Mississippi State
25-21, 10-12
Alabama
23-24, 5-17
#RallyDawgs Outlast Alabama In Extra-Inning Opener
May 04, 2018 | Baseball
The Bulldogs rallied from an 11-5 deficit with seven runs in the eighth inning. Victory was then claimed after Foscue's home run and a line drive double play by Hunter Stovall to end the contest in the home half of the frame.
MSU improved to 25-21 overall and 10-12 in league play, while Alabama fell to 23-24 and 5-17.
"It was a great win for our team," MSU head coach Gary Henderson said. "We had a lot of fans who made the short trip over. It was good to see all of the maroon in the stands and I am glad they got to see a win."
"When you come from behind the way we did to win a game on a Friday night in the Southeastern Conference, that's a big positive. I'm really proud of how we competed and found a way to come back."
The Bulldogs collected 13 hits and only stranded two base runners.
Elijah MacNamee had three hits, while Foscue, Stovall, Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan each had two hits apiece. Foscue and Jordan each finished with three RBIs.
Zach Neff (3-2) pitched the final 1.1 innings to get the win for the Bulldogs. Konnor Pilkington drew the start but was lifted with two outs in the fifth inning, after allowing seven hits and seven runs (all earned). Keegan James, Cole Marsh and JP France followed Pilkington to the mound, before Neff was called on with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning.
Alabama built a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a grand slam by Chandler Taylor.
MSU answered with a five-run second inning. The big blow in that frame was a three-run home run by Jordan which meant the 5-4 lead. MacNamee had an RBI-single, while Josh Hatcher had a sacrifice-fly in that at-bat.
Alabama battled back to take an 11-5 lead after scoring three times in the fifth inning, once in the sixth inning and three times in the seventh inning.
In the MSU eighth inning, Jordan started things with a double. Allen and Luke Alexander followed with back-to-back singles. Alexander's hit drove in a run. After an Alabama pitching change, Stovall and Marshall Gilbert each had RBI-singles.
An error reloaded the bases.
After that, Foscue had an RBI-single. A wild pitch, ground ball out and sacrifice fly by Jake Mangum scored the other three runs in the inning.
In the 10th inning, Foscue's home run came after a single by MacNamee.
Sam Praytor had four of Alabama's 16 hits.
State will retake the field on Saturday for another 6 p.m. CT start on SEC Network+. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday's games against the Crimson Tide are available for purchase through Alabama's website here.
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Neff, Zach (3-2)
L: Deacon Medders (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Jordan, Rowdey 1
HR: Jordan, Rowdey 1 ; Foscue, Justin 1
RBI: Mangum, Jake 1 ; Jordan, Rowdey 3 ; Alexander, Luke 1 ; Stovall, Hunter 1 ; Gilbert, Marshall 1 ; MacNamee, Elijah 1 ; Foscue, Justin 3 ; Hatcher, Josh 2
SF: Mangum, Jake 1 ; Hatcher, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan, Rowdey 2 ; Allen, Tanner 1 ; Alexander, Luke 1 ; Stovall, Hunter 2 ; Gilbert, Marshall 2 ; MacNamee, Elijah 3 ; Foscue, Justin 3
Batting:
2B: Keith Holcombe 1
HR: Cobie Vance 1 ; Chandler Taylor 1
RBI: Cobie Vance 3 ; Sam Praytor 1 ; Chandler Taylor 4 ; Keith Holcombe 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cobie Vance 2 ; Joe Breaux 2 ; Chandler Avant 2 ; Sam Praytor 2 ; Chandler Taylor 1 ; Kyle Kaufman 2 ; John Trousdale 1
SB: Sam Praytor 1
HBP: Joe Breaux 1 ; Kyle Kaufman 2 ; Keith Holcombe 1 ; John Trousdale 1 ; Matt Malkin 1
