OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - Paul Maholm and Jonathan Papelbon combined on a seven-hit shutout as Mississippi State defeated Mississippi 2-0 in a pitcher's duel Friday in the opener of a three-game Southeastern Conference series. <br>
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Maholm (4-1) allowed six hits, walked one and struck out eight over eight innings before turning the game over to Papelbon in the ninth with the Bulldogs leading 2-0. <br>
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Papelbon allowed just a two-out infield single to Stephen Head before coaxing Matt Tolbert to pop out to first to end the game and notch his second save. <br>
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Mississippi State (20-3-1, 6-1) scored the game's only runs in the sixth on Craig Tatum's one-out single up the middle to score Matthew Brinson and Brad Corley. <br>
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Mark Holliman (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing the two runs on seven hits and three walks in eight innings. He also struck out four. <br>
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Ole Miss (17-8, 5-2) had seven hits in the game, as did Mississippi State. <br>
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Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m., and Sunday's series-finale is also scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
