and the Gators split four meetings this season, with the Bulldogs taking the last two. Florida dropped its only two games at the SEC Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., including an elimination setback to Auburn. Mississippi State set a school record with 19 conference wins against 11 SEC losses to finish third in the Western division and earn the tournament's fourth seed, while the Gators finished the conference season with a 14-16 record, placing second in the Eastern division and capturing the SEC Tournament's sixth seed.

Two-time all-american Kellie Wilkerson, who collected her third-straight first team all-conference accolades on Wednesday, was decorated with 2001 SEC All-Tournament team accolades the league announced Sunday.

Wilkerson joined Megan Donohoo (South Carolina) and Dee Douglas (LSU) in the outfield, behind an infield dominated by mostly LSU players. LSU pitcher Britni Sneed (MVP), first baseman Christy Connor and shortstop Stephanie Hastings earned a spot on the team, with tournament runner-up South Carolina sending pitcher Megan Matthews and second baseman Debralee Troesh to the all-tournament squad.

Arkansas third baseman Tiffany Woolley and Auburn catcher Michelle Martin were the other selections to the team.

For the second consecutive year, the Bulldogs posted a 1-2 record in the conference tournament, this time defeating Florida, while dropping consecutive contests to top-seeded and eventual champion LSU (2-1) and sixth-seeded Arkansas (7-2). Wilkerson broke the school record with her 14th home run to give State a third-inning lead over LSU on Friday evening.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/13/01
Baseball - Mississippi State struck for six runs in the third inning and made them stand up Saturday night in a 7-6 win over instate SEC rival Mississippi at Oxford-University Stadium. The win clinched the weekend series for the Bulldogs (32-20, 17-12) and a second place finish in the SEC Western Division. State closes out the series against Mississippi (35-19-1) and its 2001 regular season schedule Sunday in a 2 p.m. game.

All of the game's scoring took place in the first four innings off of starters Tanner Brock and Adam Yates (7-2). Brent Lewis tripled and scored the game's first run on a single by Jason Burkley in the first inning. But UM answered quickly, plating three unearned runs, two on a double by Josh Christian.

But the game turned on a six-run, six-hit Bulldog burst in the third inning when State batted through the order. Matthew Maniscalco singled and doubled while Matthew Brinson drove in a pair of runs with a single during the scoring burst that put MSU on top 7-5.

Brock, who worked a season-shortest 3-1/3 innings, walked a pair of batters in the fourth before turning the game over to the MSU bullpen. Burney Hutchinson greeted relief man Chris Young with an RBI single, but Young fanned the next two batters to end the rally with runners at second and third. Brandon Medders replaced Young in the seventh and retired all nine of the batters he faced to earn his team-leading fourth save. Young (3-1) got the win, giving up two hits while striking out three in 2-2/3 innings of strong middle inning relief work.

Michael Brown, Matthew Brinson, Steve Gendron and Matthew Maniscalco had two-hit plate performances while Brinson and Burkley drove in two runs each. Jon Knott tied Travis Chapman for fifth on the all-time MSU career RBI list with a run-scoring single in the third inning. Knott extended his current hitting streak to a season-best nine games with the hit. UM relief pitchers Nick Bradshaw and Ronnie Goodwin blanked the Bulldogs over the final 6-1/3 innings, scattering five hits. But MSU's relief pitchers also pitched shutout baseball down the stretch, preserving MSU's eighth win in 15 one-run games and extending MSU's record to 12-8 against teams ranked in the top 25.

The win gave MSU its sixth SEC series win in 10 weekends of league play and set the stage for a third weekend series sweep by the Bulldogs. State has now won four of its last five regular season series with Mississippi.

MSU 7, MISSISSIPPI 6
Mississippi State (32-20) 106 000 000 --- 7-12-1
Mississippi (36-18-1) 320 010 000 --- 6-8-0
WP - Chris Young (3-1) . SV - Brandon Medders (4). LP - Adam Yates (7-2). A -- 5364. T - 3:03.
Brock, Young (4), Medders (7) and Burkley. Yates, Bradshaw (3), Goodwin (7) and Waite.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

After Saturday's games, the SEC seeds are as follows:

If the season ended after last night's games, the SEC Baseball Tournament seeds would be as follows:

1) Georgia....19-10
2) LSU.........18-11
3) MSU........17-12
4) Tenn........17-12
5) Miss.........16-13
6) So. Carolina......16-13
7) Florida......16-13
8) Auburn...14-15

* MSU wins the tie-breaker with Tenn because they won the series between the two teams.

