Box Score
STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Portland sophomore left-hander Travis Radke held the Mississippi State bats in check for most of the game and the Pilots got the potential game-tying base runner to third in the top of the eighth inning, but the No. 5 Bulldogs would hold on for a 2-1 win in front of 7,147 fans on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Polk-DeMent Stadium. The Pilots (0-2) and Bulldogs (2-0) will conclude the four-game non-conference series with a double header on Sunday.
Saturday was markedly different from the series opener on Friday when the Bulldogs exploded for 16 runs. Radke, the 2012 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, kept the MSU hitters off balance all afternoon and finished with nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
After three and a half scoreless innings, the Bulldogs scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the fourth. MSU caught a break after Radke struck out the lead-off hitter, but Wes Rea was able to reach first base safely, courtesy a wild pitch. Rea would then advance to third before scoring on bunt by Hunter Renfroe.
Radke would eventually get out of the inning to keep the score at 1-0.
The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning when the Pilots were able to get runners on first and second with two outs. Senior Jeff Melby came through with a clutch single through the right side, which allowed sophomore Caleb Whalen to score from second base and even the game at 1-1. Then with runners on the corners, MSU reliever Ross Mitchell ended the threat with a strike out.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Bulldogs were again able to take advantage of a runner reaching base after a strikeout. This time it was Brett Pirtle who reached first base on a wild pitch after his strikeout would have ended the inning. The very next batter, Demarcus Henderson, smacked a single to right field that brought home Daryl Norris from second base, which would prove to be the game-winner.
Portland nearly answered in the top of the eighth inning when the Pilots had runners on the corners with only one out. But Jonathan Holder struck out sophomore Cody Lenahan before inducing an inning-ending ground out from Melby.
Holder would retire the Pilots in order in the top of the ninth to notch his first save this season.
Radke (0-1) scattered seven hits, while reliever Jeremy Burright was effective out of the bullpen, tossing a scoreless inning and a third. The senior right-hander didn’t allow a runner to reach base and he K’d one.
Mitchell (1-0) takes the win for the Bulldogs after working just one inning. Starter Evan Mitchell allowed three hits in 5.0 innings, and he was charged with Portland’s only run.
Sunday’s double header is set to begin at 11 a.m. (Pacific).
