The University of Mississippi Athletics
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Mississippi St
Bulldogs Take Bite Out Off Rebels' Postseason Hopes
5/18/2002 | Baseball
May 18, 2002
STARKVILLE, Miss. - One of the most successful seasons in school history will boil down to one game Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field, Polk DeMent Stadium against arch-rival Mississippi State, after the Bulldogs swept a doubleheader from No. 16 Ole Miss Saturday afternoon.
Mississippi State scored 12 unanswered runs during the fifth and sixth innings, and sophomore left-hander Paul Maholm pitched a complete game as the Bulldogs took game one 12-2, and then erupted for 10 runs in the first two innings in the nightcap to roll to a 14-5 win.
At 37-18 overall, Ole Miss has recorded the fifth-highest win total in school history, however, the Rebels, 14-15 in the Southeastern Conference, are in danger of not qualifying for next week's Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Rebels still control their own destiny as a win on Sunday would clinch a tournament spot.
If Ole Miss losses on Sunday, the Rebels will need an Auburn win over Arkansas to advance to the SEC Tournament.
Maholm (9-3) allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks, and struck out four to earn the win in the first game.
Ole Miss scored both of its runs in the third to take a 2-0 lead, and starter Pete Montrenes seemed to be in command before running into trouble in the fifth.
The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the fifth, highlighted by Steve Gendron's two-run single to break a 2-2 tie.
Mississippi State added five more runs in the sixth to make it 12-2.
Montrenes (8-6) was charged with the loss, allowing seven runs, five earned, on six hits and four walks, and struck out three over 4 2/3 innings.
Gendron went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in game one to lead Mississippi State's 12-hit attack.
Chad Sterbens went 2-for-4 with an RBI to pace Ole Miss.
In game two, Mississippi State took advantage of two Ole Miss errors and six walks issued by starter Alan Horne to jump out to a 10-0 lead after the second.
Horne (5-2) was charged the loss, allowing six runs on two hits and six walks, before being lifted after walking the bases loaded to start the second.
Tanner Brock (7-4 ) pitched seven innings to earn the win. He scattered nine hits and walked two while allowing four runs, three earned.
Jon Mungle and Casey Long had three hits each as Mississippi State out-hit Ole Miss 14-10.
Sterbens went 3-for-4 for the Rebels in the nightcap to extend his SEC hitting streak to 29 games, and his overall hitting streak to 21 games to tie Kary Bridges' school record set in 1992.
Mississippi State 12, Ole Miss 2 (May 18, 2002 at Starkville, Miss.) (Game 1)----------------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss............ 002 000 000 - 2 6 2 (37-17, 14-14 SEC)Mississippi State... 000 075 00X - 12 12 2 (31-22-1, 12-15 SEC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - P. Montrenes; A. Simontis(5); N. Bradshaw(6). Mississippi State - Maholm.Win-Maholm(9-3) Loss-P. Montrenes(8-6) T-2:40 A-0Game notes:NATIONAL RANKINGS: UM- #16 CB; #19 BW/ESPN; #22 NCBWA; #24 BA. MS- NRSterbens (UM) extends SEC hit streak to 28 games; 20 games overall.Game: UM0518A
Mississippi State 14, Ole Miss 5 (May 18, 2002 at Starkville, Miss.) (Game 2)----------------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss............ 002 101 010 - 5 10 3Mississippi State... 370 300 01X - 14 14 3----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - A. Horne; A. Yates(2); G. Morris(2); M. Gray(4). Mississippi State -Brock; Owens(8).Game notes:NATIONAL RANKINGS: UM- #16 CB; #19 BW/ESPN; #22 NCBWA; #24 BASterbens (UM) 29-game SEC hit streak; 21 games overall to tie Kary Bridges'school record set in 1992.A. Horne faced 3 batters in the 2nd.Game: UM0518B
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