USM ventures to Starkville for 2-game series
By By Danny P. Smith / special to The Star
April 22, 2003
STARKVILLE They were best friends growing up and teammates at Hattiesburg High School.
When Mississippi State freshman catcher Craig Tatum has to hit against Southern Mississippi pitcher Cliff Russum tonight at Dudy Noble Field, they oppose each other for the first time.
The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles also play Wednesday with both games set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Palmer is looking forward to giving the ball to Russum again for another midweek start.
Russum has a record of 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA.
Tatum is also friends and went to high school with Matt Shepherd, an infielder with the Golden Eagles, while Jeff Lacher, tonight's scheduled starting pitcher for the Bulldogs, also went to high school with Tatum, Russell and Shepherd.
With the games having so many connections to the Hattiesburg area, it has created quite an interest.
Lacher is yet to take a loss this season with a record of 4-0 and a 4.22 ERA.
Southern Miss leads the Conference-USA standings with a mark of 14-4 and is 30-10 overall.
Tatum has never been a big follower of the Golden Eagles, but has noticed what has been happening in Hattiesburg lately.
Clint King leads the Golden Eagles with a .411 batting average and he also has 14 home runs and 45 RBI, while Jeff Cook has a .370 average with 16 home runs and 53 RBI.
The game also marks a homecoming to the Golden Triangle area for a pair of Columbus products who play at Southern Miss.
Brad Willcutt, who prepped at Heritage Academy, is the starting catcher for the Golden Eagles, while Bob McCrory of Columbus High School is the Friday starting pitcher in the weekend rotation. Bob is the son of Columbus football coach Roy McCrory.
Willcutt is fourth on the team in hitting with an average of .338 and his 17 doubles leads the squad. He also has seven home runs.
McCrory, who is not expected to pitch against Mississippi State, has provided a 6-2 record and 50 strikeouts this season. The six wins ties for the team lead and the strikeout total is third on the staff.
Mississippi State has an overall record of 28-9-1 and a pitching staff which impresses Palmer.
Tatum is one of seven Bulldogs hitting over the .300 mark at .327 and Mississippi State is hitting .311 as a team.
After only scoring six runs in the three-game series at South Carolina, Tatum is not satisfied with the offense.
