Late Diamond Dog Rally Falls Just Short In 10-8 Setback To Crimson Tide

Friday, May 1

Starkville

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

21-25, 6-16

Alabama

31-15, 13-9

Alabama

Mississippi State

Diamond Dogs Drop Series Finale To Lions 6-5

Late Diamond Dog Rally Falls Just Short In 10-8 Setback To Crimson Tide

May 01, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State scored the game's final seven runs, but it would not be enough to overtake the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs rally fell short in a 10-8 Southeastern Conference baseball defeat Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.

Alabama scored five runs in the eighth inning to bolt to a 10-1 advantage. MSU tried to answer, scoring three times in the eighth inning and four runs in the ninth inning. In the end, the Bulldogs still dropped a Friday night league contest for a seventh straight weekend.

The 22nd-ranked Tide improved to 31-15 overall and 13-9 in conference play. UA continues to put pressure on Western Division front-runners LSU and Arkansas, who were rained out Friday night. The Bulldogs fell to 21-25 overall and 6-16 in league play. MSU's fifth straight league loss essentially puts the Bulldogs on the brink of elimination from the SEC Tournament.

Alabama starter Austin Hyatt throttled the Bulldogs most of the night. Despite issuing a season-high four walks, Hyatt (7-1) worked seven-plus innings, allowing four hits and two runs (both earned), with seven strikeouts.

“Their Friday night guy was a great challenge,” MSU head coach John Cohen said. “He did very well. We did some things not so well. Like the double play error and failed pickoff attempt, but that's my responsibility. It's my fault for not getting the kids ready to practice.”

Once Hyatt left the mound, the Bulldogs pieced together five hits and took advantage of two walks and two hit batsmen by the Alabama bullpen.

“I want to thank these fans for being here,” Cohen said. “They could've left early but didn't. That's why I came to MSU. Better things are on the way.”

In the MSU eighth inning, a pair of walks started things. Connor Powers followed with an RBI-single and Ryan Collins had a follow-up single. Russ Sneed had an RBI-single. Jet Butler hit a fielder's choice, driving in another run.

An inning later, back-to-back hit batsmen and a walk loaded the bases. A groundout scored one run. A balk and wild pitch plated additional runs. Connor Powers followed with a single and Ryan Collins ripped a double. A sacrifice-fly by Sneed plated the game's final run. A groundout by Butler snuffed the final threat, with Collins being stranded at third base.

MSU finished with nine hits. Collins had his second three-hit game of the season. Sneed had two hits and drove in three runs. Connor Powers also had two hits. Collins ran his hit streak to seven games, while a hitless Grant Hogue saw his streak ended at eight games.

UA finished with 13 hits. Taylor Dugas, Josh Rutledge, Ross Wilson, Brandon May and Alex Kubal each had multiple hits for the Tide.

MSU starter Greg Houston (1-2) worked 3-2/3 innings, allowing four hits and five runs (all earned), with three strikeouts and four walks. Chad Crosswhite, Caleb Reed, Devin Jones and Drew Hollinghead all followed in relief.

The series resumes with a 6:30 p.m. Graduation day start at Dudy Noble Field. UA is scheduled to start junior left-hander Del Howell (5-2, 4.79 ERA), while MSU is scheduled to start freshman left-hander Nick Routt (4-3, 3.41 ERA). The series finale is at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.