command performance

Among the state’s Big 3 Division I schools, the weekend pretty much belonged to Mississippi State. Or, more specifically, to Bulldogs junior right-hander Chris Stratton. Southern Miss got swept in a C-USA series at Tulane. Ole Miss, despite huge crowds at Oxford-University Stadium, lost two of three to highly ranked LSU in what was deemed a key series for the Rebels’ postseason hopes. State took two of three at Alabama, fueled by the Friday night performance of Stratton. The Tupelo native tossed seven shutout innings, fanning six and walking none, to improve to 9-0. For an SEC Friday starter, that’s big time. Stratton has a 2.19 ERA (second in the league to the 2.14 of Ole Miss’ Bobby Wahl, who has fewer innings), 101 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 82 1/3 innings and a .207 batting average against. He is a serious Ferriss Trophy candidate. P.S. Delta State plays West Florida today in a Gulf South Conference Tournament elimination game in Rome, Ga. The winner gets Alabama-Huntsville in the championship round on Tuesday. UAH knocked regular season champ DSU into the loser’s bracket with a 8-4 win on Sunday. … Seedings are set for the SWAC Tournament, which begins May 16 in Baton Rouge. Jackson State (21-3 in the league) long ago locked up the No. 1 seed in the East; Alcorn State is No. 2 in the division and Mississippi Valley No. 4. … Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College completed a sweep of Northeast on Sunday to reach the MACJC Tournament, which starts Thursday in Fulton. Itawamba, Jones County and Hinds are also in.