The Bulldogs opened a weekend home stand Friday night with a 12-4 win over the Kentucky Wildcats.
Brad Corley drove in four runs on three hits to pace the offensive onslaught, while the Bulldog bullpen pitched a near perfect game in relief of starter Alan Johnson.
Johnson lasted just 1 2/3 innings, getting battered by Wildcat batters to the tune of seven hits and four runs. By the time he was chased, the Diamond Dawgs found themselves on the shallow end of a 4-0 deficit against the team with the worst winning percentage in the SEC.
The Bulldog bats answered the call, scoring a run in the second on an Ed Easley double that scored Brian LaNinfa, then plating four runs in the fourth on a Bunky Kateon double and a Brad Corley triple to take the lead.
The team would not look back, adding six runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to insure the 12-4 win. Easley joined Corley to lead the Bulldogs with three hits in the contest.
Thomas Berkery was the only other Bulldog to log multiple hits, although eight of the starting nine gapped at least one.
When Johnson was pulled in the second to stop the bleeding, junior Jamie Gant came on in relief, shutting down the Cats for the next four innings.
Gant allowed no runs, one hit, and struck out four before turning the ball over to Mike Valentine for another 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. Saunders Ramsey came on to record the final three outs, striking out two.
Saturday
Revenge for Friday’s thumping came swiftly and effectively.
Kentucky returned the favor by pounding the Bulldogs 12-5 on Saturday to even the series at one win apiece.
The Wildcats again got off to a quick start, lighting up starter Todd Doolittle for seven runs in the first 2 2/3 innings.
The Bulldogs responded by scoring two in the fourth on a Jeff Butts single and a Berkery sacrifice.
The Cats crushed the Dogs’ comeback with a complete game performance by starting pitcher Aaron Tennyson. Tennyson teased Bulldog batters by allowing 15 hits, yet he allowed only five runs, three earned, in his nine innings of work. Tennyson also struck out three Bulldogs, throwing 92 of his 139 pitches for strikes.
“Tennyson did what you need to do when you have a lead – throw strikes,” said Polk.
The Wildcats were not content to hide behind strong pitching, instead continuing their offensive dominance by tagging relief pitcher Josh Johnson for five runs over the next four innings.
Leadoff man J.B. Schmidt led the Cats with four hits, while center fielder Antone DeJesus paced the team with four RBIs.
Despite the vast difference in scores, the Bulldogs out-hit the Wildcats 15-14 and received a hit from every starter. Butts led the Bulldog offense with three hits.
“They showed today how dangerous they are offensively,” Polk said. “They got the hits at the right time and we didn’t, although we probably hit the ball better today than we did yesterday.”
Sunday
In a thrilling conclusion to the weekend series, MSU rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to win the game 3-2 and take the season series.
With only three outs standing between the Cats and victory, Kentucky head coach John Cohen pulled Brock Baber, the team leader in saves, in favor of Scott Green.
Green proceeded to give up a single and two walks to load the bases, all before recording an out. Green then walked Butts to score LaNinfa for the Bulldogs’ first run of the game.
Green next forced Jeffery Rae to ground out but allowed a run to score in the process, tying the contest at two runs apiece.
Cohen then had Green intentionally walk Berkery to set up a double play situation, but All-American Brad Corley singled up the middle instead, plating Daniel Tackett and giving the Diamond Dawgs the win, 3-2.
“This was a huge win for our team,” Corley said. “Winning two games out of the weekend series is a big plus. We really didn’t get down or give up. Everybody was frustrated after Saturday’s game, but it all worked out.”
The Wildcats out-hit the Dawgs 11-9, with DeJesus leading the team with a three hit outing. Corley matched that feat for the Bulldogs, joining designated hitter Mitch Moreland as the only Bulldogs to register multi-hit games on the day.
“We were in a position to win,” Cohen said. “Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to learn how to close ball games down. We’ve had a few get away from us like that. We certainly had a chance to win.”
MSU starter Jon Crosby had the best outing of any of State’s weekend hurlers, going six strong innings and striking out four.
Redshirt freshman Justin Pigott came on in relief of Crosby, and improved his 1.71 ERA by pitching shutout baseball for the final three innings.
The Bulldogs will return to action tonight with the first of a two-night series against the Southern Miss.