The University of Alabama baseball team was back in action against the Bulldogs of Mississippi State tonight at Sewell Thomas Stadium in Tuscalooosa. Bama would end up dropping the series with the 1-0 loss with the only run coming off of the bat of Matthew Britton’s home run in the 7th inning. The Tide falls to 33-21 (14-14) and will play the final game at The Joe tomorrow before major renovations get started. First pitch vs Mississippi State is set for tomorrow at 3:05.
Starting pitchers: LHP Ross Mitchell (1.98 ERA, 7-4) vs RHP Spencer Turnbull ( 2.36 ERA, 5-5) Stats pre game
Through the first 2 innings, both teams squandered chances with men on base. During the 1st, Mississippi State had 2 reach on a lead off walk from C.T. Bradford and then a single from Alex Detz but left them stranded as the Bulldogs then went down in order. For the Tide, Georgie Salem advanced into scoring position but Bama couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. The Bulldogs had Jake Vickerson reach on an error but nothing else during the inning. Bama had the chance to take a one run lead in the bottom half on Will Haynie’s single through the left side but Austen Smith was gunned down at the plate.
The Bulldogs had 2 runners at first and second with 2 outs during the top half of the 3rd after Seth Heck drew a 4 pitch walk and Brett Pirtle was hit by a pitch but Turnbull struck out Gavin Collins looking to end the frame. Mikey White drew a one out walk for Bama in the bottom half but the inning would end on a questionable out at first call for Ben Moore.
Turnbull came up big in the 4th with two Bulldog runners at first and second with out out, striking out Matthew Britton for the second out. C.T. Bradford then grounded out to end the threat. Alabama would got a one out base runner from the single by Kyle Overstreet but was called out heading to 2nd on the fielder’s choice from Chance Vincent that ended the 4th. A few 2 out singles ( 1 for MSU and 2 for Bama) would be the only thing going in the fifth inning.
The trend of the day continued in to the 6th with the only base runner coming for Mississippi State from a hit by a pitch on Vickerson. The Bulldogs jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the 7th with a home run from Britton on the first pitch of the inning. Vincent got aboard in the bottom half after a single and then advanced on the sacrifice bunt. The Bulldogs made a pitching change, sending Jonathan Holder to the mound for Ross Mitchell ( 6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Holder sat down the next two MSU batters to retire side.
Alabama made a pitching change of their own in the top of the 8th, putting Jon Keller in for Turnbull (7 IP, 5H, 1R, 3K, 4BB, 2HB). Keller allowed a lead off single but recorded a strike out and a double play from Overstreet to Smith would send it to the home half. The Tide would go down in order.
The Tide headed to the bullpen in the top of the 9th for Jay Shaw after Keller (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) issued back to back walks to lead off the inning. He took care of business stranding Britton at 3rd to send the game to the last half inning for the game. Alabama tried to battle back in the bottom half of the 9th. Overstreet led things off with a lead off single but Holder would get 2 strikeouts and a pop out from Vincent to end the game.
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