Lacher Quiets Bama In MSU's 9-1 Series-Clincher
Lacher (6-0) checked Alabama on three hits through seven innings before Bama plated its lone run in the eighth. Lacher, making his second consecutive Sunday start, scattered five hits and struck out one in his second-longest outing of the year.
Jonathan Papelbon came on to registered the final out of the eighth inning and retired Alabama in order in the ninth to close out the game.
Shortstop Matthew Maniscalco, one of five Bulldog players honored during pregame senior day ceremonies, opened a three-for-four outing with a lead-off single in the first inning off Alabama starter Seth Johnson (6-5). Maniscalco stole second and plated the game's first run on Matthew Brinson's two-out single to left. Maniscalco, making his 238th consecutive start at shortstop, singled again in the third and raced home on a single by Steve Gendron.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fourth inning before a 45-minute rain delay, and scored three times off UA relief pitcher Brian Reed in the sixth. Craig Tatum opened the scoring burst with a solo home run, his sixth roundtripper of the year, while Maniscalco later drove in a run with his 53rd career double.
State got two-hits each from Brinson, Robby Goodson, Tatum and Thomas Berkery, who delivered a two-run double in the seventh that put State on top 9-0. Berkery matched a season-high with three RBI.
Alabama averted the shutout in the eighth, parlaying singles by Allen Rice and Charlie Lyons, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Evan Bush into a run.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 25-8-1 record at home and a 17-12 league, third-best in the SEC West. State will continue play in Hoover, Ala., making a 17th straight trip to the SEC Baseball Tournament. MSU's opponent during Wednesday's first round competition will be announced Sunday night.
| MISSISSIPPI STATE 9, ALABAMA 1 | |||||
| ALA | 000 | 000 | 010 | --- | 1-5-0 |
| MSU | 101 | 203 | 20x | --- | 9-14-0 |
WP --- Jeff Lacher (6-0). LP --- Seth Johnson (6-5). HR --- (MSU) Craig Tatum (6). T -- 2:47. ATT --- 6,564 (paid), 4,712 (actual). Play was halted for one hour and 16 minutes during separate rain delays in the fourth and seventh innings.
Jeff Lacher, Jonathan Papelbon (8) and Craig Tatum and Thomas Berkery (8). Seth Johnson, Brian Reed (4), Jeffrey Norris (6), Jared Woodward (7) and Charlie Lyons.