04/29/04
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Homestanding Mississippi State sent 11 batters to the plate in a five-run third inning to rally behind a combined two-hit shutout from a trio of pitchers and complete a home-and-home series sweep of UAB with a 7-0 blanking of the Blazers Wednesday evening at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

Jennifer Waterman highlighted a 1-for-3 night at the plate with a two-run home run, with Iyhia McMichael (2-for-3) and Kate Jaspers (0-for-1) both driving in a pair of runs for the Bulldogs (35-22) as well. Callye Williams tripled and scored on a 1-for-2 hitting line, with rookie Hayle Guess scoring once on a 1-for-2 night as well. Two different players recorded hits for the Blazers (16-34).

MSU starter Kelli Miller (9-8) inched her record above the .500 mark with her fourth consecutive victory, striking out four and giving up just one hit in four innings of work. Bulldog relievers Stephanie Comeaux and Sara Hickerson struck out five over the last three innings of scoreless ball, but both got no decisions. UAB staff ace Tara Higashino (8-20) took her second loss in as many days against Mississippi State, allowing four runs on five hits in 2-1/3 innings of work.

The win helped Mississippi State match its season-long winning streak at seven games, while giving the Maroons their school-record tying 21st home victory. State's victory was also its 13th triumph in its last 15 outings and helped the 'Dogs surpass last season's win total in seven less games.

"We put some runs on the board, but it would have been nice to hit the ball a little bit better," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "After we got those runs in the third inning, we just sort of sat on the lead and got a little complacent. We had been finishing people off, but we didn't do that today.

"We got some really great pitching performances from all three ­ Kelli, Steph and Sara. It was good to get them all some innings and we got everybody in the game tonight."

Waterman homered with the second at-bat in the third inning to trigger an eruption by the Bulldogs' arsenal that was fueled by three UAB errors that kept the inning alive. Following Waterman's dinger, State put its next two batters of the inning on via a single and a fielder's choice, then got a sac fly from Callye Williams to stretch the advantage out to 3-0. Blazer reliever Brittany Hodge beaned Hayle Guess with the next at-bat to load the bases, then gave two gifts to the Bulldogs by walking the next two batters to bring two more runs across.

The Bulldogs got a leadoff triple from Williams in the fifth to spark another rally, adding a pair of insurance runs on a RBI single from McMichael and a sac fly from Jaspers.

Mississippi State will now get a one-week hiatus from competition in preparation for final exams next week. The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday, May 8, when the Maroon and White suit up to host No. 23 Georgia Tech (39-13) in a Senior Day doubleheader at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

Mississippi State's seven-member senior class ­ Blaire Brown, Kate Jaspers, Iyhia McMichael, Lindsay Nelson, Meagan O'Nan, Jennifer Waterman and Brandi Watkins ­ will be honored in a ceremony prior to the first pitch which has been slated for 3 p.m. Admission to all 2004 Mississippi State Softball home games is free.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, UAB 0
UAB (16-34) 000 000 0 - 0 2 4
Mississippi State (35-22) 005 020 0 - 7 7 0
Higashino, Hodge (3) and Ellis. Miller, Comeaux (5), Hickerson (7) and Waterman, Geddings (6). W ­ Miller (9-8). L ­ Higashino (8-20). Save ­ None. HR ­ MSU, Waterman. 3B ­ MSU, Williams. 2B ­ UAB, Ellis. SF ­ MSU, Jaspers, Williams.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/28/04
Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi State put together multi-run rallies in three different innings to turn an early-inning dogfight into a six-inning rout as the Bulldogs pounded out their 19th double digit hitting performance in a 11-3 victory over UAB Tuesday evening at George Ward Park in Birmingham, Ala.

The Maroon and White slammed two home runs in the contest, including a three-run shot from Birmingham native Katie Johnson in the second inning to cruise to its sixth-straight victory and its 12th win in its last 14 outings. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael extended her hitting streak to 13 games by scoring a pair of runs on a 2-for-3 hitting line, while Kate Jaspers led all RBI performers, punching in three on a 1-for-3 tally with a run scored.

Lindsay Nelson highlighted a 1-for-4 night at the plate with a two-run homer in the sixth, with Tanelda McDonald (2-for-3) and Blaire Brown (2-for-4) pitching in multi-hit plate tallies. With its 11 runs scored on Tuesday, Mississippi State set a school record with a total of 303 runs scored during the 2004 campaign. Leadoff hitter Sara Christophel singled twice in three trips to the plate to lead the UAB hitting column.

MSU starter Melissa Massey (16-8) won her seventh-straight outing with plenty of offense behind her and struck out three UAB hitters in four innings of work. Stephanie Comeaux struck out two batters and allowed just one hit in two innings of work to collect her second save of the season. Tara Higashino saddled the complete game loss for the Blazers, surrendering 10 earned runs on 12 MSU hits in the setback.

The Bulldogs scraped together a score quickly, using a leadoff walk issued to McMichael, coupled with a sac bunt by Kate Jaspers, to get a runner in scoring position within minutes of first pitch. Jennifer Waterman's slow roller with the next at-bat was quickly corralled by Higashino, but UAB first baseman Kris Lara muffed the throw, allowing McMichael to cross the plate with the 1-0 advantage for State.

The Blazers mounted a quick charge in much the same manner, using a leadoff single from Christophel and a sac bunt by Chelsea McCall to put a runner of their own into position. Massey recorded the second out of the frame with a swinging strikeout of Beth Mullins, but the cleanup hitter Krzan finished off the damage by smacking a 2-2 offering from the MSU staff ace over the fence in centerfield for the 2-1 lead heading into the second.

State countered immediately, however, putting a pair of runners into scoring position with its first three at-bats in the second to set the table for the pinch hitter Johnson who launched a full-count offering from Higashino down the leftfield line and into the trees, giving the lead back to MSU in the form of a 4-2 score.

Not to be outdone, the Blazers rallied again in their half of the second, getting a pair of runners into scoring position on a duo of one-out dribbling infield singles and a sac bunt from Lauren Terry. Christophel delivered the goods moments later, lacing a shot to the gap in left centerfield to bring one run across, before a series of perfect relay throws nailed Christophel on the base paths attempting to stretch her knock into a two-baser.

Although relatively quiet the rest of the way out, State would plate a pair of insurance runs in the fourth, then blew the game wide open on three swings in the fifth, getting a two-run ground rule double from Kate Jaspers, a RBI single from Brown and a three-run round-tripper from the bat of Nelson.

Mississippi State and UAB will both return to action tomorrow when the squads complete their home-home-series with a game in Starkville. First pitch of the contest is set for 6 p.m. at the Mississippi State Softball Field and admission is free.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 11, UAB 3 (6 Innings)
Mississippi State (33-22) 130 205 - 11 12 0
UAB (16-32) 210 000 - 3 7 1
Massey and Waterman. Higashino and Ellis. W - Massey (16-8). L - . Save - Comeaux. HR - UAB, Krzan. MSU, Johnson, Nelson. 2B - MSU, McMichael.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/27/04
Softball
MSU softball signee Ragan Blake, a RHP, is currently 22-0 with an 0.05 ERA in 137.2 innings. She has walked 3 and struck out 208. Her team, Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, is currently ranked No. 1.

04/26/04
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ With the Bulldogs trailing 4-0 with one on and one out in the bottom of the second inning, heavy rains moving across the state of Mississippi forced the cancellation of Mississippi State's series finale with the nationally-ranked Florida Gators Sunday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

The Bulldogs will be the No. 7 seed in the 2004 SEC Tournament to be held May 13-16 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Maroon and White will play the second game of the postseason gala at 1:30 p.m. against an opponent yet to be determined.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday evening when Mississippi State closes out its 2004 regular season road schedule at UAB. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at George Ward Park. State will return home on Wednesday to host the Blazers in a single game also slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/25/04
Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. ­ Mississippi State University's Tiffany McWilliams won the Olympic Development Mile at Franklin Field on Saturday, in a regional qualifying time of 4:31.31, the second fastest time ever run at the Penn Relays.

MSU's Trey Hardee, Jamel Ashley, Arthur Davis and LaChristopher Lewis won the 4x200m Championship of America relay with a 1:22.53 performance. The 4x400m relay team of Ashley, Lewis, Davis and Keston Nelson finished fifth in the race with a 3:05.36, their second regional qualifying time of the meet.

"Anytime you win a Championship of America race, like we did in the 4x200m, it is really unbelievable for your university," said head coach Al Schmidt. "Those four guys ran great races at this meet. Then, Tiffany ran the mile run in the second fastest time ever at the Penn Relays, only behind the American record. The guys did well in the 4x400m relay. We were looking for something better, but one championship is a lot more than some schools win."

In the hammer throw, Matt Holcomb took seventh with a distance of 184-6, also a regional qualifying mark. Matt Whalen set a personal best mark with a 181-8, finishing in 10th place.

Next, the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs compete at the Ole Miss Open, their final regular season meet, on Saturday, May 1, in Oxford, Miss.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs (32-22, 13-15 SEC) got multi-hit outings from three different players including perfect hitting lines from both Kate Jaspers (3-for-3, 3 RBI) and Meagan O'Nan (2-for-2, 2 R) to fuel its fire, with Madison's Tanelda McDonald providing her second consecutive multi-hit game on a 2-for-3 plate tally. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael stretched her season-high hitting streak out to 12 games with a 1-for-2 day with a pair of runs scored. Kristen Butler hit two solo homers to lead the Gator (39-13, 15-10) attack.

MSU starter Melissa Massey (15-8) won her sixth consecutive decision after striking out three and allowing three earned runs on six hits in five innings of work. Bulldog reliever Stephanie Comeaux picked up her first save of the campaign, surrendering just one hit and two walks in the sixth and seventh. Florida staff ace Stacy Stevens (13-6) took the loss for the Gators after being exploited with seven earned runs on eight hits and a pair of walks.

