Mississippi State Baseball Drops Extra-inning Contest to Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the second straight game, Mississippi State and Alabama played in extra-innings. After Friday’s 14-12 win in 10 innings, the Diamond Dawgs played 10 innings again, ending up on the wrong end this time, falling 4-3 Saturday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Keith Holcombe’s RBI-single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Alabama the 4-3 win in the middle contest of a three-game Southeastern Conference series.

With the loss, MSU falls to 25-22 (10-13 SEC), while Alabama improved to 24-24 (6-17 SEC).

Alabama took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after the bases were loaded on three walks with another walk sending home a run. The Crimson Tide added another run the next inning after Joe Breaux hit a single to score John Trousdale.

Tanner Allen’s single in the top of the third inning scored Jake Mangum to cut the deficit to one run.

The score would remain 2-1 until the top of the sixth inning when Justin Foscue hit a double and later scored on a sac-fly hit by Elijah MacNamee to knot things up 2-2.

The Diamond Dawgs took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning when Rowdey Jordan homered to left field.

State carried the 3-2 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning, but Trousdale spoiled things with a one-out home run to send things to extra-innings, where the Crimson Tide got the 4- win off of Holcombe’s RBI-single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

MSU held the hits advantage 10-7. Luke Alexander and Allen led the Dawgs with two hits apiece.

Ethan Small got the start on the mound for MSU and pitched six innings. He allowed two runs, both earned, on three hits.

Cole Gordon (3-3) pitched the final 3.2 innings and was charged with the loss.

Sam Gardner (2-2) struck out six batters in 3.2 innings of work and earned the win for Alabama.

State and Alabama will play for the series win today at 3 p.m. CT on ESPNU.