Moskos can't deliver in first game of series

Mississippi State 8, Clemson 6

STARKVILLE, MISS. — A day earlier, Daniel Moskos was the center of attention as Clemson wrapped up practice at Dudy Noble Field.

Reporters swarmed the junior pitcher as he reflected on being picked No. 4 overall in the Major League Baseball draft. His mother beamed with pride, and his girlfriend snapped pictures from the stands.

On Friday, Moskos was again the focus as he trotted to the mound for No. 9 Clemson's super regional opener against No. 19 Mississippi State. But the smiles were long gone when he walked solemnly off the field in the sixth inning of an 8-6 defeat.

"He was a good pitcher," said Bulldogs right fielder Mitch Moreland. "You've got to be ready for a guy like that."

In front of 12,620 fans, a record crowd for an NCAA super regional, Mississippi State (37-20) finally got to Moskos with four runs in the sixth. The barrage, aided by two defensive miscues, gave the Bulldogs a 6-5 lead after Clemson went up 5-2 in the top of the frame, and the Tigers never recovered.

It's on to today's noon game (ESPN2), in which Clemson (41-22) will try to extend the best-of-three series to a final and deciding game. Lose, and the Tigers will find themselves on a bus back to the Palmetto State.

"It's a tough ballgame to lose, but we've got two more to go," said coach Jack Leggett. "That's our frame of mind, anyway."

Moskos, a lefty who is set to become a millionaire with the Pittsburgh Pirates, gave up five earned runs on nine hits — both career highs for the former closer. He yielded two home runs, including Moreland's game-tying, two-run shot to center field in the sixth, before Stephen Clyne replaced him.

Moskos didn't get much help from his infielders during Mississippi State's big inning. After Joseph McCaskill led off with a double, third baseman Marquez Smith misplayed a hard grounder down the left-field line by Edward Easley, allowing McCaskill to score.

After Moreland's home run, Brandon Turner laced a double into the left-field gap. Brian LaNinfa followed with a grounder to second base, but J.D. Burgess couldn't handle it to put runners at first and third. Turner scored from third after Clyne, on a chopper to the mound, elected to go for the double play.

The Bulldogs added two more runs in the seventh, hitting Clyne hard to put the Tigers in a deep hole. Other than an eighth-inning homer by Doug Hogan, Clemson's offense was non-existent in the final three innings against John Lalor and Aaron Weatherford.

Mississippi State, playing host to its first super regional, is trying to reach the College World Series for the first time since 1998.

"We're one game away," Moreland said. "It's eating at our team, and you can tell."

In the sixth, Andy D'Alessio and Taylor Harbin hit back-to-back homers to put Clemson up 5-2. The crowd was silent, the Bulldogs' pitching was in disarray, and the Tigers seemed one step closer to Omaha, Neb.

"We got ourselves the lead, but we didn't do what we needed to do in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings," Leggett said. "That was the story of the ballgame."

The story of Moskos' college career could have a disappointing ending if Clemson doesn't extend its season today. He showed his grit in the third, retiring two batters after the Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out.

Things started to unravel when Connor Powers slammed a two-run homer to right-center in the fifth, tying the score at 2-2. Powers said the key was pouncing on Moskos' formidable fastball after he let hitters get ahead in the count.

"When you get behind in the count and you're throwing fastballs, we're going to hit it," he said.

Moskos claimed that the 24-hour swirl of emotions didn't affect him Friday.

"Yesterday was yesterday, and today was a completely different day," he said. "I didn't let the two days affect how I was going to pitch today."

Leggett didn't seem as convinced.

"Beautiful timing," he said of the draft. "It's too bad. I can't imagine it'd be easy for anybody."

E—Burgess, Butler. DP—Clemson 2. LOB—Clemson 5, Miss. State 4. 2B—McCaskill, Moreland, Turner 2. HR—D'Alessio (17), Harbin (11), Hogan (12), Moreland (9), Powers (8). SH—Burgess, Hardy. SF—Harbin. CS—Hogan.

HBP—by Crosswhite (Hogan).

Time—2:42. Att—12,620.

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com.