Bulldogs bite Ole Miss, 2-0
By By Carver Rayburn/staff writer
March 29, 2003
OXFORD Mississippi State freshman Craig Tatum belted a one out two RBI single in the sixth inning and junior southpaw Paul Maholm pitched eight shut out innings as No. 9 Mississippi State beat No.29 Ole Miss 2-0 on Friday at Swayze Field.
Mississippi State (20-3-1) improved its Southeastern Conference record to 6-1 and is 7-2 versus Ole Miss (17-8, 5-2) since Rebels coach Mike Bianco took over at Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs scattered seven hits over nine innings and left six men on base. The highlight of the game was the pitching exhibition Maholm put on.
Mississippi State left a runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings before finally breaking through in the sixth with two runs.
After junior first baseman Matthew Brinson lead-off the sixth with a single, freshman outfielder Brad Corley sent a lightning shot down the third base line that was good enough for a double.
Freshman right-hander Mark Holliman (3-1) then sent junior third baseman Brent Lewis to the dugout ton three pitches but gave up a two RBI single to Tatum on the next pitch for the games only runs.
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco was pleased with the way his true freshman pitched despite the Rebel loss.
Ole Miss matched MSU's hit total with seven of their own but squandered opportunities to score.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the third, senior shortstop Chad Sterbans and sophomore outfielder Seth Smith had back-to-back singles.
Maholm then walked freshman outfielder Brian Pettway to load the bases.
The Rebels could not capitalize on the situation and senior catcher Charlie Waite hit a lazy fly ball to center field to end the inning. Ole Miss left eight base runners stranded over the entire game.
Mississippi State head coach Ron Polk, who is in his 23rd season with the Bulldogs, seemed pleased with the outcome of the roughly two and half hour
game.
pitched well for Ole Miss, it was just a matter of Craig Tatum getting the
key hit at the right time."
Polk added to his statement earlier this week of expecting low scoring
quick games for the weekend series.
scoring game," Polk said. "I think the rest of the series will be the same."
Ole Miss and Mississippi State will resume the three-game series today at 1:30 p.m.