Five different players recorded hits for Mississippi State, with Cheri Smith (1-3) and Jennifer Jessup provided the 'Dogs' RBI. Arkansas first baseman Jennifer Bottoms scored a run and turned in an RBI on a 3-4 showing for the Lady 'Backs.

Mississippi State starter Kasey Whitehead (4-5) made two appearances inside the circle in the contest, surrendering four earned runs on seven Arkansas hits to take the loss for State. Schlichtman (26-12) came on in relief of starter Rachel Talley in the second and gave up just one hit in 5 2/3 innings to get the win for the Lady Razorbacks.

After getting Tiffany Wooley on a groundout to begin the second, Arkansas took advantage of pitching and fielding letdowns by the Bulldogs to plate four runs and take a sizeable advantage into the bottom of the frame.

Lauren Hendrix cashed in with a one-out single to get a baserunner aboard and was then joined on the paths by Julie Young who got a free pass after being hit by a Whitehead pitch. Jennifer Bottoms singled in Hendrix with the go-ahead run for the Lady 'Backs and was followed by a two-run double into left center by Andy Wharton that gave Arkansas a 3-0 lead. Shortstop Jennifer Jessup's misplay of a hard grounder by Courtney Mitchell allowed Wharton to cross the plate with the 4-0 lead for Arkansas.

State loaded the bases with its first four at bats in the bottom of the frame, then utilized a RBI single by Cheri Smith to score Whitehead from third base with the 'Dogs first run and chase Talley from the circle.

Mississippi State got its second run of the game with the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to left field by Jessup then loaded the bases again when Arkansas opted to give Kellie Wilkerson a free pass by way of an intentional walk, but Schlichtman struck out Jennifer Nelson to end the inning. Jennifer Bottoms gave Arkansas a runner in scoring position in the fourth courtesy of a one-out double by Jennifer Bottoms to chase Whitehead and was joined on the paths two batters later on a two-out walk delivered to Mitchell.

Erin Stokey's two-run double with the next at bat was followed by an RBI single by Danica Howlett that gave the Lady 'Backs a 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Bulldogs attempted to answer with a rally of their own, but sent just 16 batters to the plate in the final five innings, mixed in with a fifth-inning single by Wilkerson.Mississippi State will now await the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. to get word if the team will earn its second consecutive berth into the postseason. The Bulldogs will gather as a team inside the Mississippi State University Television Center for a private viewing of the show.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/12/01
Baseball - Mississippi State defeated Mississippi, 6-3, Friday night at Oxford-University Stadium behind the pitching of freshman Paul Maholm and senior Josh Wooten.

Maholm, with the win, goes to 6-4 on the year, while Wooten earned his 3rd save of the year.

Mississippi's ace, Pete Montrenes, took the loss and is now 9-4 on the season.

MSU (31-20) and Mississippi (35-18-1) are now tied for second place in the SEC West. Both are 16-12 on the season. If MSU wins one of the next two games, they will be the second place team in the SEC West.

The game drew 5,137, the 3rd largest home crowd in Mississippi's history.

MSU and Mississippi will meet for the second game of the series Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Junior Tanner Brock will start on the mound for the Bulldogs.

Signee Info:
A possible power-hitter on the way? Prior to the three-game Ripley-Independence playoff series, MSU signee Brett Cleveland, of Independence HS, was hitting .467 with 10 doubles, 2 triples and 10 homers.

Two-time all-american Kellie Wilkerson turned in a 1-2 performance at the plate with a solo homer and a walk to pace the Bulldog offense with senior third baseman Cheri Smith (1-3) providing State's only other hit. LSU first baseman Christy Connor highlighted a 1-3 showing at the plate with a two-run home run in the fourth that provided the difference.

Mississippi State starter Jennifer Pursell (16-13) struck out three Tigers and surrendered just three hits in three innings of work, but was victimized by the bat of Connor that sent her to her first loss since a 2-1 loss to LSU on April 12. Kasey Whitehead limited LSU to no hits in the final three innings of work, but got the no decision. LSU starter and 2001 SEC Player of the Year Britni Sneed (31-5) worked a complete game and struck out 10 Bulldogs to record the victory.

After both teams failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities through the first two innings, Wilkerson gave Mississippi State the first lead of the game when she belted Sneed's second offering into the bleachers in right field to put the 'Dogs up 1-0. LSU answered in the bottom of the fourth, getting a leadoff double from SEC batting champion Stephanie Hastings, before Connor smacked Pursell's first offering over the fence in right centerfield to put LSU up 2-1.

