Mississippi State 1 Win Away from College World Series

The Weekend's Frat Boy News Daily Sports Page

College World Series (compiled by The Clarion Ledger)

It took a pair of comebacks in front of a throng of 12,620 fans, but Mississippi State is one victory away from Omaha.

The Bulldogs erased two and three-run deficits to beat Clemson 8-6 this afternoon in the first game of the Starkville Super Regional.

A win in Saturday’s 11 a.m. game would send MSU (37-20) to its first College World Series since 1998. If Clemson (41-22) wins, it’ll force a winner-take-all third game at noon Sunday.

The Bulldogs won in front of a record-breaking crowd. The announced 12,620 at Dudy Noble Field was the largest crowd in the nine-year history of NCAA Super Regionals, beating a mark of 11,870 that Tulane and LSU set in New Orleans in 2001.

It was the seventh-largest crowd in Dudy Noble Field history and 21st crowd of 10,000 or more. After Clemson chased MSU starter Chad Crosswhite in the sixth, the Bulldogs trailed 5-2.

They came back strong in the bottom of the sixth, putting their first five hitters on base and tying the game on Mitch Moreland’s two-run home run to center. State took the lead for good when Moreland doubled home Jeffrey Rea in the seventh.

Aaron Weatherford entered in the ninth and retired the side after issuing a leadoff walk. John Lalor, who entered in relief of Crosswhite, earned his first win since March.