Yeager’s Bomb Gives Dawgs Walk-Off Victory In SEC Home Opener

Friday, March 25

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

14-9, 0

Alabama

13-10, 0

Alabama

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Mikey Tepper (#39) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Parker Stinnett (#32) and Pitcher Preston Johnson (#35) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Preston Johnson (#35) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Davis Meche (#12) and Infielder RJ Yeager (#4) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Aaron Downs (#5) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Cade Smith (#15), Pitcher Stone Simmons (#17), Pitcher Drew Talley (#47) , and Pitcher Mikey Tepper (#39) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State MenÕs Basketball Head Coach Chris Jans meets Baseball Head Coach Chris Lemonis before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Austin Perryman

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State MenÕs Basketball Head Coach Chris Jans meets Baseball Head Coach Chris Lemonis and Outfielder Brad Cumbest (#33) before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Austin Perryman

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State MenÕs Basketball Head Coach Chris Jans throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Austin Perryman

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State MenÕs Basketball Head Coach Chris Jans throwing the first pitch during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Jackson Fristoe (#27) and MenÕs Basketball Head Coach Chris Jans before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Austin Perryman

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Drew Talley (#47), Pitcher Jackson Fristoe (#27), and Pitcher Mikey Tepper (#39) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder RJ Yeager (#4) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Brad Cumbest (#33) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Fans in the outfield during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Austin Perryman

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Jess Davis (#3) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Kamren James (#6) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher/Infielder Mia Davidson (#33) being recognized for breaking the home run record during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Luke Hancock (#20) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Mikey Tepper (#39), Pitcher Jackson Fristoe (#27), and Outfielder Drew McGowan (#8) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Hunter Hines (#44) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Kellum Clark (#11) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Tanner Leggett (#31) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Jackson Fristoe (#27) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Monitor during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Camps Coordinator/Volunteer Assistant Kyle Cheesebrough during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Fans during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Kellum Clark (#11) and Baseball Camps Coordinator/Volunteer Assistant Kyle Cheesebrough during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Matt Corder (#14) and Outfielder Kellum Clark (#11) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi StateÕs Austin Vukovits during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Brandon Smith (#7) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Matt Corder (#14) and Infielder/Outfielder Hunter Hines (#44) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Hunter Hines (#44) and Infielder/Outfielder Matt Corder (#14) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Brooks Auger (#48) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Davis Meche (#12) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - \bb during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Andrew Walling (#29) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

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STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Celebration during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Fireworks during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Strength and Conditioning Coach Adam Thackery and Pitcher Brooks Auger (#48) during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Sloane Bush

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - March 25, 2022 - Friday Night Fireworks after the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Kevin Snyder

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Yeager’s Bomb Gives Dawgs Walk-Off Victory In SEC Home Opener

March 25, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Hunter Hines tied the game in the 9th, following by Yeager's walk-off home run in the 10th

By: Anna Nobles, Athletic Communications Assistant

STARKVILLE – No. 30 Mississippi State (14-9, 2-2 SEC) won its SEC home opener in dramatic fashion thanks to a 10th-inning walk-off home run by RJ Yeager to defeat Alabama (13-10, 1-3 SEC) by a score of 7-6 on Friday (March 25) at Dudy Noble Field.

State jumped ahead first in the second with a 1-0 lead but trailed until a rally in the ninth sent the game to extra innings following a game-tying two-run homer by Hunter Hines. Hines, Yeager and Kellum Clark provided home runs in crucial moments in the final few innings to clinch a Diamond Dawg win.

For State, Preston Johnson threw six solid innings allowing five hits, three runs and seven strikeouts. Three pitchers followed Johnson – Cam Tullar, Brandon Smith and Brooks Auger for a combined six strikeouts. Tullar pitched 2.2 innings with four strikeouts and Auger followed to earn the win for the Dawgs after pitching one scoreless frame.

Three Dawgs – Clark, Hines and Yeager – recorded home runs in the seventh, ninth and tenth innings to help the team rally late in the game. Hines was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, and Yeager went 2-for-5 with a walk off homer to end the game. Clark made it a one-run ball game in the seventh with a three-run home run to right field.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom Second

Mississippi State got on the board first in the series opener after a Brad Cumbest single and a Jess Davis double down the right field line gave the Dawgs a 1-0 lead.

Mississippi State 1, Alabama 0

Top Fourth

Alabama put some runs on the board that started with an Owen Diodati walk led by an Andrew Pinckney single that advanced Diodati to second. Caden Rose's ground-rule double down the left field side advanced Pinckney and scored Diodati. Pinckney then scored on a Bryce Eblin sacrifice followed by Jim Jarvis' triple to right-center that brought in Rose.

Mississippi State 1, Alabama 3

Top Seventh

The Tide furthered their lead after a Zane Denton single through the right side to advance Tommy Seidl who was hit by pitch. Diodati earned two RBIs after doubling to right center which scored Denton and Seidl.

Mississippi State 1, Alabama 5

Bottom Seventh

Diamon Dawgs bounced back to close Alabama's lead that started with a Logan Tanner walk followed by a Hunter Hines walk which advanced Tanner to second. Kellum Clark homered to right field to earn three RBIs.

Mississippi State 4, Alabama 5

Top Ninth

Alabama added one run after Seidl was hit by a pitch and then stole second base followed by a Dominic Tamez single that scored Seidl.

Mississippi State 4, Alabama 6

Bottom Ninth

Mississippi State rallied to tie the game after a Tanner walk followed by a Hines homered down the right field line to score Tanner and earn two RBIs.

Mississippi State 6, Alabama 6

Bottom Tenth

RJ Yeager ended the game with a solo home run to right-center to secure the walk-off victory for the Diamond Dawgs.

Mississippi State 7, Alabama 6

ON DECK

Mississippi State will take on Alabama in game two of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at Dudy Noble Field. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and Mississippi State Radio Network.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.