Wilkerson drew a walk and stole second to lead off the sixth to put a runner in scoring position for State, but the junior was thrown out by LSU catcher Jennifer Schuelke attempting to steal third to erase the threat. Mississippi State put a pair of runners on with two outs in the sixth, but Sneed got Brooke Best on a swinging strikeout to retire the side.

Mississippi State will now attempt to stave off elimination Saturday morning when the Bulldogs suit up to face Arkansas in a loser's bracket game at Jim Frost Stadium. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CDT. The game will be broadcast locally on 1230 AM and regionally televised by College Sports Southeast.

LSU 2, Mississippi State 1
Mississippi State 001 000 0 - 1 2 0
Louisiana State 000 200 x - 2 3 0

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/11/01
Baseball - Berths in next week's 2001 SEC Baseball Tournament are on the line at Oxford-University Stadium this weekend when Mississippi State (30-20, 15-12 SEC) closes out its regular season schedule against instate SEC rival Mississippi (35-17-1, 16-11 SEC).

The Bulldogs will send freshman lefty Paul Maholm (5-4, 4.72) to the hill against UM ace Pate Montrenes (9-3, 3.17) in Friday's 6:30 p.m. series opener. Junior right-hander Tanner Brock (7-1, 3.08) will draw the start in Saturday's 6:30 p.m. game against an opposing starter to be announced. Neither club has declared a starter for Sunday's 1:30 p.m. series finale.

WILD SEC TOURNAMENT SCRAMBLE...

Four tournament berths and all eight seeds in next week's double-elimination SEC Baseball Tournament are on the line this weekend when the 2001 SEC baseball regular season wraps up a 10-week run.

The race is so tight that Mississippi State's mathematical possibilities range from a league co-championship with Georgia to a 10th-place finish and just missing the eight-team field of the tournament.

A Bulldog win during the weekend would clinch MSU's 22nd SEC tournament berth.

The tournament runs May 16-20 at the Hoover Met near Birmingham, Ala.

BULLDOGS vs. REBELS...

The Bulldogs and the Rebels square off on the diamond for the 390th time when this year's three-game SEC weekend series opens Friday (6:30 p.m.) in Oxford. Mississippi State owns a 215-169-5 lead in its oldest and most frequently contested baseball rivalry. The teams have met at least once every year for the past 55 years.

State claimed a 15-6 win over UM Mar. 28 at the 22nd annual Mayor's Trophy Game in Jackson for the Bulldogs' third straight win in the hotly-contested series.

The Rebels took two of the three games played in 1999 in the last series in Oxford.

MSU skipper Pat McMahon is 8-6 in all-time coaching matchups against Mississippi.

KNOTT NAMED TO VERIZON/CoDISA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VI TEAM...

Outfielder Jon Knott, co-captain of the 2001 Mississippi State University baseball team, has been named to the 11-player Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District VI team.

The Venice, Fla., product now becomes eligible for the 2001 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America team, to be announced in early June.

Knott, a three-time SEC Baseball Academic Honor Roll selection, was one of three Mississippi State players to qualify for the initial Academic All-America Team balloting. Senior pitcher Josh Wooten of Star, Miss., and sophomore hurler Joey Collums of Germantown, Tenn., were also up for the honor. The district team represents the top scholar-athletes in NCAA Division I baseball from Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico and is selected by a vote of sports information directors from throughout the district.

Knott is a graduate student working towards an MBA degree at State and has compiled a 3.20 grade point average. He enters this weekend's series against instate SEC rival Mississippi with a team-leading and season-best .343 batting average.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

State got single hits from three different players, but it was the heroic bat of Best (1-2, RBI) that gave State a first round SEC Tournament victory for the first time since 1999. Kasey Whitehead (1-3) and Jennifer Jessup (1-2) also recorded singles for the Bulldogs. Florida got its only hit of the game from the bat of Ashley Boone (1-2).

Mississippi State starter Jennifer Pursell (16-12) no-hit the Gators through 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out three and walking two, before surrendering a seeing-eye single to Boone with two outs in the fifth. Kellie Wilkerson worked the final four outs of the game, striking out three and walking one, to record her 10th save of the campaign. Florida starter Amanda Moore (13-9) worked a complete game, but surrendered a lone run on three Mississippi State hits to take the loss for the Gators.

