Diamond Dogs Edge Georgia, 3-2 In 10, In Super Bulldog Weekend Series Opener

Friday, March 28

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

11-13, 0

Georgia

13-10, 0

Georgia

Mississippi State

Diamond Dogs Edge Georgia, 3-2 In 10, In Super Bulldog Weekend Series Opener

March 28, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Grant Hogue scored the winning run on a wild pitch as Mississippi State kicked off Super Bulldog Weekend with an emotional 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Georgia Bulldogs Friday night.

A Dudy Noble Field season-high crowd of 3,888 watched MSU win the opening game of a weekend Southeastern Conference series for the first time this year. MSU improved to 11-13 overall and 2-5 in league play, while Georgia fell to 13-11 and 4-3. The homestanding Bulldogs won their second straight extra-innings games, with Friday's win coming on the heels of MSU's 7-6 win in 11 innings over South Alabama Wednesday night.

Hogue led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a single to right field. The former Pearl River Community College standout swiped an SEC-leading 16th stolen base when he took second base. On that play, the catcher overthrew the ball into center field, allowing Hogue to take third base. Two pitches later, Joshua Fields wild pitched the winning run home.

"We were able to win the game with speed," MSU head coach Ron Polk said. "Georgia's strength is veteran pitching. We were able to take advantage of some timely hits and pitched very well. I am proud of the kids for finding a way to win this game tonight."

MSU was playing its first game since head baseball coach Polk announced his resignation Thursday afternoon. Polk, the seventh all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I history, is in his 29th season with the Bulldogs. The all-time winningest coach in SEC history, Polk now has a career record of 1,361-680-2 in 35 seasons as a head coach. Ironically, Polk spent two years at Georgia, prior to returning to MSU for his second stint of duty, begining with the 2002 campaign. Polk will coach the Bulldogs for the remainder of the season.

"I still have some games left," Polk said. "After this year, it is time to move on. And not to move on and take another job. This is my last stop. It has been an incredible ride. But right now, I still have some games to coach. I am a very competitive person and I still want to win some games this year."

The Friday night contest was nip-and-tuck, well pitched and well played by both teams.

Georgia scored first with a single run in the second inning. Back-to-back walks to Joey Lewis and Bruce Massanari opened the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Lyle Allen, both runners advanced. A walk to Adam Fuller loaded the bases. An RBI single by Ryan Peisel gave Georgia a 1-0 lead.

In the MSU third inning, the hosts tied the game 1-1. Russ Sneed doubled to open that at-bat. Jet Butler extended his current hit streak to a career-best seven games with an RBI single.

Both teams scored in the fifth inning. For Georgia, Gordon Beckham reached as a hit batsman. After a strikeout, Matt Olson tripled Beckham home with the go-ahead run. MSU scored in its half of the inning when Ryan Collins laced an RBI single scoring Hogue, who reached on an infield error and also stole a base.

For MSU, Tyler Whitney drew his first career SEC start and struggled with control issues. Whitney lasted 1-1/3 innings, allowing no hits and one run (earned), with five walks and two strikeouts. Michael Busby entered with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning. Busby, a true freshman, worked out of the jam, allowing only one run. Busby eventually worked a career-longest 6-2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run (earned), with three walks and eight strikeouts. Chad Crosswhite (2-2) struck out two and faced the minimum six batters to close out the contest and earn the win.

For Georgia, Fields (0-1) worked a scorless ninth inning but was tagged with the loss an inning later. Trevor Holden pitched six innings, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned), with two walks and six strikeouts. Devan Weaver pitched two innings of shutout middle relief, helping Georgia work the contest toward extra innings.

MSU and Georgia will resume their SEC series Saturday afternoon. After a very emotional victory Friday night, Polk said now was the time for the team to return its focus back to the baseball field.

"Thursday was a very emotional day," Polk said. "You have to tell the players, the assistant coaches, the managers, the secretary - it really wears on you. This has been a very difficult decision but I know it is time. We have a very young team and a very competitive team. This is just a great group of intelligent guys who are fun to be around. I want to coach the rest of this season and enjoy these young men."

Game time is 2 p.m. Saturday. MSU is schedule to start junior right-hander Lee Swindle (2-1, 3.63 ERA), while UGA is scheduled to start junior right-hander Stephen Dodson (3-1, 5.06). The teams then complete the weekend series with a 1:30 p.m. start Sunday. The Sunday MSU-UGA contest will be broadcast regionally by Comcast Sports Southeast.