Spring Break
Dawgs rebound with victory over Blazers
Melissa Meador
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports
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Led by redshirt freshman Jason Nappi's first career grand slam, Mississippi State (2-2) grabbed a much-needed 8-2 victory over the Blazers.
The Bulldogs' pitching made a big return as well, giving up just two earned runs and throwing eight straight innings of shutout ball.
MSU head coach Ron Polk said the win was a confidence booster for his team, especially considering the weather conditions they were facing.
"It was very uncomfortable, and the wind was very biting," Polk said. "We knew we were going to have some cold weather, and this was one of those days. It's still always good to win the home opener though."
Nappi, who has hit safely in all four of MSU's games, grabbed his first career homerun with the long ball to left field.
He also currently leads the team with eight hits and six RBIs this season. He said stepping up with runners in scoring position was a goal he'd begun to set for himself.
"It was good, timely hitting, and I'm glad I got the monkey off my back with guys in scoring position," Nappi said. "I just kind of had a hunch, and it was there."
Another young Diamond Dawg, freshman catcher Cody Freeman, led the Bulldogs' offensive attack. Freeman, making only his second career start, went 3-for-4, knocking in one run and scoring another.
Polk said he was impressed with the freshman's performance this season and compared him to the catcher he'd lost a year early.
"He reminds me a lot of [2007 catcher] Ed Easley because he doesn't say much," Polk said. "He's not Ed Easley yet, but he's a catcher of the future. We'll break him in during the SEC games and with SEC pitching, but tonight I thought he had some real good at-bats."
True freshman right-hander Forrest Moore grabbed a win in his first career start.
Moore worked five innings and was touched for two runs, five hits and three walks. He struck out five and held the Blazers scoreless for his last four innings.
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