This was a really fun game for fans. Gates opened at 9 AM, and by 9:30, half the stadium was full. The teams were like a pair of heavyweight fighters waiting for the bell to ring to start the rumble.

As I mentioned before the game, pitching was going to be the key. Chad Crosswhite held the Tigers hitless thru the first 3 innings. Daniel Moskos did not fair quite as well, giving up 3 straight hits in the third top load the bases with no outs. But a pop up and a routing ground ball DP ended the rally and seemed to be the match that lit the fuse.

Top of 4 CLemson comes to bat and starts the scoring with 2 runs in the top of the frame. Crosswhite was looking a little shaky, but by no means was he in trouble. By the middle of the 5th, Clemson still led 2-zip and the Bulldog fans were starting to get a little restles. Cue Connor POwers. The rookie third bagger turned DH has been on the bench for the past couple of weeks. His fielding had let him down, and Ron Polk figured he could use the rest. Today, Powers singled his first at bat, then comes up in the 5th and hits a 2 run tater to tie the game. Talk about an emotional charge. The crowd was up on their feet, and Powers crosses the plate like a bull in a china shop.

But Clemson was not impressed. Quick as you could put a Tiger in your Tank (sorry exxon) Clemson roared back with a pair of homers in the 6th to take a 5-2 lead. But that would be the last lead of the game. Crosswhite left the game in the 6th after giving up the 2 run bomb to Harbin. Birthday boy John Lalor came into the game for the top of the 7th, and allowed only 2 hits during his stint.

Meantime, the bink bats ( a term coined by a buddy of mine for the sound the bats make when you hit with them) cae to life for the Dogs. State scored 4 runs on 4 hits, the biggest being the 2 run big fly by rightfielder Mitch Moreland. The inning gave MSU the lead they never relinquished.

Clemson did come back to score 1 in the 8th to narrow the margin to 8-6, but closer Aaron Weatherford came in and shut down the Tigers in the 9th for his 5th save of the season.

And almost lost in all this was the NCAA Super Regional record attendance set today. THe crowd was announced at 12,620. Folks, I was here when State set the on campus record of nearly 15, 000 against FLorida, and this crowd had the ballpark hopping. The amazing things is that apparently a lot of the folks in attendance were walk ups, as the school has limited SRO tickets for game 2. There will only be 1200 tickets sold at the gates Saturday. SO comoe early if you want to get in. SUre to be an exciting game.

As we talked about early in the day, this series is one where Clemson has the edge in pitching and fielding, but the Dogs have the edge in hitting. Hitting won the match today for MSU. In watching the game, maybe I am biased beause I know the kid, but I think Connor Powers has to be my choice for Player of the Game. To sit on the bench for the last 2 weeks, and stay prepared for a return to the lineup was a huge lift to the Bulldogs. Powers is second on the team in homeruns, and provided a spark that got State back into the game.

Looking ahead to the Saturday matchup, I have not looked at the lineups yet, but will do so later this evening to give you guys a preview of game 2.