A second-inning leadoff single by McDonald, coupled with free passes issued to both O'Nan (HBP) and McMichael (five-pitch walk) loaded the bases for the Bulldogs and set the table for Jaspers who delivered a base-clearing double to give State an early 3-0 lead.

Florida answered in their half of the fourth, however, using a solo homer by Butler and a pass ball later in the inning, to score a pair of runs and cut their deficit to just one, 3-2. State would add to their advantage in the next frame, though, getting a two-run double off the bat of Waterman and a two-run homer from Brown to attain a 7-2 lead heading into the fifth.

Florida would rally in the sixth on consecutive homers from Butler and Melissa Zick to chase Massey from the circle, but Comeaux would handle things the rest of the way out. The Pascagoula native got three consecutive outs to close out the fifth, then gave up a meaningless single in a scoreless seventh.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, NO. 17 FLORIDA 4
Florida (39-12) 000 202 0 - 4 7 0
Mississippi State (32-22) 030 400 x - 7 11 0
Stevens, Knowles (5) and Diaz. Massey, Comeaux (6) and Waterman. W ­ Massey (14-8). L ­ Stevens (13-6). Save ­ Comeaux (1). HR ­ UF, Butler 2, Zick. MSU, Brown. 2B ­ MSU, Jaspers 2, Waterman, McDonald.

(Game 2) STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State sent 11 batters to the plate in an eight-run third inning to rally behind a solid outing from rookie Kelli Miller and finish off a doubleheader sweep of visiting and 17th-ranked Florida with a 9-5 victory in the twinbill nightcap Saturday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

The Bulldogs (33-22, 14-15 SEC) got multi-hit tallies from five different players, including senior Lindsay Nelson who drove in and scored a run with a 3-for-3 hitting line. Sophomore shortstop Callye Williams collected a pair of RBI and scored once on a 2-for-3 outing, with Iyhia McMichael (2 R), Kate Jaspers (R, RBI) and Jennifer Waterman (2 RBI, R) all tallying 2-for-4 days at the plate. Kristen Butler doubled and drove in four runs on a 2-for-4 plate tally to pace the nationally ranked Gators (39-14, 15-11).

Miller (8-8) won her third consecutive decision with another solid outing from the circle, striking out six Gators and limiting the visitors to just a pair of hits through six innings. Miller finished her outing allowing three earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks. State got to Florida starter Amanda Moore (6-2) for the seventh time in as many appearances, this time sending the senior to her second loss of the season after scoring four earned runs on six hits and two walks.

For the Bulldogs, it was their fourth-straight SEC series victory and their third consecutive series victory over the Gators. The Bulldogs win, coupled with a South Carolina loss to Mississippi on Saturday, ensures the Bulldogs of at least a No. 7 seed in the SEC Tournament to be held May 13-16 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"I thought the kids did a great job today," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "We got some runs on the board and we kept the pressure on. We had a couple of opportunities in the last game where we could have finished them off with the run rule and I would have liked to see us do that after we had that eight-run inning. But, overall, I was really pleased. We hit the ball throughout the lineup and that's a good sign.

"Kelli got a little tired in the last inning but, up until then, she just dominated. Melissa (Massey) and Stephanie (Comeaux) both did a good job in the first game. Kelli came in the second game and did the same type of thing. Obviously, if we can keep that same kind of offensive production, it makes it a lot easier on the pitchers and on your defense."

Mississippi State got consecutive singles to lead off the first inning and, after a Waterman ground out moved the runners into scoring position, Blaire Brown gave State first blood in the contest with a sac fly to deep leftfield. The Gators countered in the third, however, using a pair of MSU errors to put runners on second and third for Butler who delivered a two-run single that gave the Gators their first lead of the day.

Not to be denied, State would explode for seven hits in the bottom of the frame, including RBI knocks from four different players, to score eight runs and take a lead it would never relinquish. Staring at a 9-2 deficit in the top of the seventh, Florida would put together a two-out rally that produced a trio of runs, but the Gators would not get any closer.

Mississippi State will be back in action again on Sunday afternoon when the Bulldogs battle Florida in the series finale at the Mississippi State Softball Field. First pitch of the contest has been slated for 1 p.m. and admission to all 2004 MSU Softball home games is free.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 9, NO. 17 FLORIDA 5
Florida (39-14) 002 000 3 - 5 6 1
Mississippi State (33-22) 108 000 x - 9 12 3
Moore, Knowles (2), Stevens (2) and Diaz. Miller and Waterman. W ­ Miller (8-8). L ­ Moore (6-2). Save ­ None. 3B ­ MSU, Williams. 2B ­ UF, Butler. MSU, Waterman 2, Nelson. SF ­ MSU, Brown, Watkins.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/24/04
Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. ­ Mississippi State University men's 4x400m relay team of Jamel Ashley, LaChristopher Lewis, Arthur Davis and Keston Nelson advanced to the finals of the Championship of America race with a regional qualifying 3:06.77 performance at the 110th annual Penn Relays at Franklin Field on Friday. The squad holds the top time entering the finals.

Bulldog's Trey Hardee, Jamel Ashley, Arthur Davis and LaChristopher Lewis comprised MSU's 4x100m and 4x200m relays teams. The 4x200m team qualified for finals winning the Championship of America prelims with a 1:22.70, and the 4x100m team advanced to finals with a 40.44, also a regional qualifying time to win their heat. Finals will be held for all three relays on Saturday.

In the men's shot put, Matt Whalen threw a 51-9 1/4 for ninth place, and JD Erickson took 12th in the event with a distance of 50-11.

On the women's side, Lady Bulldogs Kia James, Nicole Dunn, Zita Magloire and Jennifer McPherson took 10th in the sprint medley relay Championship of America race with a 3:58.58.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The loss dropped MSU to 8-13 overall. UGA improved to 16-5.

In doubles, the teams traded wins at the top two positions, leaving the point to be decided at No. 3. State's Matt Armstrong and Jose-Carlos Pinto were up a break at 6-4 and had three break point chances for a 7-4 lead. But UGA's duo of Ricardo Gonzales and Matic Omerzel fought off those challenges and then went on to take the next three games for an 8-6 victory.

The Bulldogs from Athens would ride the momentum from that point into singles action, taking the first set at five of the six positions, and would never really look back after that.

UGA went up 2-0 in the match when 13th-ranked Bo Hodge downed MSU's 35th-ranked Romain Ambert 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 1 position. Georgia took a 3-0 lead with a win from Strahinja Bobusic by the same score at the No. 5 spot over State's Max Fomine. MSU finally got on the board when true freshman Arnaud Roussel finished off a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Gonzales at the No. 6 position to trim the UGA advantage to 3-1.

But Matias Ormaza would close out the win for Georgia, completing a 6-3, 6-3 victory over MSU's Florent Girod at the No. 4 spot. In the remaining matches, MSU had just split sets and led 1-0 early in the third at No. 2, and UGA led 6-2, 6-5 at No. 3, the score standing on serve in the second set of that contest.

State will learn its NCAA fate May 5, when the 64-team field for the 2004 NCAA Men's Tennis Team Championship is announced. The selection show for the tournament will be aired on ESPN News that day at 3:45 p.m. CT. MSU is one of only seven schools in the country that has made 13 consecutive NCAA appearances in men's tennis.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/23/04
Men's Golf
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In an exciting and very close finish, Mississippi State's 39th-ranked men's tennis team broke its nine-match losing skid with a hard-fought, 4-3 upset of 17th-ranked Tennessee Thursday afternoon in first-round play at the 2004 Southeastern Conference Championship. The match lasted nearly five hours, featured a 20-minute rain delay, and was finally moved indoors halfway through singles due to stormy weather.

The win moves State into Friday's tournament quarterfinals, where it will meet third-seeded and 10th-ranked Georgia at 11:30 a.m. CT at Vanderbilt's Currey Tennis Complex. MSU is in the SEC quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. Thursday victory, which avenged MSU's 4-3 loss to the Vols earlier this season in Starkville, improved State's record to 8-12 overall. UT fell to 13-8.

With the Bulldogs leading the match 3-2, the last two matches of the day would both go three sets and both stood at 5-5 in the third set as the tension for both teams mounted.

In a fierce battle at No. 1, UT's 44th-ranked Simon Rea broke 35th-ranked Bulldog Romain Ambert and then held serve for a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win to tie the team score at 3-3. Then, on court No. 2, MSU's Jose-Carlos Pinto rallied from a set down to upset 115th-ranked Vol Ockie Oosthuizen 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 and clinch the team win for the Bulldogs in dramatic fashion. A tight match throughout, Oosthuizen fought off three match points while serving at 5-6 before Pinto won the fourth to hand MSU the victory.

The Vols had gained the early 1-0 lead in the match much earlier in the day, posting identical 8-5 victories at the No. 1 and 3 doubles positions. UT then won three of the six first sets in singles to position itself for the team win. After enduring a short delay after a brief sprinkle of rain, the teams resumed play for only a little while longer, but were finally forced indoors due to the wet conditions.

Once inside, State tied the score at 1-1 when senior Max Fomine broke a five-match losing skid, completing a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory over UT's Matt Berry at the No. 5 position. The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead when junior Luiz Carvalho held off Vol Mark Dietrich for a 6-4, 6-3 triumph at the No. 3 spot. Tennessee then knotted the score again, at 2-2, when 105th-ranked Wade Orr won 6-4, 6-2 over MSU rookie Arnaud Roussel at No. 6.

In terms of momentum, possibly MSU's biggest win of the day then came at the No. 4 position. It was there that sophomore Florent Girod overcame a 6-2 disadvantage in a first-set tiebreaker (won six consecutive points), and a early service break in the second set, to post a 7-6(6), 6-3 win over UT's Kiril Tcherveniachki for a 3-2 Bulldog lead.

