May 15, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi St. scored six runs in the top of the ninth breaking a 7-7 tie and overcame a season-high seven errors as State defeated Samford, 13-7 Wednesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford fell to 24-29 on the season while Miss. St. improved to 30-22-1.

Jonathan Papelbon, the fourth of five MSU pitchers, picked up the win. Papelbon allowed one unearned run on one hit while striking out three through two innings. Freshman right-hander Alan Bryan (4-7) took the loss in relief of starter Scott Fowler. Bryan allowed eight runs on 11 hits and struck out four in 7.1 innings.

With the game knotted at 7, Matthew Maniscalco started the one out rally when he singled to right field. After Chad Henry walked, Matthew Brinson doubled in Maniscalco to put MSU back on top 8-7. Steve Gendron then hit a three-run home run over the left field wall extending State's lead to 11-7. Jon Mungle and Robby Goodson each knocked in a run to make for the final score.

Samford battled back from a 4-0 deficit after the first inning. The Bulldogs scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second. Eric Hollis led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Sae Evans doubled to right field, scoring Hollis pulling the Bulldogs within 4-1. After Joe Denson singled, Michael Collins hit a two-RBI double to left center bringing Samford within 4-3.

The Bulldogs tied the game in bottom of the third when Hollis doubled to score Josh Rhodes who had singled. State retook the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Brinson and an RBI double by Gendron.

Goodson's solo home run in the top of the seventh gave MSU a 7-4 lead.

Samford cut its deficit to 7-6 in bottom of the seventh on three State errors and no hits. Josh Rhodes was hit by a pitch and scored on an error by the MSU pitcher. With two outs, Eli Iorg, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored when Collins reached first on an error.

The Bulldogs tied the game once more in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Grant Caldwell singled and advanced to second on an error. Major Allred hit a ball up the middle that went between the second baseman's legs allowing Caldwell to tie the game.

Caldwell, Hollis, Denson and Collins each had two hits for Samford. The Bulldogs stranded 10 base runners. MSU out-hit Samford, 16-10.

Maniscalco went 4-for-5 with three runs scored to lead State while Gendron was 3-for-5 with six RBI.

Samford concludes its regular season when it host Belmont this weekend in a key Atlantic Sun Conference Series. Friday's game is set for 6 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.