The Crimson Tide held the lead until the sixth, but a three-run frame by State proved the difference
5/6/2018
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball suffered a 6-4 loss in the series finale with Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs used five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to claim the series victory on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 24-25 on the season and 6-18 in Southeastern Conference play.
"We had our chances and didn't capitalize early – that's the story of the game" said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "We had multiple opportunities early to bust the game open but couldn't; it's kind of been a common theme for us this year. Sam Praytor did put a great swing on a pitch with the bases loaded, and he hit right at them – that's baseball. (JP) France did a great job out of the bullpen (for Mississippi State) and slowed us down."
Alabama carried a 3-0 lead into the top of the fifth, but Mississippi State countered for five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to gain the advantage. The Crimson Tide responded with a run of its own in the sixth, but the Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh to make it a 6-4 game, the eventual final. Alabama reached one in the ninth with one down to bring the tying run to the plate, but a pair of flyouts ended things in favor of State.
The Alabama offense received multi-hit games from the junior trio of Keith Holcombe, Cobie Vance and Joe Breaux. Holcombe led the offensive attack, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, team-high two RBI and one walk. The four-hit performance was Holcombe's third of the season. Vance went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, one walk and two runs scored, while Breaux finished his afternoon 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, one walk and a run.
Alabama struck first in Sunday's series finale, scoring one in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Vance kicked things off, sending the first pitch of the inning to left-center for a leadoff double. With a runner in scoring position, Breaux used the next at-bat to knock an RBI-single up the middle and cross the game's first run.
The Crimson Tide came back in the second to add another run and make it a 2-0 contest. With one down in the inning, senior Hunter Alexander sent a double to center before advancing to third on a groundout. In the next at-bat, Vance collected his second hit of the day with a RBI-single through the left side to score one and give the Tide a two-run advantage after two innings of play.
The fourth frame saw the Tide put up a single tally to extend the lead. Vance began the scoring sequence, as he reached on a leadoff walk and later moved into scoring position on a groundout. Alabama's next hitter, Holcombe, cashed in on the opportunity, sending a single through the right side to score one more and put the Tide ahead, 3-0.
Mississippi State scored five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to gain the decisive advantage. After beginning the fifth inning with a leadoff single, the Bulldogs used a two-run home run to score their first runs of the afternoon and make it a 3-2 game.
The MSU sixth began with a leadoff double, which was followed by a groundout and a walk to place runners on the corners for the Bulldogs. A sacrifice fly in the next at-bat allowed one run to cross, evening the game at three apiece. One batter later, an RBI-double scored two more for State to move them in front, 5-3.
Alabama responded, scoring one in the sixth to make it a one-run game. Breaux reached on a hit-by-pitch to begin the inning before advancing to second on a groundout. In the next at-bat, Holcombe collected his second RBI of the day with a single up the middle to score Breaux and set the score at 5-4.
The Bulldogs added one in the seventh to push their lead back to two. With two outs in the inning, a walk followed by a double scored one for MSU to make it a 6-4 game heading to the stretch.
The two teams would go scoreless over the final two frames. Alabama brought the tying run to the plate in the home half of the ninth following a one-out single from Holcombe, but a pair of flyouts would end the Sunday contest with the Bulldogs clinching the series.
Alabama returns to the diamond on Tuesday for the Tide's final non-conference matchup of the regular season. The Crimson Tide will host in-state foe Jacksonville State at 6 p.m. CT inside Sewell-Thomas Stadium with the game airing live on SEC Network+.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
5/6/2018
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball suffered a 6-4 loss in the series finale with Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs used five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to claim the series victory on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 24-25 on the season and 6-18 in Southeastern Conference play.
"We had our chances and didn't capitalize early – that's the story of the game" said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "We had multiple opportunities early to bust the game open but couldn't; it's kind of been a common theme for us this year. Sam Praytor did put a great swing on a pitch with the bases loaded, and he hit right at them – that's baseball. (JP) France did a great job out of the bullpen (for Mississippi State) and slowed us down."
Alabama carried a 3-0 lead into the top of the fifth, but Mississippi State countered for five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to gain the advantage. The Crimson Tide responded with a run of its own in the sixth, but the Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh to make it a 6-4 game, the eventual final. Alabama reached one in the ninth with one down to bring the tying run to the plate, but a pair of flyouts ended things in favor of State.
The Alabama offense received multi-hit games from the junior trio of Keith Holcombe, Cobie Vance and Joe Breaux. Holcombe led the offensive attack, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, team-high two RBI and one walk. The four-hit performance was Holcombe's third of the season. Vance went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, one walk and two runs scored, while Breaux finished his afternoon 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, one walk and a run.
Alabama struck first in Sunday's series finale, scoring one in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Vance kicked things off, sending the first pitch of the inning to left-center for a leadoff double. With a runner in scoring position, Breaux used the next at-bat to knock an RBI-single up the middle and cross the game's first run.
The Crimson Tide came back in the second to add another run and make it a 2-0 contest. With one down in the inning, senior Hunter Alexander sent a double to center before advancing to third on a groundout. In the next at-bat, Vance collected his second hit of the day with a RBI-single through the left side to score one and give the Tide a two-run advantage after two innings of play.
The fourth frame saw the Tide put up a single tally to extend the lead. Vance began the scoring sequence, as he reached on a leadoff walk and later moved into scoring position on a groundout. Alabama's next hitter, Holcombe, cashed in on the opportunity, sending a single through the right side to score one more and put the Tide ahead, 3-0.
Mississippi State scored five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to gain the decisive advantage. After beginning the fifth inning with a leadoff single, the Bulldogs used a two-run home run to score their first runs of the afternoon and make it a 3-2 game.
The MSU sixth began with a leadoff double, which was followed by a groundout and a walk to place runners on the corners for the Bulldogs. A sacrifice fly in the next at-bat allowed one run to cross, evening the game at three apiece. One batter later, an RBI-double scored two more for State to move them in front, 5-3.
Alabama responded, scoring one in the sixth to make it a one-run game. Breaux reached on a hit-by-pitch to begin the inning before advancing to second on a groundout. In the next at-bat, Holcombe collected his second RBI of the day with a single up the middle to score Breaux and set the score at 5-4.
The Bulldogs added one in the seventh to push their lead back to two. With two outs in the inning, a walk followed by a double scored one for MSU to make it a 6-4 game heading to the stretch.
The two teams would go scoreless over the final two frames. Alabama brought the tying run to the plate in the home half of the ninth following a one-out single from Holcombe, but a pair of flyouts would end the Sunday contest with the Bulldogs clinching the series.
Alabama returns to the diamond on Tuesday for the Tide's final non-conference matchup of the regular season. The Crimson Tide will host in-state foe Jacksonville State at 6 p.m. CT inside Sewell-Thomas Stadium with the game airing live on SEC Network+.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