Source: MSU Media Relations

In the women's throwing events, Freshman Nicola Wilson took seventh in the shot put with a throw of 45-10 3/4. Crystal Averitt recorded a 146-1 in the discus throw for 11th place and a 163-2 in the hammer, finishing in 14th-place.

The Lady Bulldog distance medley team of Jennifer McPherson, Nicole Dunn, Zita Magloire and Tiffany McWilliams took seventh in the race with a time of 11:17.46.

Setting a personal best, Joy Griffith improved her time in the 5000m by 19 seconds with her 17:26.10 performance in the event. Travis McKay also set a personal best time recording a regional qualifying time of 9:06.75 in the 3000m steeplechase championship race, besting his former time by seven seconds.

Source: MSU Media Relations

"Andrea is the missing link we have been needing in the 800m," said Schmidt. "She fills the bill that we need."

The Cold Spring, Minn., native was the 2002 2A Minnesota State Champion in the 800m with her time of 2:13.48 and a member of the 2003 Minnesota State Championship 4x400m relay team (3:55.90), running the third leg of the race. She finished third at the 2003 Championships in 2:16.38 in the 800m.

"I'm very excited about running for coach Schmidt and coach Cunningham and becoming the best runner I can be," said Wahlin. "The track and field program at Mississippi State is strong, and I look forward to contributing to the team's success as a 'Bulldog' in my college career."

With her personal best times, she holds four school records, two conference records and a section record. She holds the school and conference record in the 800m run with a 2:12.20 and in the 1600m with a 5:11. She was also a member of the 4x200m relay team that holds the school record with a 1:43.79 and the 4x400m relay team that has the school and section record with a time of 3:55.9.

While at Rocori High School, she was a 2003 Minnesota Runner of the Year Finalist and was named 2003 Spring Performer of the the Week by the Central Lakes Conference. In addition to track, she earned a spot on the all-Conference Academic team for basketball and cross country.

Wahlin was a very active student serving as the student senate president, a mentor in the Rocori "Friends" organization and the Project for Teens mentoring group. She is also a Sunday school teacher.

STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University head track and field coach Al Schmidt announced Thursday the signing of Crystal Lake South High School's Jacqui Aubert to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Lady Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"Jacqui is a really great distance runner with a lot of experience," said Schmidt. "She is going to be a great addition to this club."

Aubert broke the school record with her personal best mark of 10:57.22 at the 2002 2A Illinois State Track Championships, finishing in fifth place. She took eighth at the same meet in the 1600m run in 5:16.54. She holds the distinction of being one of only three female athletes at Crystal Lake South to ever medal at the State Track Championships.

"I was really excited to sign with Mississippi State," said Aubert. "I hope that I can come in and help the team right away. The people I met on my recruiting trip were really nice, and Iım looking forward to being a part of the team."

In 2002 and 2003, she was the Conference and Section Champion in the 1600m and 3200m and earned all-State honors in both events. Named 2002 and 2003 Most Valuable Runner as a Gator, she was honored as the 2002 Athlete of Year by The Northwest Herald, her local paper.

Aubert crossed the finish line at the 2003 2A Illinois State Cross Country Championships in 17:38 for an 11th place showing. She improved her time from the 2002 State Championships (17:47) by nine seconds.

Also excelling outside of athletics, she was named to the National Honor Society and a member of the Gator Pride, a leadership program.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/22/04
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Homestanding Mississippi State got base hits from seven different players en route to its 16th double digit hitting performance of the season as the Bulldogs completed a series sweep of cross-state rival Mississippi with a 7-2 victory Wednesday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

State (31-22, 12-15 SEC) got multi-hit showings from four different players, including Madison's Tanelda McDonald who drove in a pair of runs on a 3-for-4 showing that matched her career high hit total. Blaire Brown (RBI) and fellow senior Lindsay Nelson both tallied 2-for-4 hitting performance, while rookie Hayle Guess finished out a phenomenal series against the Rebels with a 2-for-3 night. Iyhia McMichael homered and scored twice to extend her hitting streak out to 11 games.

The Rebels (13-34, 6-18) got a pair of hits each from the first two batters of its order, but mustered just three more hits from the rest of its lineup. Britte Hardy and Brittany Warner both hit 2-for-4, with DeDe Justice driving in a pair on a 1-for-3 night.

Mississippi State starter Melissa Massey (14-8) strung together her fifth-straight decision, striking out one and scattering five hits in six innings of work. Mississippi's Dana Brill (4-16) saddled the loss for UM, despite allowing just one earned run in four innings of work. State's Sara Hickerson allowed two hits in one inning of relief for the Bulldogs, while Rebel staff ace Mary Jane Callahan surrendered six runs on seven hits.

The win punched the ticket for the Bulldogs' trip to the 2004 SEC Tournament in three weeks, while mathematically eliminating the Rebels from tournament contention. The victory also marked State's first conference series sweep of the season and its first since taking all three games with Kentucky last season in Starkville.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, MISSISSIPPI 2
Mississippi (13-34) 000 020 0 - 2 7 4
Mississippi State (31-22) 104 200 x - 7 13 2
Brill (1,5), Callahan (3) and Justice. Massey and Waterman. W - Massey (14-8). L - Brill (4-16). Save - None. HR - MSU, McMichael (10). 2B - UM, Turner.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Ambert, a native of Toulouse, France, becomes only the third Bulldog ever to earn all-SEC honors four times during a career. He was named first-team, all-conference in each of his first three seasons, and second-team this year after missing much of the spring due to an ankle injury and seeing his national ranking drop from No. 4 to No. 35.

A senior and two-time, all-American during his Bulldog career, Ambert is 18-15 overall this year in singles and 15-9 in doubles. His career marks are 97-45 in singles and 68-44 in doubles. Those 165 total wins rank him sixth all-time at MSU for overall victories.

Wednesday's release marks the 15th-consecutive season that State has had at least one student-athlete selected to the all-SEC men's tennis squad.

Ambert and the rest of the Bulldog net squad open play in the SEC Championship Thursday. The 11th-seeded Bulldogs, ranked 39th nationally, meet sixth-seeded and 17th-ranked Tennessee at 11:30 a.m. CT at Vanderbilt's Currey Tennis Complex.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Track and Field Signees
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Wednesday the signing of Tupelo High School's Robert Scribner to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"We are happy to sign the number one distance runner in the state of Mississippi in Robert," said Dudley. "This solidifies us getting the number one distance recruit the past two years out of the state. Brett Marlin was the top past year, and both were part of the same high school team."

Scribner has been a member of the Golden Wave 5A Cross Country State Championship Team for the past three seasons. A three-time all-State honoree, he won the individual crown at the 2003 State Cross Country Championship with his personal best time of 15:39.23. He defeated the runner-up by more than a minute with the fourth fastest time ever recorded at the Choctaw Trail.

"I am proud to sign with such a great program as Mississippi State," said Scribner. "It will be incredible to run with such talented athletes, especially my former teammate, Brett Marlin."

At the 2003 5A State Track Championships, he finished second in the 3200m in 9:53.31 and third in the 1600m in a time of 4:40.87. He boasts personal best times of 4:27 in the 1600m and 9:29 in the 3200m.

He holds the Tupelo High School records in the 3200m and 5K races and holds the cross country course records in Pontotoc, Saltillo, Tupelo and Oxford.

Off the track, he is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, the Key Club and a six-time Rotary Scholar honoree. He is also the 2003 Mathematical Association of America AMC 12 competition winner.

Scoring a 31 on the ACT, Scribner plans to pursue a degree in business at MSU.

STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University head track and field coach Al Schmidt announced Wednesday the signing of Starkville High School's Dominique Rogers to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Lady Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"Dominique is a great addition to our team," said head coach Schmidt. "We think she is going to be an impact hurdler almost immediately."

Rogers transferred to Starkville High School for her senior year from Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Florida. The 2003 MVP of Pine Ridge, she earned the 2003 All-Central Florida first team honors and the 2002 and 2003 first team All-Volusia County first team honors.

"I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to run at the next level," said Rogers. "And I'm going to do my part to make my new team the best it can be. I am very excited about this new phase of my life, and I know that I made the right choice in choosing Mississippi State for my new home."

Her personal best times include a 12.02 in the 100m dash, a 59.00 in the 400m dash, a 15.4 in the 100m hurdles and a 1:02.37 in the 400m hurdles.

She finished seventh in the 300m hurdles at the 2003 4A Florida State Championships in 45.02, her personal best time in the event. Rogers also competed in the 2003 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games in the 400m hurdles, where she finished 15th in the prelims in 1:05.25.

Rogers has excelled in the classroom as well as on the track. She had been named to the honor roll all four of her high school years, a member of the National Honor Roll and honored in Who's Who Among American High School Students.

In addition to track while in Florida, she was involved with her church's track team, dance team, children's choir, drama and step team. At Pine Ridge, not only a member of the track team, she was also a member of the school's step team, gospel choir, basketball team and dance team. Currently, she is a member of the Health Occupational Students of America at Starkville High School and her church's dance team.

At MSU, she plans to work towards a degree in biology with aspirations of being a nurse. Her father, Errol Rogers, is the assistant women's basketball coach at State.

Source: MSU Media Relations

"He is an experienced player and is mechanically sound," said head coach Clay Homan. "He should make an immediate contribution in the 2004-2005 season."

Knight qualified for the match play of Canadian Amateur Championship in 2003. He lost to Canada's top-ranked amateur, James Lepp in the opening round. He posted a fifth place-finish at the 2003 Toldo Eastern Canadian Junior Championship with rounds of 69, 72 and 73. His best competitive round of 66 came at the 2003 qualifying round of the Alberta Amateur. His best finish was a third-place-showing at the Taylor Made-Adidas AJGA Woodlands Classic this year.

