Mississippi State Downs Clemson to Advance to CWS

MSU head coach Ron Polk has now taken the Bulldogs to the CWS six times.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State continued its magical postseason ride Saturday afternoon, sweeping the Starkville Super Regional by defeating Clemson 8-5 at Dudy Noble Field.

With the victory, MSU advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., for the eighth time in school history.

The Bulldogs last played on college baseball's biggest stage after the 1998 season.

MSU is slated to play either North Carolina or South Carolina in the opening round of the College World Series next Friday or Saturday, June 15 or 16, in Omaha, Neb.

The NCAA will set the official bracket once all Super Regional play is complete this weekend.

For the second time in the series Saturday, MSU and CU set a new Super Regional attendance record.

A crowd of 13,715 crammed into Dudy Noble Field, topping Friday's record crowd of 12,620.

Those two crowds now rank as the nation's largest in nine seasons of Super Regional play.

Saturday's crowd was the largest postseason crowd ever at DNF and the fourth largest gathering overall at the stadium.

The Bulldogs (38-20) erased an early 2-1 defecit with four runs in the second inning. Joseph McCaskill singled to start the inning.

After an infield error, Wyn Diggs laced a single to left center, loading the bases.

Jet Butler followed with a two-run double down the right field line.

That hit scored McCaskill and Russ Sneed, giving the hosts the lead for good.

A ground ball double play brought Diggs home. An RBI-single by Edward Easley scored Butler and capped the big inning.

Clemson (41-23) battled back with two runs in the fourth inning.

Doug Hogan rapped a solo home run to left field. Addison Johnson followed with a one-out single and later scored on J.D. Burgess' double just inside the third base bag.

MSU answered right back with two more scores in the fifth to again take a three-run advantage. Mitch Moreland began the frame with a double to left center.

All told, the Bulldogs placed the leadoff batter on bases in five different at-bats Saturday.

McCaskill drew a one-out walk. Sneed followed with an RBI double down the left field line. An RBI groundout by Diggs made the score 7-4.

Clemson cut the lead to 7-5 when Addison Johnson tripled and scored in the sixth inning. That would be the end of the day for Justin Pigott (7-6).

The Tallhassee Regional MVP, he battled through six tough innings, allowing nine hits and five runs (four earned). Pigott struck out three and walked one.

An inning later, Aaron Weatherford again came up huge for the Bulldogs.

Ricky Bowen recorded a pair of outs but also was touched for a pair of hits.

Weatherford, who earned the save in Friday's 8-6 win, struck out Hogan on three pitches to snuff the Clemson threat in the seventh inning.

In the ninth inning, Bulldog Nick Hardy tripled and scored on Sneed's RBI single.

In the bottom of the ninth, Moreland came on to seal the deal.

Weatherford retired the side in order in the eighth inning but was touched for a single and one-out walk in the ninth inning.

Moreland managed a deep fly out from Clemson's leading home run hitter Andy D'Alessio and then struck out Harbin, sending the Dudy Noble Field faithful into a wild frenzy.

The Bulldogs dogpiled on the pitcher's diamond, while hundreds of jovial fans topped the outfield wall to join the on-field celebration.

Clemson starter David Kopp (6-3) was chased in the big MSU second inning. Kopp allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) in 1 2/3 innings. Ryan Hinson (2 2/3 innings), P.J. Zocchi (2 innings) and Alan Farina (2 2/3 innings) threw in relief for the Tigers.

MSU finished with 11 hits. Moreland and Sneed each had multiple hits. Jeffery Rea saw a 13-game hit streak end for the Bulldogs. Clemson finished with 12 hits. Smith and Hogan each had three hits for the Tigers.

MSU is second in the Southeastern Conference in CWS appearances, only trailing LSU's 13 CWS berths.

MSU head coach Ron Polk has now taken the Bulldogs to the CWS six times and has advanced to Omaha eight times in his 34 year coaching career.

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