STARKVILLE, Miss. - Connor Powers hit a pair of three-run home runs helping power the Mississippi State Baseball Bulldogs to a 14-6 win over Michigan State in the final game of the 2010 MSU BankFirst Baseball Challenge played at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs completed the three-day, three-team double round-robin event with a perfect 4-0 record. Michigan State placed second in the event with a 2-2 record. The Spartans defeated Southeast Missouri 9-0 in Sunday's early game. For the season, Mississippi State improved to 8-3, while Michigan State fell to 6-4.
"I was really happy with the way we defended today," MSU head coach John Cohen said. "We need to be an on-base percentage team and with 10 walks today, I thought we played offensively how we needed to."
The offense is always much better with Powers delivering from the clean-up spot. The Naperville, Ill., senior connected for a three-run shot to right center in the third inning and a three-run shot to left center in the seventh inning.
For the four-game tournament, Powers had three home runs and 15 RBIs. The Bulldog first baseman now leads the Southeastern Conference with seven home runs and 25 RBIs. Sunday's seven RBIs notched a new career high. Sunday was also his second multi-homer game of the season and eighth for his career.
The Bulldogs erased an early 3-0 deficit with a single score in the first inning, four scores in the second inning and Powers' monster blast in the third inning. Powers again had the big blow during a four-run seventh inning removing all doubt from the contest.
On the mound, MSU starter Luke Bole (1-0) worked into the sixth inning. The freshman left-hander notched his first win with the Maroon and White, as he allowed seven hits and four runs (all earned), with two strikeouts and no walks. C.C. Watson completed the sixth inning and also threw the seventh inning. Matt Lane completed the ballgame for the Bulldogs.
"Luke pitched well today," Cohen said. "He has been excellent in the pen, so we are excited about what else he can do."
The Bulldogs posted their biggest run total of the season, while finishing with 10 hits - their seventh game with double-digit hits this season. Powers, Cody Freeman and Sam Frost each had multiple hits. For Frost, it was his first multi-hit game with the Bulldogs. A Luke Adkins single in the third inning ran his hit streak to a team-best six games.
Freeman followed Powers with his second home run of the season in the MSU seventh inning.
"Winning is important but I put stock in how we are playing right now," Cohen said. "We need to play like we did today to win in the league. We put it all together today."
Michigan State finished with eight hits. Brandon Eckerle and Eli Boike each had multiple hit games for the Spartans. Starting pitcher Kyle Corcoran (0-1) was chased during the second inning and took the loss.
The Bulldogs conclude their season-opening 12-game homestand with Western Kentucky at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Courtesy: mstateathletics.com
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