"I am so pumped about going to Mississippi State," said Knight. "When I went down for my official visit and met coach Homan, there was no doubt in my mind that this is where I wanted to be."

An excellent student off the course, he registered an 1190 on the SAT. Attends Central Memorial High School. During 1991 thru 1996 he sailed around the world with his parents, Arien and Tony Knight.

He joins Logan Young of Memphis, Tenn., who joined the MSU linksters in the fall signing period.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/21/04
Softball
(Game 1)STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State erupted for 12 hits and scored multi runs in three different innings to rally behind staff ace Melissa Massey's four-hit shutout as the Bulldogs snapped a two-game series skid to Mississippi with a 8-0 victory in five innings Tuesday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

Jennifer Waterman and Hayle Guess each drove in a pair of runs on 2-for-3 hitting tallies, with Lindsay Nelson (2-for-3) and Kate Jaspers (2-for-3) each driving in a run on multi-hit days as well. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael scored twice on a 1-for-2 tally that stretched her hitting streak out to nine games. Four different players recorded hits for the visiting Rebels (13-32, 6-16).

Massey (13-8) won her fourth-straight outing after striking out a pair and walking three en route to her team-leading fifth shutout of the season. Mississippi State blistered a pair of Rebel pitchers with six hits apiece, with staff ace Mary Jane Callahan (9-15) saddling the loss after allowing five earned runs before being chased with one out in the third. Tara Willit finished out the game by allowing three earned runs of her own, but got the no decision.

McMichael's runs in the contest pushed her season total to a school record 65, while moving her past former MSU all-American Kellie Wilkerson atop the career list with her 199th and 200th scores of her tenure.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, MISSISSIPPI 0 (5 Innings)
Mississippi (13-32) 000 00 - 0 4 0
Mississippi State (29-22) 203 12 - 8 12 0
Callahan and Warner. Massey and Waterman. W - Massey (13-8). L - Callahan (9-15). Save - None. 2B - MSU, Waterman.

(Game 2)STARKVILLE, Miss. - Rookie righthander Kelli Miller scattered three hits and allowed just one run over her eighth complete game of the season and homestanding Mississippi State scraped together runs in each of the first and fifth innings to complete a doubleheader sweep of Mississippi with a 2-1 series-clinching victory Tuesday evening at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael drove in a run and scored once on a 2-for-3 hitting line, while fellow senior Kate Jaspers tallied a 2-for-3 night as well to pace the Bulldog (30-22, 11-15) offense. Moss Point freshman Hayle Guess crossed the plate once and tallied State's only other hit on a 1-for-2 clip. DeDe Justice recorded a 2-for-3 night with a run scored to lead all Rebel (13-33, 6-17) hitters.

Miller (7-8) won her second consecutive decision with a gem of an outing, recording four strikeouts while allowing just two of three hits to leave the infield. Dana Brill saddled the loss for the Rebels despite striking out four and scattering five Mississippi State hits.

The win marked State's ninth victory in the last 11 meetings with its cross state rival, with both losses coming on walk-off homers in the final two games of last season's series in Oxford. McMichael's first inning single stretched her hitting streak out to 10 games.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 2, MISSISSIPPI 1
Mississippi (13-33) 000 000 1 - 1 3 0
Mississippi State (30-22) 100 010 x - 2 5 1
Brill and Justice. Miller and Waterman. W - Miller (7-8). L - Brill (4-15). Save - None. 3B - McMichael. 2B - Justice 2.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Carvalho, a junior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been very involved in community activities during his career. He is member of the Mississippi State M-Club. As a part of that organization, he reads books for elementary students in the Starkville Public School system, donates funding for the purchase of materials and books for those schools, and picks up litter around the State campus and in the Starkville area. He is also a sponsor for a child in South America through an adopt-a-child program.

In 2003-04, he has served as the Mississippi State athletic department's student-athlete representative for the SEC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Majoring in communication with a journalism/public relations emphasis, he was an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete in 2003 and also earned Academic all-SEC honors last season. An MSU President's Scholar as well, he is a member of Lambda Pi Eta (communication honor society).

On the court, Carvalho has played at #1 doubles and #2-3 singles for the Bulldogs this season. He has clinched two of State's wins this year and was named the SEC Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the first week of the 2004 season, based on his play in the Bulldogs' wins over Auburn and Alabama. He holds career records of 47-43 in singles and 45-45 in doubles.

Source: MSU Media Relations

"She is one of the best runners in the state of Mississippi," said Schmidt. "We think she has a great deal of potential and we are looking forward to her being here."

Cooley won the 2003 Mississippi North Half Championships in the 400m with a time of 1:01.46, 800m in 2:38.54 and 1600m in 5:59.71. At the 2A State Championships that same year, she finished second in the 400m in 1:01.21, fourth in the 1600m in 5:52 and seventh in the 800m in 2:50.10. The Greenwave finished in a tie for 13th place with the help of Cooley.

"I feel really excited and honored to sign with Mississippi State," said Cooley. "It is something that I have always wanted to do and will greatly enjoy doing."

At the 2002 2A State Championships, she took top honors with a 1:01.56 in the 400m.

In addition to track, she was a four-year member of the Greenwave basketball team and cross country team.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/20/04
Men's Golf
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State junior golfer Joe Deraney was named to the 2004 Southeastern Conference Men's Golf Good Works Team, announced by the league office on Monday.

This is the first year for the men's golf SEC Good Works Team. The SEC sponsors Good Works Teams in all 20 sponsored sports. The Good Works Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior efforts.

Deraney is a member of MSU's M-Club. He reads books to children at local elementary schools and helps with food and blood drives in the area. The Statesboro, Ga. native donates clothes to the Salvation Army and the Palmer Home for Children in Starkville and participates in trash pick-up along highways in the area.

He is coming off of his best Maroon and White performance with a career-best 66 in the final round of the SEC Championship this past Sunday in Sea Island, Ga.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/19/04
Men's Tennis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In a match that featured four three-set singles matches and three tiebreakers, Mississippi State's 37th-ranked men's tennis team dropped a very tight 5-2 decision to 24th-ranked Vanderbilt here Sunday. Due to the finals of the Southeastern Conference Women's Tennis Championship being held on the VU campus, the men's match was actually played at nearby Belmont University.

The loss, State's ninth in a row, dropped the Bulldogs to 7-12 overall, 2-9 in SEC play. Vandy improved to 14-10, 6-5. It was Vandy's second straight win in the series after losing 19 consecutive to MSU.

Vanderbilt got out to the early 1-0 in the match by posting victories at the top two positions in doubles. State's duo of Romain Ambert and Matt Armstrong salvaged an 8-3 win at the No. 3 spot over Commodores Nathan Sachs and Greg Sossaman.

In singles, State would come out firing and position itself for what looked to be a comeback win, taking the first set in four of the six matches. MSU would also split sets in the two matches where Vanderbilt had gained the early advantage. But Vandy would ultimately take four matches that went three sets to get the team victory.

Bulldog sophomore Florent Girod tied the match at 1-1 with a solid 6-3, 6-1 win over Sachs at the No. 5 position. Vandy regained the lead at 2-1 when 64th-ranked Matt Lockin downed MSU's Max Fomine 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-2 at No. 4. MSU knotted the score again, this time at 2-2, when rookie Arnaud Roussel finished off a 6-2, 7-6(5) triumph over Lewis Smith at the bottom position.

The top three positions would all go three sets and Vandy's strength in those spots would prove to be too strong, as the Commodores claimed all three to close out the team victory. At the No. 3 position, 76th-ranked Commodore Zach Dailey bested MSU's Luiz Carvalho 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 to put the 'Dores up 3-2. VU's 65th-ranked Scott Brown then notched a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback win over Jose-Carlos Pinto at No. 2 to clinch the team victory. The final match of the day saw Vandy's 24th-ranked Chad Harris hold off four match points to secure a 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 triumph over the 31st-ranked Ambert at No. 1. The first set was the first Ambert had been able to take since problems with his ankle started in mid-March.

Source: MSU Media Relations

MSU's 288 on Sunday was the second-best round of the year.

State's highlight of the day was turned in by junior Joe Deraney, who moved up 21 spots to 22nd on Sunday after firing a career-low 66 on final 18 holes. His four under-par score tied for low-round of the day with Kentucky's Matt Kohn. The last time an MSU golfer fired a round that low was by Codie Mudd in 2001 at the Rice Intercollegiate.

Deraney was on pace for a 64 on the par-70 course, but found some trouble on the last two holes.

Tim Satow tied his career-best in the final round with a one-over-par 71 and a 25th -place showing. The Durban, South Africa native carded a 71 in the opening round of the Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate last weekend. Satow had a stretch of four birdies in a row on the back nine. Freshman Greg Huxman finished the tournament in 37th. Daniel Boles finished up the Bulldog's scorecard with a 76.

Georgia captured the 2004 title with a three over-par 843. They finished one-stoke ahead of defending SEC Champion Florida. UGA's Todd Brendon took home the individual title with a three under-par tournament score.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/18/04
Softball
(Game 1)FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Mississippi State plated runs in each of the first and sixth innings to rally behind a two-hit shutout from junior staff ace Melissa Massey as the Bulldogs won their third-straight outing with a 2-0 victory over homestanding Arkansas in the first of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at Lady 'Back Yard.

Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael stretched her hitting streak out to six games with a pair of walks and a solo homer in the first, while fellow senior Kate Jaspers extended her hitting skein out to three on a 1-for-4 tally. Rookie outfielder Hayle Guess led the Bulldog offense, however, turning in a 2-for-3 hitting line with a triple. Two players recorded 1-for-3 outings to pace the Arkansas offense.

