Bulldogs snap skid vs. Rebels

Published 11:39 am Wednesday, April 20, 2011

PEARL — If double plays and run support are a pitcher’s best friends, Mississippi State’s staff spent a wonderful spring night with its buddies Tuesday.

The Bulldogs turned three double plays, jumped on Ole Miss for three runs in the first two innings, and thoroughly dominated the Rebels in a 6-1 victory at Trustmark Park.

Jarrod Parks had two hits and scored two runs for Mississippi State (23-14), while Wes Thigpen went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Pitchers Randall Graveman, Chad Girodo and Taylor Stark combined to allow one run on six hits, and only walked one batter.

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“It was a little sloppy defensively, but we got some hits in some key situations. We manufactured some things and I’m really proud of our kids,” Mississippi State coach John Cohen said. “The middle of the week is a tough, tough time. We’re coming off an emotional weekend and I really liked the way our kids competed.”

Although Mississippi State played well, Ole Miss (23-15) did itself no favors. The Rebels committed two errors that led directly to runs, and another on a stolen base attempt where the runner scored later.

Starting pitcher Matt Tracy misplayed a sacrifice bunt attempt in the top of the first inning, allowing C.T. Bradford to score and give MSU a 1-0 lead. In the fifth inning, right fielder Matt Smith dropped an easy two-out fly ball that allowed Parks to score from first and gave the Bulldogs a 4-0 advantage.

The throwing error in the seventh on a stolen base attempt by Bradford helped MSU score two more runs to make it 6-0. Bradford scored on Cody Freeman’s RBI single, and Thigpen followed with another base hit to bring in MSU’s final run of the game.

“That puts a lot of pressure on you,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said of the Rebels’ miscues. “We’ve just got to make some better plays.”

Defensively, Mississippi State committed three errors but also turned three double plays in the first four innings to nip potential jams in the bud. Graveman only needed 34 pitches to get through the first four innings, and Girodo pitched into the eighth.

Ole Miss avoided the shutout when Will Allen led off the eighth with a triple and scored on a ground out, but the Rebels left runners at second and third and then went down in order in the ninth.

“We felt really confident, like we were hitting the ball really well. A lot of barrels. That’s all you can really ask for. If it goes right to them, there’s really not much you can do about it,” said Ole Miss second baseman Alex Yarbrough, who went 2-for-4, but was involved in two double plays. He hit into a line drive double play in the first inning, then was doubled off first on another line drive in the fourth.

“Once we got down by four, we stopped having the same aggressive at-bats,” Yarbrough added.

Tulane 13, SE Louisiana 8

Former Vicksburg star Bowen Woodson went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to pace Tulane to a win over in-state rival Southeast Louisiana at Turchin Stadium in New Orleans.