STARKVILLE, Miss., - Mississippi State clinched its opening weekend series against Portland claiming a 7-1 win in game one of a Sunday doubleheader.

The Bulldogs held Portland to only four hits all afternoon while improving to 3-0 on the year.

Senior right-hander Kendall Graveman earned his first win of the season tossing 6 1/3 scoreless inning allowing only two hits. Graveman recorded four strikeouts and issued four walks in his first start of 2013.

"I think in the second and third inning I struggled a little bit trying to keep the ball down," Graveman said. "I was a little inconsistent but then I found it again. It went well and gave up a couple of singles. I felt good getting back out there on the mound."

MSU smashed out a dozen hits in game one led by catcher Mitch Slauter, who was 2-for-3 with a home run and a pair of RBIs.



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