Bulldogs Fall At Alabama 5-4
April 01, 2006 | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Number 16 Alabama held off a late rally by top-ranked Mississippi State to preserve a 5-4 win today.
Mississippi State (21-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) scored three runs in the final three innings to close the gap to 5-4.
The Bulldogs brought the tying and go-ahead runs to the plate in the ninth inning against sophomore right-handed closer David Robertson. But senior first baseman Brad Jones struck out to end the game.
Robertson worked two and two-thirds innings for his sixth save of the season.
MSU cut the deficit to 5-2 in the eighth inning with a two-out rally. Pinch-hitter Wyn Diggs reached on two-out infield single and scored on Jeff Butts' RBI double.
The Bulldogs quickly cut the margin to 5-4 in the ninth inning when Ed Easley led off with a walk and scored on senior shortstop Thomas Berkery's two-run home run to left field.
But Robertson fanned Jones to end the game.
Alabama (22-8, 7-1) is off to its best start in SEC play in 51 years. The last time Alabama started the conference season with a 7-1 record was 1955.