With Pursell muscling down Florida in the circle, Mississippi State moved Smith into scoring position in the fifth by way of a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt by Greenwood native Anna Joyce Lott to set the stage for Best who grew up in nearby Chattanooga suburb, Ooltewah. The 'Dogs nearly extended its lead to two runs with the next at bat, but failed to take advantage of a Jennifer Jessup double to left field when pinchrunner Amy Mosley was thrown out at the plate.

Florida nearly knotted the score in the seventh, using a leadoff walk and a throwing error to get a pair of runners aboard, but MSU used a key throw by catcher Jennifer Waterman to nail Amanda Judd at third base on a steal attempt, before Wilkerson struck out the final two Gator batters.

Mississippi State will continue action in the second round of the SEC Tournament tomorrow evening when the 'Dogs suit up to face the winner of Thursday's late-night contest between top-seeded LSU and eighth-seeded Auburn. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CDT at Jim Frost Stadium. The game will be broadcast locally by 1230 AM and will be televised regionally by College Sports Southeast.

2001 SEC Softball Tournament (First Round)
Mississippi State 1, Florida 0
Florida 000 000 0 - 0 1 0
Mississippi State 000 010 x - 1 3

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/09/01 (10:30 p.m.)
Baseball - Mississippi State hit three home runs Wednesday night and closed out its 2001 non-conference schedule with a 6-5 win over UAB at Jerry Young Stadium. The win gave the Bulldogs (30-20) their SEC-leading 19th consecutive 30-win season.

Michael Brown belted the game's first pitch over the right field fence, Josh West added a solo shot for a 2-0 MSU lead in the third, and Willingham's fourth home run of the campaign, a two-run shot to right off UAB relief pitcher Rob Caputo (2-6) gave the Bulldogs a 6-5 lead.

Senior right-hander Jeff Hunter (2-0), the fifth of eight MSU pitchers in the game, picked up the win, striking out three and allowing one unearned run and one hit during his two-inning stint. Josh Wooten retired the five batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings to claim his second save of the season.

All nine Bulldog starters hit safely in the game, with Steve Gendron hitting two singles and Jon Knott added a pair of doubles to MSU's 11-hit attack.

MSU pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts and scattered eight hits.

Mississippi State travels to Oxford, Miss., this weekend, closing out its 2001 regular season schedule with a three-game series at Mississippi. Friday's series-opener at Oxford-University Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT.

Mississippi State (30-20) 101 022 000 --- 6-11-2
UAB (25-27) 001 301 000 --- 5-8-0
WP --- Jeff Hunter (2-0). LP --- Rob Caputo (3-6). SV --- Josh Wooten (2). HR --- Michael Brown (3), Josh West (5), Phillip Willingham (4). A --- 921. T --- 2:41.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Sophomore outfielder Kellie Wilkerson and freshman outfielder Iyhia McMichael earned All-SEC accolades, while 13 other players earned a spot on the conference academic honor roll, as the Bulldogs raked in numerous postseason honors to kick-off the 2001 SEC Softball Tournament here Wednesday.

The centerfielder Wilkerson continued her presence on the all-SEC first team while McMichael, her counterpart in right field, earned a spot on the second team to highlight her already illustrious freshman season. Six seniors, as well as eight from the current squad, highlighted State's school-record academic honor roll count.

Brooke Best, Jennifer Jessup, Anna Joyce Lott, Kasey Whitehead, Kellie Wilkerson, Cheri Smith and Robyn Schlagheck were the members of the current squad to garner the academic honors, while every member of the 2000 senior class - Chris Bushby, Jenny Hehnke, Nichole Henry, Kendell Kimbrough, Michelle Gates, Karrie Rider and current student assistant coach Keri McCallum - also took home academic all-SEC accolades.

Wilkerson, a two-position standout for the Bulldogs this season, hit .446 inside the conference this season to go along with 15 extra base hits and 15 RBI. She drew 24 walks against conference foes, nine of which were intentional, and was successful on 14 of 18 stolen base attempts while scoring 28 runs. Wilkerson was equally as dominant in the SEC as a pitcher, recording a 4-1 record with a 0.26 ERA and striking out 26 batters in 27 innings of work. The junior also recorded a conference leading seven saves inside the circle for Mississippi State.

McMichael played and started in every conference game for the Bulldogs this season, recording a .367 average with four doubles, one triple, three home runs and a team-leading 16 RBI. The freshman was also successful on 14 of 18 stolen base attempts against SEC foes, and added 12 walks and 12 runs scored.

