Mississippi State
18-13, 2-8
Alabama
22-9, 3-7
Long Ball Drives Diamond Dawgs to Victory over Crimson Tide
April 06, 2023 | Baseball
State hits four homers, ties single-game best on season
Hunter Hines, Slate Alford, and Ross Highfill sparked the scoring in the seventh inning. The trio combined for six RBIs, all from home runs. Hines hit a solo shot, Alford followed with a two-run blast and Highfill drove a three-run bomb capping off the big inning.
Highfill picked up three hits on the day with four RBIs, including hitting two homers, one second inning and one in the seventh. Tonight's performance was Highfill's third three-hit game of the season. Alford finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Hunter Hines, Colton Ledbetter, and Lane Forsythe all finished with two-hit days as well.
Relief pitching was crucial for the Bulldogs. Colby Holcombe entered the game in the fourth inning and earned the victory. He finished with three complete innings, tallying seven strikeouts in the game. That marked back-to-back appearances for Holcombe with seven-plus strikeouts. KC Hunt entered in the seventh and picked up the save, his second of the year.
The Bulldogs will attempt to win the series on Friday, as they are back in action with the Crimson Tide at 12 p.m. The game is set to be broadcast on SECN+.
Dakota Jordan hit a sacrifice fly to push across Larry for the game's first run. Ledbetter scored on a Slate Alford single.
Mississippi State 2, Alabama 0
Top Second
Ross Highfill blasted a solo shot to left to extend the Bulldog lead.
Mississippi State 3, Alabama 0
Bottom Second
Alabama pushed their first run across after Tommy Seidl singled to center scoring Pinckney.
Mississippi State 3, Alabama 1
Bottom Third
Jim Jarvis and William Hamiter drove back-to-back solo homers to right to tie the game.
Mississippi State 3, Alabama 3
Bottom Fourth
Ed Johnson scored Guscette from third on an infield single to give the Crimson Tide the lead.
Mississippi State 3, Alabama 4
Top Fifth
Ledbetter came across to score on a fielder's choice.
Mississippi State 4, Alabama 4
Top Seventh
Hunter Hines hit a solo homer to right-center to put the Dawgs back in the lead. Slate Alford added to it with a two-run homer. Ross Highfill drilled a three-run homer to left.
Mississippi State 10, Alabama 4
Bottom Seventh
Drew Williamson crossed the plate on a double play.
Mississippi State 10, Alabama 5
Top Eighth
Luke Hancock singled against the shift to score Hines from second.
Mississippi State 11, Alabama 5
Top Ninth
Colton Ledbetter singled through the left side to push Lane Forsythe across.
Mississippi State 12, Alabama 5
Bottom Ninth
Hamiter doubled to right-center to drive in Jarvis and Johnson. He then came across to score after Pinckney reached on a throwing error.
Mississippi State 12, Alabama 8
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Holcombe, Colby (2-1)
L: Connor Ball (1-1)
S: Hunt, KC (2)
Batting:
2B: Ledbetter, Colton 1 ; Hines, Hunter 1 ; Jordan, Dakota 1
HR: Hines, Hunter 1 ; Alford, Slate 1 ; Highfill, Ross 2
RBI: Ledbetter, Colton 1 ; Hines, Hunter 1 ; Jordan, Dakota 1 ; Hancock, Luke 2 ; Alford, Slate 3 ; Highfill, Ross 4
SF: Jordan, Dakota 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Larry, Amani 1 ; Ledbetter, Colton 2 ; Hines, Hunter 2 ; Jordan, Dakota 1 ; Alford, Slate 1 ; Clark, Kellum 1 ; Forsythe, Lane 2 ; Highfill, Ross 2
Batting:
2B: William Hamiter 1
HR: Jim Jarvis 1 ; William Hamiter 1
RBI: Ed Johnson 1 ; Jim Jarvis 1 ; William Hamiter 3 ; Tommy Seidl 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Drew Williamson 1 ; Ed Johnson 1 ; Jim Jarvis 2 ; William Hamiter 2 ; Andrew Pinckney 1 ; Mac Guscette 1
HBP: Will Hodo 1 ; William Hamiter 1 ; Andrew Pinckney 1
