Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss.  --- The No. 5 Mississippi State Bulldogs used a big second inning to break open a close game en route to a 16-1 win over the Portland Pilots in the baseball season opener at Polk-DeMent Stadium on Friday afternoon. This is the first game of a four-game series in Starkville and 2012 WCC Freshman of the Year Travis Radke will take the mound for the Pilots tomorrow.
 
The Bulldogs (1-0) struck first on Friday when Wes Rea belted a two-run home run off of Portland starter Matt McCallister, giving Mississippi State the early advantage.
 
The Pilots (0-1) answered in the top of the second when Turner Gill and Caleb Whalen hit consecutive doubles to give Portland runners on second and third with no outs. Cody Lenahan then knocked in the first run of the season with a sacrifice fly to center field. MSU starting pitcher Jacob Lindgren would then record a strikeout before avoiding further damage with an inning-ending ground out.
 
In the bottom half of the frame, Mississippi State exploded for seven runs to chase McCallister and take control of the scoreboard. The Bulldogs tallied seven hits during the inning, took advantage of a Portland throwing error and got a two-run single by Trey Porter.
 
Now trailing 9-1, the Pilots tried to answer in the top of the third inning. But with one out and the bases loaded, the Bulldogs ended the threat by turning a 4-6-3 double play.
 
MSU would then add two runs in the bottom of the third, one run in the fifth, three more in the sixth and the final run in the seventh.
 
McCallister (0-1) takes the loss after lasting just an inning and a third. Three Portland relievers followed McCallister on the hill with Colin Feldtman tossing a scoreless 1.2 innings.
 
Lindgren (1-0) surrendered the one run on five hits in 6.0 innings. He struck out three and walked three. Three MSU relievers combined to hold the Pilots hitless and scoreless during the final three innings.
 
Senior Kramer Scott, who utilized his medical redshirt season last year, returned to the Portland line-up and led the offense with a pair of hits. C.T. Bradford had a homer and three RBI’s to lead the Bulldogs.
 
The Pilots and Bulldogs next play the second game of the series on Saturday at 12 p.m. (Pacific). The two teams will then conclude the series with a double header on Sunday.