Fourth-seeded Mississippi State will open up its portion of play in the SEC Tournament on Thursday when the Bulldogs suit up to face fifth-seeded Florida in first round action. Game time is set for 6 p.m. EDT at Jim Frost Stadium in Chattanooga.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/09/01
Baseball - Mississippi State hits the road Wednesday night to close out its regular-season non-conference schedule against UAB. And the Bulldogs are hoping their first trip to Birmingham this season won't be the last.

MSU (29-20, 15-12) will be aiming for its SEC-leading 19th consecutive 30-win season in Wednesday's 6:35 p.m. (CDT) contest at Jerry M. Young Memorial Field. Junior lefty Joey Collums (2-3, 4.47) will draw his 10th start of the season and lead a split pitching crew on the hill for the Bulldogs.

UAB (24-26) was scheduled to meet cross-city rival Samford in a Tuesday night game.

The Bulldogs, who dropped a 4-2 decision to UAB earlier this season at Dudy Noble Field, are hoping to return to Birmingham in a week to continue their 2001 season in the SEC Tournament, set May 16-20 at the Hoover Met. State is within a conference win of nailing down its 22nd SEC Tournament berth. The Bulldogs get an opportunity to clinch a tournament berth this weekend in Oxford, Miss., when MSU tests instate SEC-rival Mississippi in a regular season-ending three-game series at Oxford-University Stadium.

SEC TOURNAMENT SCRAMBLE...

Four tournament berths and all eight seeds in next week's double-elimination SEC Baseball Tournament are on the line this weekend when the 2001 SEC baseball regular season wraps up a 10-week run.

The race is so tight that Mississippi State's mathematical possibilities range from a league co-championship to a 10th-place finish and just missing the eight-team field of the tournament.

BULLDOGS VS. BLAZERS...

Mississippi State owns a 16-9 lead in its series with UAB, including three wins (17-1, 9-6, 18-7) last year. But in their only previous meeting this season the Blazers turned the tables on the Bulldogs, winning 4-2 at Dudy Noble Field in a game delayed by a power outage and later by a lightning storm. UAB scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth and used a walk, two hit batsmen and a single to add two more in the sixth to lead 4-1.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/08/01
Baseball - MSU is unranked in all three polls this week.

05/07/01 (9:35 a.m.)
Baseball - To read a truly inspiring story about a family that I call MSU baseball's biggest fans, click here to read the Maples story.

05/07/01
SEC Baseball:
If The Season Were Over Today the SEC Baseball Tournament seeds would be in the following order:
*1. Georgia
*2. LSU
3. Ole Miss
4. Tennessee
***5. Florida
***6. Miss. State
***7. South Carolina
8. Auburn

*-Division champions are top two seeds.

***-South Carolina wins tie-breaker with Florida because Gamecocks have better divisional record. The Gamecocks and Gators play next weekend. MSU wins tie-breaker with Gamecocks because they won the head to head battle with USC. Florida wins tie-breaker with MSU because they won the head to head battle between the two teams.

LSU , Ole Miss and Georgia are the only two teams that have clinched a spot in the SEC Tournament. Miss. State is one win or Alabama loss away from clinching a spot.

Tournament Seeding Information:
The eight teams that make up the 2001 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament are determined by the best winning percentage in conference competition.

The divisional champion with the highest conference winning percentage is the first seed and the remaining divisional champion is the second seed. All other teams are seeded by conference winning percentage.

Where To Get Tickets - Tickets for the 2001 SEC Tournament are $80 for reserved box seats, $15 for a single-game reserved seat, $48 for a Dr Pepper Six-Pack general admission book. A limited number of single game tickets will be available during the week of the tournament. Call (800) 240-2300 or (205) 933-1280 to purchase tickets.

Important Dates:
May 11-13 Final Weekend of SEC Play
May 14 NCAA Regional Site Announcement (2 p.m. CT)
May 15 Practice Day - SEC Tournament (Hoover Met)
May 16-20 2001 SEC Baseball Tournament (Hoover Met)
May 21 NCAA Tournament Selection Show (ESPN - 2 p.m. CT)
May 25-27 NCAA Regionals (Campus Sites)
June 1-3 NCAA Super Regionals (Campus Sites)
June 8-16 College World Series (Omaha, Neb.)

Baseball - Mark Carter, touched for a run and four hits in the first inning, shut out the Bulldogs the next eight frames Sunday afternoon to lead Alabama to a 7-1 win over No. 23 Mississippi State in the Bulldogs' 2001 home finale.

After Matthew Brinson's RBI single gave MSU a 1-0 lead in the first, Carter (7-3) gave up just four hits the remainder of the game en route to his third complete-game pitching performance. Carter struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Kavonski Chatman singled off MSU starter Brandon Medders (5-3) in the third to open a career-best 3-for-3 plate performance and later scored the tying run on a double by Casey Lambert.

