Mississippi State Errors Costly

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CLEMSON, SC -- After centerfielder Shane Kelly's two-run "error" allowed Clemson to take

charge in game one, Mississippi State continued to commit critical defensive

mistakes at times in game two. An errant throw by first baseman Jon Knott

in the fourth inning allowed the Tigers to claw back into the game. Later

in the same inning, shortstop Mathew Maniscalco botched a hard ground ball-

but not without a little help from Clemson base runner Patrick Boyd. In a

display of gamesmanship, Boyd pretended to grab the Jeff Baker's grounder as

it headed toward Maniscalco, distracting the Bulldog shortstop and causing

the error.

- Early base running errors by the Tigers kept the game close. Casey Stone

started off the first inning with a single to left, only to be picked off by

Mississippi State starter Mark Freed two batters later. One inning later,

Justin Singleton was picked off second with one out, effectively killing the

Tigers scoring hopes. Finally, in the third inning, Clemson's Jeff Baker

was tagged out at first after Bradley's LeCroy's line drive was snagged by

Bulldog second baseman Daron Wright.

- Clemson starting pitcher Scott Berney continued to struggle, facing seven

Mississippi State batters and allowing four hits and two runs in only one

and 1/3 innings of action. After starting the season with a Clemson record

of 32.2-innings of scoreless pitching, the Berney has been roughed up in the

last half of the season, picking up only two wins in his last ten starts.

Berney was consistently ahead of Mississippi State batters on Saturday night

but couldn't finish- a problem that has continued to plague the senior

right-hander as of late.

- Clemson fans had plenty to cheer about on Saturday night, and one of the

loudest roars came when the final score of the South Carolina-

Louisiana-Lafayette game was announced. News of the Gamecock defeat helped

to fuel the carnival atmosphere at Kingsmore Stadium.

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