Despite losing their first game of the year, No. 1 Mississippi State proved themselves worthy of its top ranking, winning two of three games against Louisiana State in a hostile environment where the Tigers seldom lose.
Friday MSU 11, LSU 1
In an 11-1 rout of LSU, Mississippi State extended its season-opening win streak to 18 games. The Bulldogs offense bludgeoned Tigers’ pitcher Daniel Forrer for six runs in six innings, including a four-run second frame highlighted by back-to-back-to-back home runs by Matt Richarson, Michael Rutledge and Jeff Butts.
The Bulldogs added another run in the fourth inning and two more in the seventh to chase Forrer from the mound, but they were far from easy on his replacement, saddling redshirt freshman Nolan Cain with five earned runs in two innings.
The Bulldog pitching staff, however, continued to impress, holding the 13th-ranked Tigers to six hits and one run as Brooks Dunn pitched seven and one-third innings, striking out four. The start was the 18th time in 18 games where and MSU starter has lasted more than five innings.
Joseph Hunter paced the Bulldogs in hits with three, while Butts led the team with three RBIs.
Saturday LSU 8, MSU 6
The Diamond Dawgs suffered their first setback of the 2006 campaign Saturday, blowing a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth to fall to the Tigers 8-6.
Reliever Mike Valentine, who came into the game with a season ERA of 0.0, gave up four runs in the bottom of the eighth frame, including a two-run homer by four-spot hitter Quinn Stewart.
He was replaced by closer Brett Cleveland, who was officially given the loss after allowing the final runs to score on a double to centerfield.
It was the first time the Bulldogs had given up five runs in a game, much less an inning.
“You have to give LSU credit. They swung the bats very well today and got key hits when they needed them, especially late in the game,” MSU skipper Ron Polk told reporters after the game. The game began as a defensive struggle, with neither team scoring until an Ed Easley double scored Butts for the Bulldogs in the top of the fifth inning.
LSU responded in the bottom of the frame by plating three to take the lead, but with back-to-back two-run innings in the sixth and seventh along with an insurance run in the eighth, the Bulldogs appeared poised for their 19th straight victory. But the Tigers ended that wish with their eighth inning.
Sunday MSU 7, LSU 6
With only one decision in the loss column, it remained to be seen how the 2006 Bulldogs would handle the adversity of losing a game.
On Sunday they proved they could handle things just fine, grabbing a 10-inning, 7-6 victory over the LSU Tigers to return to Starkville with an SEC road-series win.
Senior co-captain Thomas Berkery came up large for the Bulldogs in the top of the 10th frame, flying out to right field to sacrifice in Butts from third base.
“If I’d want anybody up in that situation, I’d want Berkery,” Polk said. “He’s been around.”
Justin Pigott worked a perfect 10th to clinch the win and the series victory.
The series victory was the first for the Dawgs in Baton Rouge since 2000, and the 13th win for Polk at historic Alex Box Stadium.
LSU opened the scoring game with a run in the second, but the Bulldogs marched past that stake with three runs in the third, two more in the fourth and another in the fifth. LSU chipped away at the Bulldog lead with a run in the fourth before eventually tying the game with a four-run frame in the bottom of the sixth.
John Lalor went five innings for the Bulldogs, striking out six, while Mitch Moreland and Berkery paced the offense with two RBIs each. Berkery singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.
The Bulldogs will return to play tonight with the first of two midweek games at Dudy Noble against Birmingham Southern.