May 13, 2008

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. -

Memphis (16-36)               010 000 000 - 1 4 1
Mississippi State (21-32)     003 000 10x - 4 9 0

Mississippi State pitcher Chad Crosswhite recorded eight of his team's 13 strikeouts to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-1 win over Memphis in the final non-conference game of the season for both squads.

The Tigers outlasted the Bulldogs, 9-8, in 10 innings on April 8. However, in the final meeting between Head Coach Daron Schoenrock and his mentor Ron Polk, it was the teacher that came out victorious in pitcher's dual.

Ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Memphis starter Brennon Martin was tagged for three scores as Mississippi State went up 3-1. Consecutive singles by Ryan Powers and Grant Hogue set up a sacrifice fly by Nick Hardy to tie the game at 1-1. State grabbed the two-run cushion two batters later on a two-run single from Ryan Duffy. Duffy finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead Mississippi State, who improves to 21-32 on the year.

The Bulldogs got an insurance run in the seventh via an RBI-triple from Jet Butler to make it 4-1.

Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the second after Cole Shelton ripped a single to rightfield and then swiped second for his first collegiate stolen base. He moved to third on a ground out by Robby Graham and another ground out--this one by K.K. Chalmers--brought him in. But from there the Tigers could only muster three hits, while striking out nine times. Chris Newsom, Eric Farrell and Tyler Huelsing had the other three hits in the game.

Crosswhite surrendered just two hits in five innings to move to 3-5 on the season. Aaron Weatherford worked a scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save.

Martin gave up three runs on seven hits, while sitting down six Bulldogs on strikes. Matt Yokley, Garrett Hachtel and Chris Kirkland also saw time on the hill for Memphis.

The Tigers will now home for the final C-USA weekend of the year. Memphis is in a must-win situation in its efforts to make a third straight appearance in the C-USA Championships. The Tigers will host East Carolina from Thurs., May 15-Sat., May 17.