March 16, 2002

STARKVILLE, MS –
David Marchbanks and Blake Taylor combined to limit 23rd ranked Mississippi State to five hits Saturday and fourth ranked South Carolina used a four run fourth inning to defeat the Bulldogs 5-3 and even a Southeastern Conference baseball series.

The third game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., CST Sunday at Dudy Noble Field. South Carolina improved its overall record to 17-3 and evened its SEC slate at 1-1. Mississippi State dropped to 10-5-1, 1-1.

Marchbanks allowed four hits and all three Bulldog runs in 6 2/3 innings to improve his record to 5-1. Taylor earned his third save of the season. Tanner Brock, 3-1, the Mississippi State starter, was charged with the loss.

Designated hitter Jon Mungle drove in all three Mississippi State runs. He homered for the fourth consecutive game in the second inning to stake the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead and his two RBI single in the seventh narrowed South Carolina’s lead to 5-3. Mungle was out attempting to stretch the hit to a double and Taylor relieved Marchbanks and struck out Enrico Jones to end the threat. Taylor allowed one hit in the eighth inning and opened the bottom of the ninth by walking Matthew Brinson and Steve Gendron. Taylor induced Michael Brown to hit a double play ground ball to shortstop and then struck out Mungle to end the game.

Four consecutive hits in the fourth inning brought the Gamecocks from behind to a 4-1 lead. Yaron Peters and Trey Dyson led off the inning with base hits and Peters scored on a double by Garris Gonce. Brian Buscher tripled to score Gonce and Buscher scored on a ground out by Landon Powell.

Drew Meyer led off the fifth inning with his first home run of the season to increase the lead to 5-1.

After Mungle’s two out home run, his fifth of the season, and a walk in the second inning Marchbanks retired 13 consecutive batters until he walked Matthew Brinson to lead off the Bulldog seventh inning. Both scored on Mungle’s second hit of the game.

Buscher and Jon Coutlangus had two hits in an eight hit South Carolina attack. One of the Coutlangus hits was a double. Mungle was the only Mississippi State batter with two hits. Gendron had a double.

SOUTH CAROLINA 000 410 000 – 5-8-0
MISSISSIPPI STATE 010 000 200 – 3-5-1
Marchbanks, Taylor (7) and Powell. Brock, Young (7) and Burkley. W-Marchbanks (5-1). L-Brock (3-1). Save-Taylor (3). 2B-USC, Gonce, Coutlangus, MSU, Gendron. 3B-USC, Buscher. HR-USC, Meyer (1), MSU, Mungle (5).