Bulldogs Down Ole Miss 7-6 In Series Opener

Thursday, May 12

Oxford, Miss.

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

31-18, 12-13

Ole Miss

27-22, 11-14

Mississippi State

Ole Miss

Bulldogs Down Ole Miss 7-6 In Series Opener

May 12, 2011 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

OXFORD, Miss. - A three-run eighth inning lifted Mississippi State past Ole Miss 7-6 in a thrilling Southeastern Conference baseball game played Thursday night at Oxford-University Stadium.

The Bulldogs built an early 4-1 lead and actually still held a 4-2 lead in the home half of the seventh inning. The Rebels then took the lead on a massive three-run home run by Alex Yarbrough. Not deterred, Brent Brownlee sparked the Bulldog rally by beating out an infield bunt attempt for the game-tying score. MSU took the lead on the final two of UM's four errors.

With the victory, the Bulldogs won the series opener in this stadium for a second straight time. MSU improved to 31-18 overall and 12-13 in conference play - moving for the moment into sole possession of third place in the Western Division standings and one-half game out of first place. Ole Miss fell to 27-22 and 11-14.

"I wish everybody could see the way our kids are practicing and the effort in the weight room, and every single thing they do every day," MSU head coach John Cohen said. "They're finally getting a reward for that work."

In his second start of the season, Luis Pollorena delivered for the Bulldogs. The sophomore left-hander threw his longest start as a Bulldog. Pollorena allowed seven hits and four runs (all earned), with four strikeouts and two walks. In relief, Chad Girodo (3-0) got the win despite being touched for the Yarbrough home run.

Caleb Reed threw the final two frames for his 10^th save of the season. That save moved the junior right-hander into a three-way tie for fourth place on the school's all-time single season saves chart. Reed worked around a single and walk in the eighth inning.

In the ninth inning, UM had an even better threat. Two walks and an infield hit loaded the bases. Reed got a run-scoring double play ball and a strikeout to snuff this final threat.

"Late in the game, I knew I was beginning to struggle," Pollorena said. "I just reached into my heart and brought out the warrior within me to keep competing. They can have big players but they still have to hit the ball. I just kept it below their knees and it worked out."

The Bulldogs used small ball to perfection to build the early lead. In the first inning, Jarrod Parks reached on a two-out infield error. After a walk to Nick Vickerson, Jaron Shepherd produced an RBI-single.

The lead grew to 2-0 an inning later when Jonathan Ogden doubled, took third on a sacrifice bunt attempt and scored on a sacrifice-fly by C.T. Bradford.

After the Rebels closed within 2-1, the Bulldogs plated two critical scores in the third inning. Again, a leadoff error started things. Vickerson singled and both runners advanced on a Shepherd sacrifice-bunt. A Brownlee sacrifice-fly scored one run and a Ryan Collins' RBI-double scored the other.

That would be enough offense for Pollorena, Girodo and Reed.

"Pollorena gutted it out and grinded for us and did one heck of a job for us," Cohen said.

In the eighth inning, Vickerson and Shepherd began things with back-to-back hits. On Shepherd's hit, Vickerson took third base. Brownlee followed with a bunt attempt which Ole Miss fielded cleanly but no one covered first base. The infield hit tied the game 5-5.

Seconds later, the Bulldogs tried a double steal. Shepherd swiped third and was able to come home when the UM catcher's throw went into the outfield. Wes Thigpen followed with a single. A misplay in the outfield allowed the final MSU run to score.

The Bulldogs finished with eight hits. Vickerson and Shepherd each had multiple hits. Third baseman Jarrod Parks reached via error twice was officially hitless and saw his 21-game hit streak snapped.

The Rebels finished with 11 hits. Austin Anderson had three hits, while Yarbrough and Blake Newalu each had multiple hits. Starter Matt Crouse worked six innings, allowing four hits and four runs (one earned). Brett Huber threw the seventh inning. Bobby Wahl (0-1) finished the contest and took the loss.

The series resumes with a 7:06 p.m. start Friday. MSU is scheduled to start junior left-hander Nick Routt, while UM is scheduled to start junior right-hander David Goforth (4-6, 4.79). Saturday's series finale is also a 7:06 p.m. start. Each of those two games will be televised regionally by SportSouth.