Opening Day: '85 Mississippi State vs. '67 Arizona State

Bobby Thigpen as ChiSox closer

Arizona State entered this league as perhaps the dominant pitching squad of the ten teams, with a staff ERA of 2.03.  Faced with the likes of MSU's powerful lefties Will Clark and Rafael Palmiero, the DDBB computer manager wisely decided to opt for LH starter Jeff Pentland (14-5, 2.05) to hold the core of the Bulldog lineup in check.  And the strategy worked like a charm, as in nine innings Pentland held MSU to five hits while striking out 9.  Of the Bulldog starters, only Bobby Thigpen seemed able to figure out Pentland's stuff, going 3 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base, but none of his efforts resulted in a score.  Unfortunately, the hitch in the plan was that ASU similarly couldn't touch Mississippi State starter Gene Morgan (14-2, 2.28), and so the game proceeded to extra innings knotted at zero apiece.  MSU broke the ice in the top of the 10th; with two out and the bases empty, leadoff hitter Dan Van Cleve singled and promptly stole second, and then scored when Gator Thiesen followed with a double.  Pentland struck out Clark to end the inning, but the single run proved to be sufficient as Morgan finished out the 10th, striking out Scott Reid to end the game.



4-1-2013 1985-Miss State Bulldogs vs. 1967-Arizona State Sun Devils

                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10   R  H  E
Miss State Bulldogs   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1   1  7  0
Arizona State         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   0  8  0

1985-Miss State Bulldogs     AB   R   H RBI  BB  SO   AVE
D. VanCleve (CF)              5   1   2   0   0   1  .400
G. Thiesen (2B)               5   0   2   1   0   1  .400
W. Clark (1B)                 5   0   0   0   0   5  .000
R. Palmeiro (LF)              4   0   0   0   0   0  .000
J. Mitchell (DH)              4   0   0   0   0   2  .000
B. Thigpen (RF)               3   0   3   0   1   0 1.000
F. Davis (SS)                 3   0   0   0   1   0  .000
R. McDonald (C)               3   0   0   0   1   1  .000
J. Scott (3B)                 4   0   0   0   0   1  .000
                             36   1   7   1   3  11

2B: G. Thiesen
SB: D. VanCleve(2), G. Thiesen, B. Thigpen
CS: B. Thigpen
DP: 2
LOB: 8

1967-Arizona State Sun Devi  AB   R   H RBI  BB  SO   AVE
F. Nelson (2B)                4   0   0   0   1   0  .000
S. Reid (RF)                  5   0   0   0   0   3  .000
R. Carpenter (LF)             4   0   0   0   0   1  .000
J. Paulson (DH)               4   0   1   0   0   1  .250
R. Bobb (1B)                  3   0   1   0   0   0  .333
 K. Perry (PH-9B)             1   0   1   0   0   0 1.000
 B. Massarand (1B-10T)        0   0   0   0   0   0  .000
D. Grangaard (3B)             3   0   1   0   1   1  .333
L. Linville (CF)              3   0   1   0   0   1  .333
J. Lind (SS)                  4   0   2   0   0   0  .500
R. Davini (C)                 4   0   1   0   0   0  .250
                             35   0   8   0   2   7

2B: R. Davini
SH: L. Linville
CS: F. Nelson
LOB: 8

1985-Miss State Bulldogs      IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR   ERA
G. Morgan(W, 1-0)           10.0   8   0   0   2   7   0  0.00
                            10.0   8   0   0   2   7   0

1967-Arizona State Sun Devi   IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR   ERA
J. Pentland(L, 0-1)         10.0   7   1   1   3  11   0  0.90
                            10.0   7   1   1   3  11   0


Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, NE