Mississippi State's Incumbent Kettleers Are on Quite a Roll

Johnson Whiffs Career-High 11, While Rea Clouts HR

May 10, 2005

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Josh Johnson struck out a career-high 11 batters Tuesday night as Mississippi State (32-16) closed out a run of five games in five days with a 3-2 win over Mississippi Valley State (19-28). It was the lowest scoring and smallest winning margin for the Bulldogs, who have won all 13 games in the series.
MSU, with wins in four of its last five games, travels to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend, resuming SEC competition against Eastern Division power Florida May 13-15.

Bulldog starter Josh Johnson, after retiring the Delta Devils in order in the first inning, ran into problems in the second. MVSU loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk, then got a sacrifice fly by Derick Weeks.

Mississippi State, held by MVSU starter Rudy Casias to two hits and two other base-runners the first four frames, took the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Joseph Hunter singled to open the inning and scored from first on Jeff Butts' triple into the right-center field gap. Butts then scored the go-ahead run on an infield groundout to second base.

Ed Easley found the gap on a double to open the ninth and plated an insurance run on Brad Jones' single to center field.

The Bulldogs would need that run, as Valley cut the Bulldog lead with a run in the ninth. Ian Corona struck out to open the ninth but reached on a wild pitch and Ross Myers beat out a bunt single. With one out in the inning, Zach Penprase rolled a grounder to second base. Rea's throw to second retired Myers, but shortstop Bunky Kateon's throw to complete the double play at first base sailed into the MVSU dugout, allowing Corona to score. Relief pitcher Brett Cleveland, who entered the game in the eighth, then struck out Rod Williams to end the game and earn his third save. It was the 16th strikeout by Bulldog pitching, matching a season-high.

Johnson (4-0) struck out a career-high and two-year staff-high 11 batters, giving up a run on seven hits. Eric Ebers retired the two batters he faced after replacing Johnson in the seventh, and Cleveland fanned four and was charged with one unearned run during his 1-2/3 inning relief stint.

Casias (3-2), charged with two runs on four hits over 6-1/3 innings, took the loss.

Easley had a double and a single to pace State at the plate, while MVSU got two-hit performances by John Morgan and Derick Weeks.


JACKSON, Miss. - Jeffrey Rea and Brad Corley homered, had three hits each Monday night to help power Mississippi State (31-16) to a 10-4 win over Birmingham-Southern (30-17). It was MSU's fourth and final visit to Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson for the 2005 Entergy College Baseball Series.

The Bulldogs jumped on Panthers ace Brandon Hynick (7-4) for three runs in the first and second innings and pulled away from a 6-4 game with two-run bursts in the sixth and ninth innings.

Thomas Berkery tripled in one run and Brad Corley, ending a 26-game home run drought, launched a towering solo shot to give MSU a 3-0 lead in the first frame. Brad Jones, who drove in one run with an infield groundout in the opening inning, added a two-run single with the bases loaded in the second.

Jeffrey Rea opened the sixth inning with his second home run of the season.

All nine MSU starters and one pinch-hitter hit safely in the game, combining for 16 hits, third-most in a game by the Bulldogs this year.

Mississippi State freshman starter John Lalor (4-0) held the Panthers, coached by former MSU assistant coach Brian Shoop, to four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. He allowed two runs in the second inning, one on a towering solo blast by Adam Tucker, and two more in the fourth when BSC opened the inning with three consecutive hits.

Jamie Gant and Brooks Dunn combined for four innings of scoreless three-hit pitching over the final four frames.

Hynick, the first of four Panther pitchers in the game, was charged with six runs on nine hits over five innings. Paul Jones, Bailey Pratt and Josh Britnell pitched the final four innings for Birmingham-Southern.

Mississippi State hosts Mississippi Valley State in a 6:30 p.m. game Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field before hitting the road for a three-game series against the 10th-ranked Florida Gators.

-- Story/Photo Courtesy of Mississippi State University Athletic Department