Bulldogs grab top seed at Starkville
By By Jared Florreich / staff writer
May 27, 2003
STARKVILLE With an NCAA Regional back in Starkville for the first time since 2000, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are the No. 1 seed in the four team regional.
The Bulldogs (40-18-1) will take on fourth seeded Middle Tennessee State (33-25) at 6 p.m. on Friday. Second seeded North Carolina (39-21) will take on third seeded Missouri (35-20) at 2 p.m. on Friday.
The winner of the Starkville Regional will take on the winner of the Georgia Tech hosted regional in the Super Regionals. Number one seed Georgia Tech, also a third national seed, will take play Stetson on Friday. Second Seeded South Carolina will take on third seeded East Carolina Friday.
This is the 11th time a NCAA Regional has been held at Dudy Noble Polk Dement Stadium. The Bulldogs hit .302 as a team. Matthew Maniscalco leads MSU with a .340 average, 51 runs scored, 88 hits, and 130 total bases. Matthew Brinson leads the Bulldogs with eight home runs, 19 doubles, and 46 RBIs.
Mississippi State has a team 3.44 ERA. Paul Maholm has a 2.67 ERA and 8-2 record. He has pitched a team high 101.0 innings. Alan Johnson posted a 4.02 ERA and 5-4 record. Todd Nicholas recorded a 4.47 ERA with a 5-4 record. Jamie Gant posted a 1.30 ERA and 5-1 record out of the bullpen. Jonathan Papelbon recorded a 1.64 ERA and has a team high seven saves.
North Carolina is making their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tar Heels hit .320 as a team. Jeremy Cleveland posted team highs with a .420 aveage, 18 homeruns, 19 doubles, 97 hits, 61 RBIs, 172 total bases, 32 walks, and 69 runs scored.
North Carolina has a 4.21 team ERA. Daniel Moore has a 3.43 ERA and 7-2 record, while pitching a team high 84 innings. Adam Kalkof posted a 3.77 ERA and 7-1 record. Whitley Benson has a team high four saves.
Missouri will be making its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance. Missouri hits .309 as a team. Jayce Tingler leads the Tigers with a .390 average, 64 runs scored, 80 hits, and 44 walks. Cody Ehlers leads Missouri with 58 RBIs, 15 doubles, and nine homeruns.
The Tigers have a team 5.06 ERA. Andy Shipman has a 4.76 ERA with a 9-2 record. Justin James has a team low 4.11 ERA and 7-6 record in a team high 105 innings of work. Travis Wendte has a team high eight saves.
Middle Tennessee State won the 2003 Sun Belt Conference to get an at large NCAA Tournament bid. The Blue Raiders hit .293 as a team. Chad Cooper leads Middle Tennessee State with a .374 average and is tied with Brett Carroll with a team high 70 hits.
Carroll leads the team with 17 home runs, 52 runs scored, and 138 total bases. Josh Archer leads the Blue Raiders with 51 RBIs and is tied with Carroll with a team high 17 doubles.
The Blue Raiders have a 5.31 team ERA. Steve Kline posted a 7-3 record and 4.45 ERA in a team high 87 innings of work. John Williams recorded a 5.72 ERA with a 3-4 record. Chase Swing has a team high 11 saves.
Ticket Information:
All-tournament tickets went on sale at noon Monday at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office in the Bryan Athletic Administration Building. Current MSU chairback seat owners have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, to exercise their seating priority in the purchase of regional tournament chairback seat tickets. Chairback seats are priced at $50 each and cover all games of the tournament.
Bleacher and outfield terrace all-tournament tickets will also go on sale Tuesday, and are priced at $40 apiece. The MSU Athletic Ticket Office can be reached at 662-325-2600 or 1-888-GO-DAWGS. Regional tickets may be purchased over the counter at the Bryan Building.
The Ole Miss Rebels (34-25) will be a No. 2 seed in the Rice NCAA Regional in Houston, Texas. Mississippi will play third seeded Wichita State (47-25) on Friday. Number one seed Rice, also a national fifth seed, will play fourth seeded McNeese State on Friday.
