The Alabama baseball team opened up conference play last weekend in Starkville. They won 2 out of 3 games behind late inning rallies by the offense. The Tide is now 11-7 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.
“To come in to Starkville and win two out of three, that’s great,” said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. “The biggest takeaway was that our guys competed in all three games.”
Game 1: Alabama 10, Mississippi State 5
After a two-run fourth inning, the Alabama pitching staff gave up five runs that put the Tide down 5-2 going into the eighth inning. Alabama’s offense scored eight runs in the frame behind Mikey White’s 4 RBIs that included an RBI single to get the rally started and a 3-run homerun to put his team up 10-5. Will Haynie also added a 2-run single to tie the game at 5 off Bulldog closer Trevor Fitts on a two strike, two out pitch. Jake Hubbard got the win for the Tide, improving his record to 2-1 on the season.
Game 2: Mississippi State 4, Alabama 1
The nightcap of the Saturday doubleheader was the Austin Sexton show for Mississippi State. The sophomore from Huntsville pitched a complete game, shutting down every aspect of Alabama’s offense except for a solo homerun by Casey Hughston in the sixth inning. Sexton finished the game allowing just the one run on eight hits, while walking just one and striking out seven.
Game 3: Alabama 8, Mississippi State 4
Mitch Gaspard’s squad put together another comeback victory in the Sunday finale. After falling behind 4-3, White tied the game with an RBI single that score Georgie Salem in the seventh inning. The Tide loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning. Following an RBI walk to Riley Colburn, Chandler Avant had a two-run single before White finished off the inning with another RBI single. Alabama’s bullpen took care of the rest as Ray Castillo and Thomas Burrows combined for 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just two baserunners.
Alabama will play Samford in Hoover on Tuesday before hosting Baseball America’s 5th ranked Texas A&M. The Aggies (21-0) are still undefeated on the season after sweeping Auburn to open SEC play.