Alabama scored single runs in each of the next three innings, one in the fifth inning on Casey Lambert's eighth home run of the year. A three-run eighth-inning blast by Scott McClanahan, his fourth of the year, closed out the game's scoring.

Lambert and Scott Evans had two hits and drove in two runs each for Alabama, while Jon Knott went 3-for-4 to lead Mississippi State.

The weekend series leaves Mississippi State tied with Florida and South Carolina for fifth place in a tight Southeastern Conference race. The top eight teams advance to the double elimination SEC Tournament May 16-20 in Hoover, Ala.

The Bulldogs travel to Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday to close out their non-conference schedule in a 6:35 p.m. game at UAB. Next weekend MSU closes out regular-season conference competition in a three-game series at Mississippi. Game times are set for 6:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

ALABAMA 7, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
Alabama (29-23, 12-15) 001 111 030 --- 7-10-0
MSU (29-20, 15-12) 100 000 000 --- 1-8-1
WP -- Mark Carter (7-3). LP -- Brandon Medders (5-3). HR -- Casey Lambert (8), Scott McClanahan (4) . T -- 2:25. A -- 4,038. Carter and Evans. Medders, Dowe (6), Wooten (8) and Burkley.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

Baseball - Overall record: 29-20 (22-12 home, 6-8 away, 1-0 neutral)
SEC record: 15-12 (10-5 home, 5-7 away)

Last week's results (1-2):
May 4 - Alabama 8, MSU 1 (Starkville, Miss.)
May 5 - MSU 3, Alabama 2 (Starkville, Miss.)
May 6 - Alabama 7, MSU 1 (Starkville, Miss.)

This week's schedule:
May 9 - at UAB (Birmingham, Ala. --- 6:35 p.m. CDT)
May 11 - at Mississippi (Oxford, Miss. --- 6:30 p.m. CDT)
May 12 - at Mississippi (Oxford, Miss. --- 6:30 p.m. CDT)
May 13 - at Mississippi (Oxford, Miss. --- 2 p.m. CDT)

Bulldog junior right-hander Tanner Brock (7-1, 3.08) ran his conference record to 6-0 with a solid 8-inning, four-hit pitching performance in a 3-2 MSU win over Alabama, the SEC's top hitting club. Brock struck out five and earned the win with relief help from Brandon Medders, who retired the three batters he faced in the ninth ... Freshman pitcher Paul Maholm is one of 19 collegiate sophomores or freshmen and the lone SEC player invited to the USA Baseball National Team Trials in Tucson, Ariz., in June. This year's team is being skippered by Bulldog head coach Pat McMahon ... With its next win Mississippi State extends its streak of consecutive 30-win seasons to an SEC-leading 19. State also needs one more win to nail down its 22nd SEC Tournament berth ... Senior co-captain Jon Knott went 6-for-11 (.545) in the final home series of his career last weekend. Knott is hitting at a career single-season-best and team-leading .343 and has piled up 238 career hits (51 one runs) and 200 career RBI ... Bulldog batters managed but five runs on 24 hits and three walks during the weekend series with Alabama, while nine of Alabama's 17 runs came off five home runs.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

The seeding matches the highest-ever for the Bulldogs who represented its division as the No. 4 seed in the 1998 SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs dropped their opener in that tournament, then won four-straight contests to move into the championship game against Alabama.

The 'Dogs and Gators will be joined by other first round matchups including: top-seeded LSU (49-9, 26-4) against eighth-seeded Auburn (29-30, 10-20), second-seeded South Carolina (37-17-1) against seventh-seeded Kentucky (27-31, 10-17) and third-seeded Alabama (47-9, 24-6) pitted against sixth-seeded Arkansas (34-28, 14-16).

With Mississippi being the lone non-qualifier from the division, the SEC West sent five teams to the SEC Softball Tournament for the first time ever. The Eastern Division, which may have been plagued this season with a rule changing scheduling formats against the West, possessed only one team with a winning conference record at season's end.

Needing to take just one game from conference champion LSU, Auburn knocked off the Tigers with a grand slam in the sixth by Mary Petrie on Sunday to nab the final spot in the tournament from the clutches of Georgia. Georgia had gotten themselves closer to qualifying with a series win at Tennessee just one hour earlier.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/06/01
Baseball - Jason Burkley scored from third on Matthew Brinson's eighth-inning sacrifice fly Saturday to lift No. 23 Mississippi State (29-19, 15-11) to a 3-2 win over Alabama (28-23, 11-15) at Dudy Noble Field. The win evened the weekend series at a game apiece in advance of Sunday's 1:30 p.m. series finale.

