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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
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Mississippi St
McAvoy, Huisman Pitch Ole Miss Past Mississippi State 4-1
4/15/2000 | Baseball
April 14, 2000
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Jeff McAvoy held Mississippi State to one run over 7 2/3 innings, and Justin Huisman pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to earn the save as Ole Miss downed the nationally-ranked Bulldogs 4-1 Friday night in the opener of a three-game Southeastern Conference series in front of 7,185 at Dudy Noble Field.
The win was the Rebels' fifth over their arch-rivals in the last seven meetings between the two schools, and it marked Mississippi State's first home loss in 17 home games this season.
McAvoy (7-2) scattered eight hits and didn't allow a walk en route to earning his 20th career win at Ole Miss. Mississippi State scored its only run off the Rebel starter on Phillip Willingham's one-out solo home run in the fourth to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
Trailing 2-1Mississippi State threatened in the eighth, Willingham hit a two-out single and Travis Chapman followed with a double to put runners on second and third. McAvoy was then lifted for Huisman, who ended the Bulldog threat by striking out Jon Knott.
Huisman closed out the Bulldogs with a scoreless ninth inning to record his eighth save of the season, and the 22nd of his career to put him in a tie for 8th-place on the SEC's all-time career list for saves.
Burney Hutchinson recorded two of the Rebels' four hits on the night, going 2-for-2 with a HR and three runs scored. Hutchinson's solo home run in the fifth, his fifth of the season, tied the game at 1-1.
Kevin Donovan (3-3) held the Rebels to four hits and struck out eight in 8 1/3 innings, but was hurt by seven walks and three Mississippi State errors. He was charged with all four runs, though, only two were earned.
The Rebels took the lead in the seventh when Hutchinson scored from second on a throwing error by catcher Ryan McGrath trying to complete a double play with a throw to first. Ole Miss added two insurance runs in the ninth when Hutchinson and Carl Lafferty scored on a throwing error by second baseman Daron Wright.
The two teams will meet in game two of the three-game series Saturday at 5:00 p.m., at Dudy-Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium in Starkville. Freshman right-hander Brett Young is scheduled to start for Ole Miss against Mississippi State sophomore right-hander Tanner Brock.
Ole Miss 4, Mississippi State 1 (Apr 14, 2000 at Starkville, Miss.)------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss............ 000 010 102 - 4 4 0 (23-14)Mississippi State... 000 100 000 - 1 9 3 (24-9)------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - J. McAvoy, Ju. Huisman (8). Mississippi State - Donovan, Estel (9).Win-J. McAvoy (7-2) Save-Ju. Huisman (9) Loss-Donovan (3-3)T-2:34 A-7185HR UM - Hutchinson (5).HR MSU - Willingham (6).Game notes:Justin Huisman records 22nd career save, tying him for 8th on the SEC'sall-time save list ... Jeff McAvoy earns career win No. 20, tying him for9th on the Ole Miss career list for wins ... UM hands Mississippi State itsfirst home loss of the season, and has won 5 of the last 7 from MSU.
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