Bulldogs Defeat Vols 4-2

Saturday, April 29

Starkville, MS

University of Tennessee

Mississippi State

April 29, 2000 | Baseball

Box Score

Starkville, Miss. - Ryan McGrath and Jamie Rock each collected three hits as the Mississippi State Bulldogs handed the Tennessee Volunteers a 4-2 defeat before a crowd of 6,418 at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs out hit the Vols 10-5 and four Tennessee errors also contributed to its fourth straight league loss.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the sixth, the Bulldogs loaded the bases twice and plated three runs for a 4-1 lead. Shane Kelly drew a bases loaded walk and McGrath singled to give Mississippi State a 3-1 lead. Then a throwing error by Vol catcher John Massey following a pitch in the dirt by Allen allowed Phillip Willingham to score for the 4-1 advantage.

Tennessee closed the gap to 4-2 in the top of the eighth when Kris Bennett drove home Stevie Daniel on a ground out with the bases loaded. The Vols worked the bases loaded again with two out before Jeff Baumtrog lined out to third baseman Travis Chapman to end the inning.

The Bulldogs improved to 32-12 and 13-7 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Volunteers fell to 35-19 and 7-14 in the league.

Chris Young (4-0) was credited with the victory in relief after allowing one run on one hit, while Adam Larson picked up his SEC-leading 12th save in 1 1/3 innings.

Wyatt Allen (3-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on six hits with five walks in 3 1/3 innings.

Baumtrog, who led off with a single and moved to third following a walk and a sacrfice bunt, scored on Stevie Daniel's second hit of the game off MSU starter Joey Collums in the third as the Vols took a 1-0 lead.

Despite loading the bases with three consecutive singles in the fifth, the Bulldogs were able to plate only the tying run when Chapman grounded out. Jon Knott flew out to center and Shane Kelly was thrown out at home trying to score on the same play to end the scoring threat that inning.

Game three of the series will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

Tennessee               001     000     010-2  5 4Mississippi State       000     013     00x-4 10 0

Love, Allen (4), Bertolino (7) and Massey. Collums, Young (4), Dowe (8), Larson (8) and McGrath. W-Young (4-0). L-Allen (3-2). Save-Larson (12). T-3:05. Att-6418.