The Bulldogs plated single tallies in the second and third innings to take an early 2-0 lead against Crimson Tide starter Jeremy Vaughn (0-4). Jon Knott doubled and scored in the second on Steve Gendron's single to shallow right. Shortstop Matthew Maniscalco opened the third with a single and scored from first base on Michael Brown's double.

MSU starter Tanner Brock (7-1) worked out of a pair of bases-loaded jams and blanked Alabama over the first five innings. First baseman Aaron Clark walked to open the sixth and scored Alabama's first run on a double by Jeremy Brown. Scott McClanahan tripled off the fence in left field and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Brown.

Vaughn held MSU scoreless until the eighth when Jason Burkley reached on a throwing error, advanced on a single by Josh West and a wild pitch, and scored on Brinson's sacrifice fly to center field off relief man Jared Woodward.

Brock, who scattered four hits but walked a career-high seven, left the game in the ninth after issuing a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Grant Redding. Brandon Medders then retired the three batters he faced on a groundout and a pair of fly balls to the outfield to earn his team-leading third save.

Michael Brown, Jon Knott and Steve Gendron had two hits each to pace the Bulldogs' 10-hit attack. Scott McClanahan accounted for half of Alabama's four hits with a triple and a single.

The Bulldogs can clinch their 22nd SEC Tournament berth and an SEC-leading 19th consecutive 30-win season with a win in Sunday's series finale, also State's last home game of the 2001 campaign.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 3, ALABAMA 2
Alabama (28-23, 11-15) 000 001 000 --- 2-4-1
Mississippi State (29-19, 15-11) 011 000 01x --- 3-10-0
WP --- Tanner Brock (7-1) . LP --- Jeremy Vaughn. HR --- . A --- 5,138. T --- 2:46 .
Vaughn, Woodard (8) and Brown. Brock, Medders (9) and Burkley.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/05/01
Baseball - Alabama belted three home runs during a five-run sixth-inning burst and got a complete-game pitching performance from Lance Cormier Friday night en route to a series-opening 8-1 win over No. 23 Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field.

Jeremy Brown and Beau Hear od sandwiched two-run blasts around an SEC-leading 19th circuit clout by Aaron Clark, chasing MSU starter Paul Maholm (5-4) from the game in the sixth inning.

Alabama (28-22, 11-14) got another solid pitching performance from junior right-hander Lance Cormier (8-5), who retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced. Steve Gendron singled and scored the Bulldogs' lone run on a single by Matthew Maniscalco in the fifth.

The Crimson Tide jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Maholm. Jeremy Brown opened a 2-for-3, 3-RBI night with a run-scoring single in the first inning, advanced to third on a double by Aaron Clark and later scored on an infield groundout by Beau Hearod, who also finished the night with three RBI drove in three runs.

The Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide continue their weekend series in Starkville Saturday at 4 p.m. (CDT).

ALABAMA 8, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
Alabama (28-22, 11-14) 200 005 100 --- 8-8-0
Mississippi State (28-19, 14-11) 000 010 000 --- 1-6-3
WP --- Lance Cormier (8-5) . LP --- Paul Maholm (5-4). HR --- Jeremy Brown (10), Aaron Clark (19), Beau Hearod (8). A -- 4,116. T -- 2:41.
Maholm, Young (6) and Burkley. Cormier and Brown.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

05/04/01 - Here is a premium site article that I feel should be shared with all MSU baseball fans.

"Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts."

This quote from the 1998 film "Hope Floats" applies to various situations one crosses on the road of life. Everything in life has a beginning, a middle and an end.

The finale of a college baseball career is no different. Imagine the terrified feelings that go along with taking the field for the first time in front of an enormous crowd. Think of all the tears of sadness that surface with one's last at-bat on his home field. But it is the stories from the middle of their career that they will be telling their grandchildren.

This ending is fast approaching for the seniors on the 2001 Mississippi State baseball team. The regular season comes to an end on May 13 with a series at Ole Miss. Then comes the sitting and waiting for the announcement of whether or not there will be any post-season play for them and their teammates.

Josh West, a native of Hamilton, has been a part of the Bulldogs for four years. West was one of the 10 MSU players to finish the 2000 season with a batting average higher than .300.