Massey (12-8) completely dominated the Arkansas order, allowing just a first-inning double and a bloop single in the second, and tallied seven strikeouts on the way to her fourth solo shutout of the campaign. Arkansas' Heather Schlichtman (12-21) also struck out seven batters, but surrendered two runs on six hits and a pair of walks to saddle the loss for the Lady 'Backs.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 2, ARKANSAS 0
Mississippi State (27-21) 100 001 0 - 2 6 1
Arkansas (15-32) 000 000 0 - 0 2 2
Massey and Waterman. Schlichtman and Easley. W - Massey (12-8). L - Schlichtman (12-21). Save - None. HR - MSU, McMichael. 3B - MSU, Guess. 2B - MSU, Brown.

(Game 2)FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Mississippi State scratched together a run in the opening frame of play, then erupted for multi runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to put the contest out of reach as the Bulldogs finished off a doubleheader sweep of host Arkansas with a 8-0 series-clinching victory in six innings Saturday afternoon at Lady 'Back Yard in Fayetteville.

State got a pair of hits from both Meagan O'Nan and Callye Williams, with O'Nan scoring twice on a perfect 2-for-2 hitting line with a walk. Williams tallied her first double of the campaign and drove in and scored a run on a 2-for-3 day. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael crossed the plate three times and extended her hitting streak out to seven games on a 1-for-2 showing with a pair of walks, while Kate Jaspers stretched her hitting streak to four, driving in three runs on a 1-for-2 performance. Arkansas shortstop Mindy O'Malley recorded two of Arkansas' three hits to pace the Lady 'Backs.

Mississippi State starter Kelli Miller (6-8) struck out four and allowed just three hits over her seventh complete game of the season in route to recording her fourth shutout of the campaign. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native faced the minimum through three innings.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, ARKANSAS 0 (6 Innings)
Mississippi State (28-21) 100 223 - 8 8 0
Arkansas (15-33) 000 000 - 0 3 2
Miller and Waterman. Perry, Topham (4) and Easley. W - Miller (6-8). L - Perry (1-1). Save - None. 2B - MSU, Williams. SF - MSU, McDonald, Jaspers, Waterman.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Junior Joe Deraney finished one-shot better than his Friday score of 76. Tim Satow stands in 31st after his second-round 76. Daniel Boles rounded out State's score with an 80. Craig Horrocks posted an 81.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Junior Tiffany McWilliams won the 800m with her regional qualifying time of 2:05.95. Jennifer McPherson took runner-up in the race with her career best time of 2:12.21. Freshman Joy Griffith set a career best time of 4:46.62 in the 1500m, finishing in second place. In the 3000m steeplechase, Cassie Hanan and Michelle Kinney took first and second, respectively, in the race with their times of 11:45.55 and 11:50.73.

Jasmine Walls took second in the high jump with her personal best height of 5-6. Lacey Johnson finished third in the pole vault with a mark of 10-11 3/4. Finishing second in the discus, Crystal Averitt recorded her second regional qualifying mark in the event with a 157-1, one inch away from tying her school record. Jennifer Johnstone set a new personal best distance in the discus with a 148-10 for a fourth place showing.

On the men's side, LaChristopher Lewis and Arthur Davis both recorded their second regional qualifying times in the 200m dash. Lewis crossed the finish line in a wind-aided time of 20.71 and Davis with a wind-aided 21.15. Senior Elmore McConnell won the 800m with a 1:51.14. Both Ryan Irwin (4:03.28) and Gedame Ege (4:05.12) set career best times in the 1500m, taking second and third. Tupelo native Brett Marlin finished third in the 3000m steeplechase with a 9:50.09.

Winning the event, Lewis set his third straight regional qualifying mark in the long jump with his wind-aided mark of 25-1 1/4. Matt Whalen took fourth in the shot put with a mark of 54-2 1/2, also qualifying him for regionals. JD Erickson finished third in the discus with a 165-5.

Next, the squads travel to Philadelphia, Penn, for the Penn Relays on Thursday, April 22.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/17/04
Track and Field Signee

STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Friday the signing of Mays High School's Chris Woods to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"The signing of Chris Woods gives us a High School all-American performer in the 800 meters, a void that we need filled," said Dudley. "He will help better position us in the SEC, as well as nationally."

Woods is the United States record holder in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.78, recorded at the 2002 USATF National Championships in the Intermediate 15-16 year-old boys. However, his personal best in the 800m is 1:52.64. He finished fourth at the 2002 USATF National Championship in the 400m hurdles with his career best time of 54.32.

"I'm very excited about going to Mississippi State," said Woods. "I know that Coach Dudley can help enhance my performance on the track and academically. I am just really ready to work with some of the best athletes. Iım really excited about attending the university."

In 2003, Woods was undefeated in every 800m race he competed and was honored with the Best Performance Award in the 800m. He also was honored as the 2003 Atlanta Track Man of the Year and ranks in the top five nationally in Summer Track. He broke the record in the 800m at the East Coast Blunt Invitational in the Intermediate Boys Division with his time of 1:55.01 in 2003.

He currently holds the fastest 800m time, 1:54.54, ever recorded in Georgia and his 4x800m relay team ranks second in Georgia with an 8:07.19. Woods and his Raider teammates have won eight straight city championships and three straight regional championships.

He was also recognized by Who's Who Among American Athletes as a student and with his academics. Woods is a classmate of De'Mon Glanton and Corey Spells who both signed with MSU's football team for the 2004 season.

Track and Field signee...

STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Thursday the signing of Scottsboro (Ala.) High School's Will McGee to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"Will is another good distance runner out of the state of Alabama, as we continue the push to get the best distance runners out of Mississippi and Alabama," said Dudley. "He adds another piece of the puzzle to the men's cross country side to eventually win a National Championship."

Holding 20 all-State honors, McGee has helped the Wildcats of Scottsboro High School to two Cross Country State Championships, four Indoor State Championships and two Outdoor State Championships. In 2003, his team won the Triple Crown of track, winning state titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, and are on pace to win it again with the 2004 Outdoor State Championships on April 30-May 1.

"Signing with Mississippi State was an opportunity that I could not pass up," said McGee. "I am really looking forward to running with the guys. I really enjoyed the guys, the coaches and the environment. I feel that MSU is the best possible place for me to be a part of a National Championship team."

In a span of six days, McGee has set personal best marks in the outdoor 1600m, 3200m and two-mile run. At the Mobile Meet of Champions on April 3, McGee took second in 3200m with his time of 9:24.84 and fifth in the two-mile with a 9:28.14. He ran the 1600m on April 9, at the Mountain Brook Invitational in 4:20.51 for a fourth place showing.

His indoor personal best marks in the 1600m and 3200m were recorded at the 2004 Alabama High School Athletic Association Indoor State Championships. He recorded a time of 4:27.44 for sixth in the indoor 1600m and a 9:35.94 in the 3200m for fourth. McGee's cross country personal best time is 16:08.30 set at the 2002 Alabama Cross Country Sectionals.

Off the track, he is a member of the Mentorship Program at SHS, where high school students mentor to elementary students, and an officer with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

McGee plans to work towards a degree in biology with aspirations of becoming a dentist.

Track and Field signee...

STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Thursday the signing of Saint Pauls Episcopal's John Brigham to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"John is probably one of the all-time top 10 distance recruits out of the state of Alabama," said Dudley. "This is a pretty big statement considering the people who have actually come out of Alabama. He is a very good pick up for us, not only athletically, but also academically, because he is an intelligent individual that scored very high on his test scores."

Brigham holds the distinction of being the 2003 Indoor and Outdoor State Champion in the two-mile and the 2004 Indoor mile and two-mile State Champion. He competes in the 2004 Outdoor State Championship at the end of April.

He has helped the Saints to three runner-up finishes at the Indoor State Championship, two third place finishes at the State Cross Country Championship and a fourth place showing at the Outdoor State Championship.

"I'm excited to sign with Mississippi State because I already know a bunch of people on the team," said Brigham. "I feel like I have a lot of good friends there, and I like Coach Dudley a lot. I really enjoyed my visit to MSU."

His cross country personal best marks include a 9:40.78 in the 3200m at the 2003 McGill-Toolen Invitational and a 15:51.48 in the 5000m at the 2002 Foot Locker South meet. Brigham set his PR in the indoor 1600m run when he won the 2004 Alabama High School Athletic Association Indoor State Championship with a time of 4:22.12. His best indoor 3200m mark of 9:19.88 was recorded at the 2004 Hoover Indoor Classic.

In outdoor competition, his top times are a 4:15.87 in the 1600m set at the 2004 Mountain Brook Invitational, a 9:12.11 in the 3200m at the 2004 Mobile Meet of Champions and a 9:53.39 in the two-mile run at the 2002 Dannon Mobile Meet of Champions.

He is a member of Saint Pauls' National Honor Society and was named to the Head Master's List, the top honor roll at the school. His extracurricular activities include the Fellow of Christian Students, the Morning Saints Bible Study and serving as the editor for the Epistle, the school newspaper.

Brigham plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in economics at MSU.

Track and Field signee...

STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University head track and field coach Al Schmidt announced Friday the signing of Flagstaff High School's Annie Falor to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Lady Bulldogs beginning in 2004.

"Annie is a super signee for us," said Schmidt. "She is going to make an instant impact in the SEC and nationally. We are really happy to have her coming here. Not only is she a track athlete, she is a real runner."

In cross country, she has a personal best time of 18:07.99, set when she won the 2002 4A State Cross Country Championship. Falor is a four-time all-State honoree and earned all-Region honors three-times. In addition, Falor and her Eagle teammates have won the Cross Country 4A State Championship four straight years. She was named 2002 Arizona Runner of the Year and Regional Runner of the Year in 2000 and 2002. This past season, she garnered the Nike Preseason All-American Award and the Arizona All-American Award.

