Commodores Hold Off Late Diamond Dog Rally Try, 4-3

Sunday, April 13

Starkville

1:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

14-21, 0

Vanderbilt

24-10, 0

Vanderbilt

Mississippi State

Commodores Hold Off Late Diamond Dog Rally Try, 4-3

April 13, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics
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STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A ninth inning rally fell short Sunday afternoon, as Mississippi State dropped a 4-3 decision to Vanderbilt at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs scored a final at-bat run on a Grant Hogue infield single. However, MSU left the bases loaded and could not force the tie.

The 13th-ranked Commodores improved to 24-10 overall and 8-6 in conferce play, while the Bulldogs fell to 14-21 and 3-12.

Vanderbilt opened the scoring with single runs in the first and second innings. Pedro Alvarez hit his third home run of the year in the Commodores' first inning. An inning later, David Macias' two-out RBI single stretched the Vanderbilt lead to 2-0.

The Bulldogs reached a pair of hit batsmen but could not score in the opening inning, as speedster Grant Hogue was caught stealing for only the third time this year.

In the third inning, Hogue did find his way home, as part of Ryan Collins' second home run of the year. The MSU left field launched a towering fly ball over the right field fence to tie the game 2-2.

Vanderbilt quickly regained the lead, scoring once in the fourth inning. Andrew Giobbi started things with a one-out wind-blown infield single off a popup. Parker Hanks and Shea Robin followed with back-to-back singles. A softly-hit groundball by Brian Harris brough Giobbi home.

The Bulldogs had a chance to answer in the fifth inning when three walks loaded the bases with two outs. However, a strikeout snuffed that threat.

Vanderbilt closed its scoring when Macias tripled and scored on a two-out infield error in the ninth inning.

In the MSU ninth inning, Tyler Moore walked and Ryan Duffy connected for a one-out single. Mark Goforth followed with an infield hit to load the bases. Hogue had a similar hit, driving in a run on a dribbler as VU failed to cover first base. In relief, VU pitchers Richie Goodenow and Russell Brewer each accomplish that mission with back-to-back strikeouts to end the matter.

The Commodores finished with eight hits. Macias collected his team-best 17th multiple-hit game and also extended his current hit streak to 10 games. Hanks also had multiple hits for Vanderbilt.

Nick Christiani (4-1) picked up the win for Vanderbilt. Christiani threw seven innings, allowing three hits and two runs (both earned), with 10 strikeouts and four walks. Chase Reid followed in relief, throwing a perfect eighth inning but running into trouble to start the ninth inning. For Brewer, the game-ending strikeout was his third save.

John Lalor (1-3) took the loss for MSU. Making his first start of the season, Lalor worked five innings, allowing six hits and three runs (all earned), with one walk and six strikeouts. Forrest Moore threw two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief, with two walks and three strikeouts. Aaron Weatherford also allowed one hit in two innings of relief work, being touched for the unearned run, while striking out six batters.

MSU returns to action Tuesday night, taking on arch-rival Mississippi in the 2nd Governor's Cup. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. That contest will be televised regionally by Comcast Sports Southeast. The Bulldogs return to conference play next weekend with a road series at Alabama.