"I have been here four years," West says. "This is always where I wanted to go since I was a little kid. It is kind of sad when it comes to an end, but hopefully I will be playing after this year in pro ball or somewhere. It is sad to leave Mississippi State, but hopefully I can still keep playing.

"The thing that I am going to miss the most are our fans. The atmosphere around here toward baseball is amazing. It is such a big sport in this area."

Jon Knott is the only senior to have been with State for five years. He red-shirted the 1997 season after making the squad as a walk-on. The 16 home runs he launched during his junior season was a team high, along with 66 RBIs he recorded.

"I'm kind of excited," Knott says. "I'm not sad or anything about it. I had fun here, and I know it is not over yet. But I learned a lot of stuff while I was here. And I had a lot of fun. I'm excited to see what happens with pro ball and the rest of the stuff after that.

"I'm going to miss all these guys, especially Jason [Burkley]. He and I have gotten really close the last couple of years. I'm definitely going to miss those guys. We don't just come here and play. We all live together and hang out together. We all have class together. We just have had so much fun together."

Darrin Hope is a newcomer on the squad this year. Along with four other current Bulldogs, he is a graduate of Germantown High School. Hope began his college career at Arkansas State University, where he stayed for three years, before transferring to MSU in the fall of 2000.

"The thing that I'm going to miss about playing college baseball is the team and how close we are," Hope says. "And hanging out with all the guys. I'm going to miss playing, of course, but the best is hanging out with the guys all the time. Just being part of a team.

"And then, I'm also going to miss the competition a lot because being a competitor is a big part of my life. I'm going to miss competing all the time.

"I majored in business and my dad has a business. He sells emergency lights for police cars and stuff like that. He is opening up some more locations, so I'm probably going to take over one of those after I'm done playing."

Phillip Willingham and Knott serve as the co-captains on the squad this season. The left-hander's junior season has been called his most productive season in maroon and white. He hit a career-best .322 with 67 hits, eight homers and 34 RBIs.

"I'm sad, but I'm ready. I'd like to have another year to play though. I wish I had redshirted because I'd like to play another year here, and I think, developmentally wise, it would have helped me more.

"Most of all, I'm going to miss the other guys. I hope I'll see them again some time in pro ball, if I, hopefully, get the chance to do that. And the fans. We've made a lot of friends with a bunch of the fans. I've been here for four years. And I know a whole bunch of them and have known them that whole time."

Josh Wooten will always be known at State for his side-arm pitching. The transfer from Meridian Community College had a 2-1 record during the 1999 season with five saves and a team leading 2.06 ERA helping his team when the conference crown that year.

"I'm really sad about ending my college career in general. Even more than that though, I'm sad about leaving Mississippi State baseball because this has always been my dream. So, it is kind of like my dream ending. I've really enjoyed my time here. And to be a baseball player at State, it means something.

"I'll miss that extra special feeling of being a part of a team. Of course, I'm going to miss all the guys and all the personalities that you wouldn't normally run into. I'm going to miss that because I won't be with these guys all day anymore.

"And competing in the SEC week in and week out because that is big time adrenaline and fun. It is like playing in the playoffs every weekend. I'm going to miss the competition, the camaraderie and living my dream. But I'm pumped to be here and to have played here for two years. That is what I've wanted since I was a little kid. It's been great."

05/02/01
Baseball - Mississippi State freshman pitching standout Paul Maholm is among 19 collegiate players invited to participate in the 2001 USA Baseball National Team trials, USA Baseball announced Tuesday.

Maholm, from Holly Springs, Miss., has compiled a 5-3 record and 4.24 earned run average and leads the club with 62 strikeouts. The left-hander has drawn starts in all eight conference weekend series for Mississippi State and set an MSU record for strikeouts by a freshman April 14 with 13 against then-10th-ranked South Carolina. Maholm concluded his high school career at Germantown (Tenn.) High School and was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th-round of professional baseball's June draft last year.

Additional players will be invited to the team trials June 16-19 in Tucson, Arizona, with the 20-player USA Baseball National Team roster announced June 19. Team USA will play approximately 30 games on its Red, White and Blue Tour, beginning June 22 with the 30th annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series played this year in Japan.

Mississippi State University baseball coach Pat McMahon will serve as the head coach for Team USA, with Dusty Rhodes (North Florida), Paul Stevens (Northwestern) and Bob Todd of (Ohio State) serving as assistant coaches. The team trials will begin June 16 at the Hi Corbett Field facilities in Tucson.

USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM TRIAL INVITEES
Player Pos Ht Wt B/T Yr School Hometown

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department

This document was created using FlexED