Culture
Clock strikes midnight in 9th:Ole Miss 8 UK 7
http://kentucky.scout.com/2/756945.html
HOOVER, Ala. -- It wasn't as late as Kentucky's first game, but again the Wildcats began play on one day and finished on another, this time with a dramatic loss to the Ole Miss Rebels. Michael Guerrero hit a one-out, two-run line drive home run over the left-field wall in the bottom of the 9th to give the Rebels the dramatic come-from-behind 8-7 victory.
With four lead changes in the last three innings, the SEC tournament saved the best game for last Thursday night as the # 8 seed Ole Miss Rebels defeated the # 4 seed Kentucky Wildcats 8-7.
The game featured a rematch of a ballgame six days ago involving the same two teams, and the same two starting pitchers, left-handers James Paxton for Kentucky and Drew Pomeranz for Ole Miss. In that contest, Paxton threw a complete game shutout as the Wildcats clinched a berth in the SEC tournament, and Pomeranz was knocked out after only 3.1 innings of play. Today the roles were somewhat reversed, as Paxton struggled with his control, walking five in 3.1 innings before being pulled in favor of Tommy Warner. Pomeranz fared slightly better, throwing 4.2 innings, giving up five hits and three runs.
Scout.com
5/23/08
LSU cruises to 18th straight win
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/story/581043.html
HOOVER, Ala. --
It isn't supposed to be this easy. But for the LSU Tigers, it sure looks that way.
LSU rolled to its 18th consecutive victory on Thursday night, crushing Vanderbilt 8-2 in second-round play of the SEC Tournament at Regions Park.
One day removed from their dramatic 5-4 victory over South Carolina, when the Tigers (41-16-1) scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth before winning it in the 10th, this one was over in the sixth.
That's when Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin elected to stick with his tiring starter, right-hander Caleb Cotham, with runners on first and second with no outs.
LSU outfielder Derek Helenihi crushed a Cotham pitch for a three-run home run to left-center field that put the Tigers in front 7-1. LSU left-hander Blake Martin and two relievers limited the Commodores (38-18) to five hits.
"Coach (Paul) Mainieri wanted me to go the other way," Helenihi said. "I was looking for the fastball, but (Cotham) got the slider up, and I just got my barrel of the bat on the ball."
Sunherald.com
5/23/08
Croom’s base pay to increase by $35,000
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/SPORTS030102/805220340/1079/SPORTS
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State and Sylvester Croom have agreed on financial terms to the base portion of his contract, but it will be a little while longer before State fans know exactly how much their fifth-year football coach will be paid.The state College Board, which meets this morning in Jackson, will be presented with an agenda item that calls for the athletic department-funded portion of Croom's contract to increase from $215,000 to $250,000.
The Board's approval is usually considered a formality.
The bulk of Croom's pay will come from the private Bulldog Foundation. MSU spokesman Mike Nemeth said Wednesday that State and Croom hope to bring closure to that negotiation "in the near future."
Croom had previously agreed in principle to an extension through the 2011 season, and the agenda item reflects that.
Croom's current package is worth close to $1 million annually. Croom earned a $720,000 supplement to his base pay from the Bulldog Foundation in the 2006-07 fiscal year, according to an NCAA-required outside income report obtained in a public records request by The Clarion-Ledger.
Clarionledger.com
5/22/08
Lynn pitches Rebels past Georgia
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/SPORTS/805220321
HOOVER, Ala. - Junior right-hander Lance Lynn had never lost in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and he kept that streak alive on Wednesday as Ole Miss (35-22) defeated sixth-ranked and top-seeded Georgia (35-20-1) in the opening round of the SEC Tournament by a score of 4-1.
Lynn (7-3) struck out 12 batters on the night, tying a career-high, as he picked up the win and ran his SEC Tournament record to 3-0 for his career. The junior allowed one run on four hits with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Scott Bittle picked up his eighth save of the season as he worked the final 2.1 innings, striking out four and walking two while allowing only two hits.
Georgia's Nick Montgomery (2-2) suffered the loss in only his second career start as he worked 4.0 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
"It was a great game tonight and a well played game by both teams," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "Lance Lynn was tremendous tonight and very dominant. We were able to get him a lead and then just let him pitch. He looked like vintage Lance tonight."
hattiesburgamerican.com
5/22/08
