April 16, 2003

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - - Craig Tatum's RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning scored Matthew Maniscalco as No. 8 Mississippi State rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to defeat Samford, 5-4, at Dudy Noble Field. Samford fell to 10-26 while State improved to 27-7-1 on the season.

Jonathan Papelbon (5-0) didn't allow a hit in two innings to earn the win in relief. Stephen Artz (0-6) suffered the loss allowing one run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Lee Brady struck out a career-high four batters in 4 2/3 innings before being relieved by Justin Klinger who allowed one earned run in 3 1/3 innings pitched in his first appearance of the season. Brad Corley, Jamie Gant and Papelbon combined for 10 strikeouts for MSU.

In the bottom of the 12th, Maniscalco singled to third base and advanced to second Jon Mungle's sacrifice bunt. After Steve Gendron was intentionally walked, Matthew Brinson flied out to right field. With two outs, Tatum lined a pitched to right field. Robert Evans' throw home was off target allowing Maniscalco to score.

Mississippi State tied the game in the bottom of the ninth to force the game into extra innings. After Craig Tatum and Robby Goodson walked, Thomas Berkery sacrificed the runners over. After Wassermann got Jeff Butts to fly out to left field. Joseph Hunter hit a high chopper to third baseman Kip Snowden between third base and the shortstop. Snowden bobbled the ball, dropped it and kicked it towards right field allowing the tying runs to score for the 4-4 score.

Samford took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a pair of Mississippi State defensive miscues. Michael Collins singled and moved to second on a single by Eric Hollis. After a double steal, Collins scored on an error by the catcher moving Hollis to third. Hollis scored on a wild pitch for the Bulldog lead.

Richard Bishop's two-run double in the top of the fourth gave Samford a 4-0 lead.

State cut into its deficit in the bottom of the fourth. Steve Gendron doubled and scored on Matthew Brinson's ground rule double to make it, 4-1.

MSU made it 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Jeff Butts singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Joseph Hunter's sacrifice fly scored Butts.

Sae Evans led Samford going 2-for-5. Maniscalco, Butts and Brinson each had two hits State.

The Bulldogs return to action this weekend when they travel to Jacksonville State for an Atlantic Sun Conference series.