Ross Mitchell and Jonathan Holder Combine to Blank Alabama for 1-0 Win

In a game dominated by pitching, Mississippi State's Matthew Britton popped the first home run of his career, a solo opposite field blast, and Ross Mitchell and Jonathan Holder combined to toss a complete game shutout to give Mississippi State a 1-0 game two victory and a series win over the Alabama Crimson Tide Friday in Tuscaloosa.

Britton's homer came in the top of the seventh, giving Mississippi State all the firepower they needed for the night. After Mitchell (8-4) gave up a single and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh, Mississippi State skipper John Cohen decided to make the call to the bullpen and bring in Holder, who used a pair of strikeouts to end the Crimson Tide threat.

In the final frame for Alabama, the Crimson Tide threatened, with the leadoff hitter, Kyle Overstreet, picking up a single, but Holder (S, 7) sandwiched a fly out between two strikeouts preserve the MIssissippi State win.

Mississippi State (35-19, 18-11) looked to open the contest the way the played Friday when C. T. Bradford opened the game with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  A single from Alex Detz gave the Bulldogs runners on the corners with no outs, but a failed bunt attempt, a strikeout and a fly out ended the threat.

Alabama (32-21, 14-14) saw their best chance to put a run on the board come in the second inning with Austen Smith reached on an error and later advanced to second.  He attempted to score from the station on a single to left field by Will Haynie, but Jake Vickerson gunned him down at the plate to end the inning.

Mitchell, who tossed his eighth quality start in his last ten starts, scattered five hits while striking out two.