Falor has set personal best marks in the 1600m at 5:07 at the 2003 4A State Championship and 11:06 (altitude adjusted to 10.52) in the 3200m at the Great Southwest Meet. Up to this point in her high school career, she has been named Track and Field all-Region and all-State her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. The 2001 and 2002 Track and Field Regional Runner of the Year, Falor was a member of the 2001, 2002 and 2003 Arizona State Champion 4x800m relay team.

"I am so excited for the opportunity to run at Mississippi State and run for Coach Schmidt and Coach Cunningham," said Falor. "The Lady Bulldogs have developed a very prestigious program, and I can not wait to be a part of it next fall."

Off the track, she ranks ninth in her class of 313 with a 4.14 grade point average. She is a member of the National Honor Society and a four-time AIA Scholar Athlete. Falor was a Howard Scholar, Rotary Student of the Month, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador, a Girl's State Representative and the 2004 local nominee for Elks Student of the Year.

Falor received the Prudential Spirit of Community Certificate of Excellence for Arizona for her organization of a 5K/10K run-walk for the victims of September 11th. She raised $14,877 to help the widows and children of the New York City Fire and Rescue Departments.

She plans to further her education in pre-medicine at MSU.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Friday's opening-round score is the best first-round score of the SEC Championships for the Bulldogs since the 1998 Championship held in Athens, Ga.

Junior Tim Satow recorded State's low-round of the day with a two over-par 72. The Durban, South Africa native is currently tied for 20th. Daniel Boles is one-shot behind him with a 73 in 29th place. Joe Deraney and Greg Huxman both finished the day with a 76, they are tied for 43rd. Craig Horrocks turned in a 79.

The Georgia Bulldogs are atop the leaderboard after round one with an 11 under-par 269. Alabama is second with an even-par 280. The Crimson Tide's Clint Provost leads all individuals with a five under-par score in the first round. UGA's David Denham and Todd Brendon are one-shot back at four under-par.

Only nine players registered rounds under-par on Friday.

The Maroon and White will start Saturday's second-round at 8:50 a.m. CT. They are paired with South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Live stat coverage of the 2004 Championships can be found at www.secsports.com.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Wildcats took the early lead by notching 8-4 victories at the top two positions in doubles action. UK was led by its 14th-ranked team of Rahim Esmail and Jesse Witten, who downed Bulldogs Luiz Carvalho and Jose-Carlos Pinto at the No. 1 spot.

UK quickly jumped to a 3-0 lead in singles, winning in straight sets at the No. 1 and 5 positions. At No. 1, the eighth-ranked Witten downed MSU's Romain Ambert 6-3, 6-1. Ambert was playing in just his third singles match in State's last eight outings, having battled through severe tendinitis in his ankle during that time. At No. 5, Esmail was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Bulldog Florent Girod.

With State leading by a set at the No. 2 and 3 positions at that point, and the teams having traded sets at No. 6, Kentucky's Nate Emge then provided the match-clinching win at No. 4 in comeback fashion. Emge, who held off eight set points in the second set with MSU's Max Fomine serving at 5-4, would finally claim a service break and then win the final two games for a 6-3, 7-5 victory to secure the team win for UK.

In the last three matches of the day, all of which went three sets, State would claim two. At the No. 6 spot, Wildcat Alex Hume posted a 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 triumph over Bulldog rookie Arnaud Roussel. MSU's Carvalho then registered a hard-fought 7-6(4), 5-7, 1-0(7) win over UK's Evan Austin at No. 3 to break a seven-match losing skid. State's Pinto then outlasted UK's 103rd-ranked Tigran Martirosyan in a match that featured three grueling tiebreakers 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 1-0(8). That win ended a five-match skid for the MSU sophomore.

State concludes the 2004 regular season Sunday, taking on 24th-ranked Vanderbilt in Nashville at 1 p.m. MSU will then compete this coming weekend (April 22-25) in the 2004 SEC Championship, which will also be held in the Music City.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/16/04
Women's Tennis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ­ The No. 11 seeded Mississippi State University women's tennis team dropped their match to the No. 6 seeded Wildcats of Kentucky on Thursday in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Championship in Nashville, Tenn. The Championship is being held at the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center on the Vanderbilt campus.

Source: MSU Media Relations

"Trell was a special signee for our program today, not so much for his athletic achievements, but more due to the type of attitude and character he will bring to our team," said Dudley. "He is another top sprinter that will place our 4x100-meter relay team, as well as our overall team, in position for a national championship."

Kimmons won the Class 2A State Championship in the 100m and 400m as a freshman and a junior at Coldwater High. He battled a hamstring injury his sophomore year, but has rebounded with a stellar senior season.

Currently, he is third in the nation in the 60m with his time of 6.74, tied for ninth in the nation in the 55m dash with a 6.36 and tied for 12th in the nation in the 200m dash with a 21.86. In addition, he now leads the state of Mississippi in the 100m (10.60), 200m (21.41) and 400m (47.87).

"I am very excited about coming to State and being a part of the track team," said Kimmons. "I'm looking forward to furthering my track career and also getting my degree in education. I want to help young athletes better their careers."

Kimmons also ran for the Memphis Elite Track Club where he tied for the fastest indoor time in the country in the 55m with a 6.36 at the LSU Classic Indoor Track and Field Meet in Baton Rouge, La., this past January.

In other sports, he is a two-time Mississippi State Powerlifting Champion and was named Coldwaterıs best running back for the 2003 season.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/15/04
Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University's LaChristopher Lewis and Tiffany McWilliams were named SEC Athletes of the Week, released by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday.

Lewis, a junior from Coldwater, Miss., qualified for regionals in the 400m (46.09) and long jump (25-3 1/4) this past weekend at the Jace Lacoste Invitational. He set a Jace Lacoste Invitational record with his performance in the 400m and ran anchor of the 4x100m relay team that took first place.

Currently, he ranks second in the SEC in the 200m, third in the 400m and 4x400m relay, fourth in the long jump and fifth in the 100m and 4x100m. Nationally, he ranks seventh in the 200m and long jump, eighth in the 400m and 10th in the 4x100m relay.

A native of Red Bay, Ala., McWilliams set regional qualifying marks in the 800m with a 2:03.21 and in the 1500m in 4:15.72. Both marks broke the Jace Lacoste Invitational meet records and the W.O. Spencer Stadium and Carl Maddox Track records.

The junior has qualified for regionals in the 800m and 1500m, and ranks first in the SEC in the 800m and 1500m. She also ranks first in the nation in the 1500m and second in the 800m.

Both athletes are set to compete with their teammates at the TCU Invitational on Saturday, April 17, in Forth Worth, Texas.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Wednesday the signing of Barton County Community College's Steve Mullings to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs this fall. The sprinter is originally from Perth Town, Jamaica.

"Steve Mullings is the fastest recruit that we have ever signed here at Mississippi State," said Dudley. "His 10.05 solidifies this statement. He is another great kid that not only wants to make an Olympic team, but also wants to get his degree and help Mississippi State win its first national championship. I also look forward to aiding Steve in getting to the Olympic medal stand."

He is the 2004 National Junior College Athletics Association Indoor National Champion in the 60-meter dash (6.59) and the 200m dash (21.04). His performance in the 60m broke the NJCAA Championship meet record set by his former teammate Tyson Gay in 2002, and he tied the meet record in the 200m.

"I'm excited about coming to Mississippi State because Coach Dudley is a good coach and he can take me to the next level," said Mullings. "I'm also coming for the academics, so that I can graduate with a degree in marketing."

Currently, he is tied for 14th in the world in the 60m dash and tied for 11th in the world in the indoor 200m dash. Mullings is ranked fifth on the International Association of Athletics Federations' world 100m list.

His personal best marks in the indoor 60m and 200m are his times set at the NJCAA Championship this season. His outdoor PR in the 100m is 10.05 and 20.52 in the 200m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/14/04
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State University's Yumi Ueda was named to the 2004 Southeastern Conference Women's Tennis Good Works Team, released by the SEC on Tuesday.

The SEC sponsors Good Works Teams in all 20 sponsored sports. The Good Works Team highlights athletes from each school who give back to their communities in superior service efforts.

The Saitama, Japan, native reads books to children at local elementary schools and helps with food and blood drives in the area. She also donates clothes to the Salvation Army and participates in trash pick-up on the highways. In addition, she lends a hand in the Bulldog Bash and Halloween Carnivals on campus each year.

The daughter of Asakiyo and Momoyo Ueda, she is majoring in microbiology and working on a minor in kinesiology. Currently with a 3.26 grade point average, she is set to graduate in December and hopes to start physical therapy school in the spring. Ueda is a member of the M-Club, a three-time member of the Academic Honor Roll, a two-time Dean's Scholar and President's Award winner. She has also served as the women's tennis student body representative all four of her years at MSU.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/13/04
Track and Field
MSU's women's track team is ranked 24th in the latest Trackwire Top 25 poll. The men's team is currently unranked.

In four outings this week, the Prescott, Ariz., native hit a cool .538 (7-for-13) with one double, seven RBI and five runs scored.

Holding down a perfect 4.0 GPA through seven semesters and a couple of summer terms at MSU, Jaspers is set to graduate with her degree in Psychology in May. A recent recipient of Mississippi State's Newsom Award, honoring the top female academic performer in all of State's varsity sports, she garnered NFCA academic all-American and academic all-SEC honors as a junior last season. The awards perfectly complemented second team Verizon academic all-America honors as well.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/12/04
Men's Golf
AUBURN, Ala. - Mississippi State junior golfer Joe Deraney finished tied for 23rd at the 17th annual Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate in Auburn, Ala. on Sunday. He fired a one over-par 73 on the final day to post a three-day total of 219. Deraney has now been State's top-finisher in seven of MSU's 10 tournaments.

The Maroon and White struggled for the third consecutive day at Saugahatchee Country Club. The Bulldogs carded a 306 on the final 18 holes, finishing 12th.

