Sneed Homer Lifts MSU Past Jaguars, 7-6, In Extra Innings

Wednesday, March 26

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

10-13

South Alabama

13-11

South Alabama

Mississippi State

Sneed Homer Lifts MSU Past Jaguars, 7-6, In Extra Innings

March 26, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State shortstop Russ Sneed was ready to send everyone home from the ballpark. Sneed hit the first pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning out of Dudy Noble Field, lifting the Bulldogs to a dramatic 7-6 win over the visiting South Alabama Jaguars Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs and Jaguars split a midweek series. USA held off a late MSU rally to take Tuesday's series opener, 6-5. With the victory, M-State improved to 10-13, while South Alabama fell to 13-11.

For the Bulldogs, it was their first victory in a one-run game this season. It was also the first extra-innings contest for MSU this season.

The story of the contest may have been MSU's relief pitching. After a one-out fourth-inning RBI single by USA's Ray Kruml, the Jaguars held a 6-4 lead. After that hit, MSU pitching retired the next 14 batters it faced. The Bulldogs also retired 22 of the final 26 USA batters in the contest.

Chad Crosswhite (1-2) struck out the side in the 11th inning to earn his first win of the season. Prior to Crosswhite, John Lalor was masterful in setup work, facing 15 batters and allowing two hits in four innings of shutout relief.

The Jaguars struck for five runs in the top half of the second inning. MSU starter Jared Wesson had worked around a pair of hits in the first inning but walked back-to-back batters to start the second inning. Sean Laird and Russell Harben followed with back-to-back hits, chasing Wesson. Forrest Moore entered the contest and allowed a sacrifice fly by Jake Overstreet, making the score 2-0 USA. Moore then allowed back-to-back run-producing hits to Kruml and Clint Toomey. Another sacrifice fly by David Doss pushed the advantage to 5-0.

The Bulldogs responded with some timely two-out hitting in a four-run third inning.

Jason Nappi started things with a two-out double to right center. Cody Freeman reached on an infield error, extending the inning. A walk to Connor Powers loaded the bases. Tyler Moore, who drove in four runs in Tuesday's game, drove in two here with a single to left field. After another walk, Jet Butler had another clutch two-out single, pulling the Bulldogs within 5-4.

In the seventh inning, MSU loaded the bases with one out but only managed a sacrifice fly by Jeff Flagg. An inning later, Freeman laid down the perfect bunt with the USA catcher throwing the ball away, allowing the game-tying run to score. This at-bat, MSU left the bases loaded but could not go ahead.

Thanks to the relief pitching, the Bulldogs eventually found a way with Sneed's first round-tripper of the year - a massive shot over the left field fence - sending the MSU fans home happy.

MSU finished with 12 hits but were plagued by 15 stranded base runners. Moore had three hits to pace the Bulldogs' offensive attack. Freeman and Butler also had multiple hits.

USA finished with 11 hits. Toomey paced the Jaguars with three hits, while Kruml, Laird and Harben had multiple hits.

James Dunning (1-1) threw one pitch in the contest and took the loss for the Jaguars.

MSU returns to Southeastern Conference play this weekend, hosting the Georgia Bulldogs in a Super Bulldog Weekend three-game series. The SEC's two set of Bulldogs will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The Sunday contest will be broadcast regionally by Comcast Sports Southeast.