Junior Daniel Boles recorded his best round of the 54-hole event on Sunday with a 76. Carl Sutton posted a 78, while freshman Jake Lambert finished with a 79. Tim Satow rounded out the scoring with an 81 and finishing 52nd.

The Auburn Tigers held on to their 36-hole lead, shooting a final-round 291 to finish five strokes ahead of runner-up Jacksonville State. Memphis, Georgia State and Texas A&M rounded out the top-five in the team standings.

First round-leader Nick Mackay of Jacksonville State turned in a three under-par 69 to win individual honors by two strokes over Auburn's Jonathan Dismuke, who led after 36 holes.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/11/04
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University women's tennis team fell 5-1 to the No. 54 ranked Lady Rebels of Mississippi on Saturday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. Mississippi now leads the overall series 41-5.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs did not look too concerned about that fact on Saturday.

Mississippi State (26-21, 7-14 SEC) answered a four-run first inning by Alabama with six runs of its own and rallied behind a gem of a relief performance from Pascagoula's Stephanie Comeaux to take the rubber match of its three-game set with No. 10 Alabama, 10-5, and capture the series for the first time in school history Saturday afternoon in Starkville.

The win marked State's fourth victory at home in 14 meetings with Alabama (32-11, 13-8), while the 10 runs scored were the most by a Bulldog team against the Crimson Tide in the history of the series. Though Alabama leads the all-time series, 23-7, Mississippi State has captured three of the last four, including a 7-3 victory in the Tuscaloosa series finale last year that snapped a 14-game losing streak to Bama.

Kate Jaspers put together the second four-hit game of her career, and the first 4-for-4 effort by a Mississippi State player since April 18, 2002. Mississippi State also got a multi-hit day from leadoff hitter Iyhia McMichael who doubled twice and scored three times on a 2-for-3 line that included a walk and stretched her hitting streak out to five games. Jennifer Waterman drove in a pair of runs on a 1-for-4 clip, while rookie Hayle Guess cranked her first collegiate homer to highlight a 1-for-3 performance.

Alabama got a 3-for-4 showing with four RBI from converted basketball player Capper Reed, including a three-run homer in the first, with Leah White adding a 2-for-3 day into the mix. All-American Jackie McClain had her 17-game hitting streak snapped on a 0-for-1 performance with a trio of walks.

Mississippi State will return to action on Saturday when the Dogs hit the road for the final time in conference play, traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., for a three-game series with the Lady Razorbacks (14-29, 2-19). The two squads will open the set with a noon Saturday doubleheader and close out the series on Sunday with a single game also slated for a noon first pitch.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 10, ALABAMA 5
Alabama (32-11) 400 000 1 - 5 8 2
Mississippi State (26-21) 610 201 x - 10 10 0

Wright, VanBrakle (2) and Courtney. Massey, Comeaux (2) and Waterman. W - Comeaux (9-5). L - Wright (12-4). Save - None. HR - UA, Reed, Accetturo. MSU, Guess. 3B - MSU, Waterman. 2B - UA, Reed. MSU, McMichael 2.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Junior Tiffany McWilliams set regional qualifying marks in the 800m with a 2:03.21 and in the 1500m in 4:15.72. Both marks broke the Jace Lacoste Invitational meet records and the W.O. Spencer Stadium and Carl Maddox Track records. Jennifer McPherson finished second in the 1500m with her career-best time of 4:20.80, also a regional qualifying time.

Crystal Averitt broke her own school record set in 2002 in the discus with her regional qualifying distance of 157-2. She also set a personal best mark in the shot put with a 42-2 1/4 for fourth place and took second in the hammer with a distance of 171-0.

Freshman Joy Griffith took first in the 5000-meter run with her personal best time of 17:45.50. Memphis native Michelle Kinney recorded a career best distance of 118-3 in the javelin to finish in first place.

LaChristopher Lewis and Arthur Davis took first and second, respectively, in the 400m dash with their times of 46.09 and 46.67. Lewis's mark broke the Jace Lacoste Invitational meet record set in 2001 by Raymond Bennett of McNeese State. Davis's time was a personal best.

Matt Holcomb broke the Jace Lacoste Invitational meet record in the hammer throw with a regional qualifying distance of 186-4, finishing in first. Lewis also qualified for regionals in the long jump with his first place distance of 25-3 1/4.

Freshman Travis McKay set a career best time in the 1500m in 3:54.68, just missing the MSU freshman record by five seconds, for first place. Jerald Wilson took first in the triple jump with a personal best leap of 45-6 1/3. Chris Withrow matched his PR height of 15-1 in the pole vault to win top honors in the event.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The setback was State's seventh in a row, dropping the Bulldogs to 7-10 overall, 2-7 in Southeastern Conference action. The Rebels improved to 17-3, 8-2, while securing at least a share of the 2004 SEC title.

Source: MSU Media Relations

In the first game of the doubleheader, Alabama pounded out 14 hits and rallied for multi-runs in each of the second and sixth innings to rally behind a pitching gem from staff ace Stephanie VanBrakle as the Crimson Tide took down homestanding Mississippi State 10-0 in abbreviated innings in the series opener between the clubs Friday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.

In the nightcap, Jaspers tallied both hits and all four RBI in the sixth to finish her night at the plate with a 2-for-4 clip, while Iyhia McMichael, who started the scoring melee for the Dogs, stretched her hitting streak to four games by scoring a pair of runs on a 2-for-3 hitting line. Birmingham, Ala., native Katie Cooley drove in a pair of runs on a key pinch hit at-bat in the sixth as well. All-American Jackie McClain paced the Alabama hitting and extended her hit streak out to 17 games, highlighting her 3-for-3 plate tally with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Mississippi State starter Melissa Massey made two appearances in the ballgame and picked up the save, striking out five Crimson Tide batters and scattering five hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. Stephanie Comeaux (8-5) came on in relief of Massey after the fifth and picked up the win after pitching a hitless sixth inning. Stephanie VanBrakle blew her first save opportunity of the season to saddle herself with the loss, giving up a trio of runs on two hits and walks in the sixth.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, ALABAMA 6
Alabama 001 032 0 - 6 6 2
Mississippi State 000 008 x - 8 9 3

J. Wright, VanBrakle (6) and Courtney. Massey (1,7), Comeaux (6), Hickerson (7) and Waterman. W - Comeaux (8-5). L - VanBrakle (11-6). Save - Massey (1). HR - UA, McClain. 2B - UA, Courtney 2, L. White. MSU, McMichael, Jaspers, Nelson, Cooley.

Source: MSU Media Relations

State as a team fired a first-round score of 305 and sit in 12th. Joe Deraney posted a 77 on day one, while Jake Lambert carded a 78. Daniel Boles and Carl Sutton rounded out the MSU scoring with a 79 and 83 respectively.

Jacksonville State is the first round leader at seven under-par. The Gamecocks registered rounds in red figures to lead JSU. Host-Auburn is three shots behind after turning in team-total 284 on Friday.

JSU's Nick Mackay shot a 67 to take the individual lead by one stroke over teammate Matias Anselmo and Auburn's Jonathan Dismuke, who both finished the day at four under-par.

MSU will start the second round at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Follow all the scoring via live scoring at www.auburntigers.com or www.bamagolf.com.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/08/04
Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, and USA Softball announced Mississippi State senior all-American outfielder Iyhia McMichael as one of 25 finalists for the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award Wednesday afternoon.

The award, which is considered the Heisman Trophy in women's collegiate softball and is the only national player of the year award, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The final list is comprised of 25 players that represent 18 colleges and six different Conferences.

The list will be reduced to ten players on April 28 and three finalists will be announced May 11. The winner of the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced May 26 at the opening ceremonies of the NCAA College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK. The winner will be recognized and presented with the Player of the Year trophy during the ASA National Council Meeting in Mobile, Ala., in November.

A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player's academic institution.

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation's largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 91 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 240,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit www.asasoftball.com.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State senior outfielder Meagan O'Nan was one of 14 softball players across the country to be named to the 2004 National Strength and Conditioning Association's all-American squad, the organization announced recently.

O'Nan, who also played basketball under MSU head coach Sharon Fanning as a sophomore, is the first Mississippi State softball player to garner the national honor. She joined 13 other collegiate softball players on the list, but was the only softball player from the Southeastern Conference.

The NSCA all-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year program recognizes those collegiate athletes whose athletic accomplishments, in the opinion of their strength coach, reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning. These athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as student-athletes. Power Systems, Inc., is the official sponsor of the program.

An active member in Mississippi State's Fellowship of Christian Athletes and M-Club community service organization, Meagan garnered academic all-SEC and NFCA academic all-American awards last season for State. Having already received her Bachelor's Degree in Education Psychology in August, O'Nan is currently working on her Master's Degree at Mississippi State University.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/07/04
Softball
RIDGELAND, Miss. - Mississippi State posted three spots in each of the first two innings, then held off a couple late inning Southern Mississippi rallies to defeat the Lady Eagles, 6-3, and claim the M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic title for the first time in a barnburner Tuesday afternoon at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland, Miss.

Lindsay Nelson drove in a run on a 3-for-4 tally at the plate, while Blaire Brown drove in a run and scored once on a 2-for-4 hitting night. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael crossed the plate two times and walked twice on a 1-for-2 hitting line. Diane Hammes provided two of USM's three runs on a two-run homer in the fourth to pace the Lady Eagles.

Mississippi State starter Melissa Massey (11-8) threw three and one-thirds innings of hitless ball before Hammes' homer in the fourth and finished her five and one-thirds innings of work, allowing one earned run on three hits. Reliever Stephanie Comeaux worked the last five outs of the game, surrendering an unearned run on a pair of hits. Danielle Wymer (5-6) saddled the loss for Southern Miss after allowing six earned runs on nine hits and four walks.

Mississippi State will return to action this weekend when the Bulldogs return home for the first time in more than two weeks to host SEC West rival and nationally ranked Alabama in a three-game series at the Mississippi State Softball Field. The two squads will renew their rivalry with a 5 p.m. Friday doubleheader, and will close out the set on Saturday with a single game set for 1 p.m. Admission to all 2004 Mississippi State Softball home games is free of charge.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/05/04
Men's Golf
BATON ROUGE, La. - Mississippi State fired a final-round 294 in the LSU Spring Invitational on Sunday, but finished 17th in the in the field of 17 at The University Club in Baton Rouge, La.

The Maroon and White's 294 on Sunday was the fifth-best round of the season. MSU fired a 294 in the opening round of the LSU/Country Club of Louisiana Intercollegiate in the fall campaign. State fired a second-round 296, but opened the Spring Invitational with a 305.

Junior Daniel Boles turned in the low-round of the tournament for MSU with a one under-par 71. He was State's top-finisher in 42nd place. Joe Deraney and Carl Sutton both had their best round of the three-day event with a one over-par 73. Tim Satow and Jared Jimenez finished the tournament with a 77 in the final 18 holes.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The setback, MSU's sixth in a row, dropped the Bulldogs to 7-9 overall, 2-6 in Southeastern Conference action. USC improved to 14-8, 3-5 in the league. The victory was the third in a row for the Gamecocks over the Bulldogs after USC had managed just one win in the previous 13 encounters between the schools.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/04/04
Softball
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn took advantage of a trio of clutch errors by visiting Mississippi State in the first and third innings to put three spots up in each frame en route to claiming a 7-3 victory over the Bulldogs that gave the No. 22-ranked Tigers the series victory Saturday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala.

In the nightcap, Blaire Brown's three-run homer in the top of the third gave Mississippi State its first lead in the series as the Bulldogs rallied behind another standout pitching performance from staff ace Melissa Massey to salvage the final game of its three-game series 3-2 at nationally ranked Auburn Saturday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.

Source: MSU Media Relations

In the finals of the men's 4x100m relay, Eliott Morant, Jamel Ashley, Arthur Davis and LaChristopher Lewis set a regional qualifying mark and a MSU season best mark with their time of 39.74 in the relay.

Lewis, Ashley, Davis and Glenn McFadden won the 4x200m relay for the Bulldogs in a time of 1:22.95. State's men's DMR of Jason Odom, Keston Nelson, Elmore McConnell and Dustin Fier crossed the finish line in 10:13.45 for 18th-place.

Ashley, Lewis, Davis and Morant took eighth in the Cleburne Price, Jr. 4x400m relay in a regional qualifying time of 3:09.14.

Hurley, Miss., native Matt Denton jumped 6-8 3/4 in the high jump for a ninth-place showing.

Next, MSU hosts the Jace Lacoste Invitational on Saturday, April 10, at the W.O. Spencer Stadium and Carl Maddox Track.

Source: MSU Media Relations

MSU fired a second-round score of 296 on the second day of the tournament, after posting a 305 in the opening round on Friday. The round of 296 is the best round for the Maroon and White since carding a 294 in the final round of the Matlock Collegiate Classic earlier this spring.

Daniel Boles and Jared Jimenez both turned in one over-par 73 performances on Saturday. Boles currently stands in a five-way tie for 57th, while Jimenez rebounded from a 79 on Friday. Two Bulldogs are tied for 68th in Joe Deraney and Tim Satow. Carl Sutton fired a two over-par 75 for MSU.

The final round of the LSU Spring Invitational will tee off at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/03/04
Men's Golf
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Mississippi State men's golf team opened the 2004 LSU Spring Invitational Friday, shooting a first-round score of 305 at The University Club in Baton Rouge, La. The Bulldogs sit in 17th after the first 18 holes.

Junior Tim Satow fired a three-over par 75 to lead the Maroon and White. He stands in a tie for 55th. Joe Deraney and Daniel Boles both carded a 76 on the opening day of the tournament. Both players are currently in 64th. Carl Sutton and Jared Jimenez rounded out the scoring with a 78 and 79 respectively.

The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee set the pace with an opening round 14 under-par 274. Furman University is just four shots behind at 10 under-par. MTSU's Blake Bivens and Furman's T.J. Blandford are the individual leaders after day one after shooting a six under-par 66. After day one, 30 players were in red figures for the tournament.

Saturday's second round begins at 8 a.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Gators swept the Lady Bulldogs in doubles action to begin the match. At No. 1, eighth-ranked Alexis Gordon and Julie Rotondi defeated MSU's duo of Marcelle Hirt and Magdi Rekasi in an 8-1 decision. Stateıs tandem of Hayley Rudman and Tarryn Rudman fell 8-3 to No. 21 ranked Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes on court two. At the third spot, Justyna Switala and Yumi Ueda dropped their match to Boglarka Berecz and Nina Suvak, 8-3.

In singles play on court one, MSU's Hirt fell 6-2, 6-1 to second ranked Gordon. Playing her first match at No. 2, Tarryn Rudman fell to 31st ranked Magley, 6-3, 6-0. Rekasi dropped her match to No. 87 Reyes in a 6-1, 6-0 decision at the third spot.

South Africa native Hayley Rudman was defeated by Berecz at No. 4, 6-0, 6-3. Ueda was swept at the fifth position by 100th-ranked Lindsay Dawaf, 6-0, 6-0. Switala fell 6-3, 6-0 to Suvak on court six.

Source: MSU Media Relations

In the women's sprint medley relay, Lauren Johnson, Kia James, Nicole Dunn and Tiffany McWilliams took third with their time 3:52.14 for third place. The Bulldog team of LaChristopher Lewis, Jamel Ashley, Arthur Davis and Elmore McConnell finished seventh in the sprint medley relay in a time of 3:19.88.

Jason Odom, Brett Marlin, Phillip Moore and Dustin Fier ran the 4x1500m relay in 16:19.60 for seventh place.

Travis McKay took eighth in the 3000m steeplechase with his time of 9:13.90, a career high by more than 23 seconds.

Junior Crystal Averitt finished sixth in the discus with her mark of 150-8, a distance just under her school record (151-6). Christina Hernandez threw the discus a career high 146-5 for 12th-place.

Memphis, Tenn., native JD Erickson recorded a mark of 53-1 3/4 in the shot put for 15th place and threw the discus 160-4 for a 17th place showing.

On Saturday, action begins at 11 a.m. for MSU with Matt Denton competing in the high jump.

Source: MSU Media Relations

In doubles, State would win the first match complete, as Romain Ambert and Matt Armstrong, playing in their first-ever match together, secured an 8-5 win over UF's tandem of Martin Stiegwardt and Stefan Tell at the No. 3 position. But the Gators would claim 8-5 and 8-4 wins at the top two spots, respectively, to get the early 1-0 lead in the match.

Singles play brought a positive for MSU in the return of the senior all-American Ambert to the lineup from an ankle injury which has forced him to miss all singles play since March 13. But Ambert was obviously still feeling the effects of his ailment, as he dropped his contest with 17th-ranked Gator Hamid Mirzadeh 6-2, 6-1 at the top position.

UF had claimed the first set in four of the five remaining matches as well, and its control of the match was never really in doubt after that. The Gators would go up 3-0 when 100th-ranked Vladimir Obradovic bested MSU's Luiz Carvalho 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot. The match clinching victory would come from 39th-ranked Gator Janne Holmia at the No. 2 spot, where he downed Bulldog Jose-Carlos Pinto 6-1, 6-1.

Florida would take two of the final three matches as well. At the No. 4 spot, UF's Chris Brandi registered a 6-2, 7-6(8) victory over Bulldog Max Fomine. At No. 6, Gator Ryan Sherry edged MSU rookie Arnaud Roussel 6-4, 4-6, 1-0(8), winning a close third-set supertiebreaker. State's lone point would come at No. 5, where sophomore Florent Girod held off Jordan Dolberg 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 to up his team-leading SEC record to 5-2.

Source: MSU Media Relations

04/02/04
Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas ­ Trey Hardee finished runner-up in the decathlon on Thursday at the 77th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with a NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 7,746 points. Hardeeıs performance was a career-best for him and just shy of the MSU school record (7,935 points).

"Trey did a great job," said coach Keith Powell. "That is a great score for a 20 year old. He has been working hard and it paid off today. Now he just has to come back and get ready for the SEC meet when he does the decathlon again."

Hardee took second in the 110-meter hurdles with a wind-aided time of 14.42, scoring 921 points. In the discus event, he measured a throw of 138-3 for 708 points. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native recorded a mark of 16-4 3/4 in the pole vault, a regional qualifying mark, and added 910 points to his total. Hardee earned 558 points in the javelin with his distance of 157-4. In his final event of the day, he ran the 1500m in 4:42.61, a career-high, for 664 points, enough points to send him to the NCAA Championships.

Lauren Johnson finished the heptathlon in 10th place with 4,742 points. She scored 634 points in the long jump with her distance of 17-3 1/2. The sophomore threw the javelin 92-6 for 442 points. Crossing the finish line in 2:26.99, she scored 731 points in the 800-meter run.

In the hammer throw, newcomer Matt Holcomb threw a regional qualifying mark of 192-8, and Crystal Averitt recorded a 166-8.

Gedamu Ege set a personal best mark in the 5000m run by more than 10 seconds with his time of 15:03.79, finishing in 10th place. Freshman Brandon Smith, in his first collegiate 5000m, recorded a time of 16:06.05. On the women's side, Mina Thorstenson crossed the finish line in 18:11.05 in the 5000m and Joy Griffith in 18:36.07.

Day three begins at 9:30 a.m. for the Bulldogs with the 4x100m relay and at 10 a.m. for the Lady Bulldogs with the shot put.

Source: MSU Media Relations Department