Bulldogs Keep Alabama Offense in Check as Tide fall 4-2

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Mississippi State pitching staff kept the typically explosive Crimson Tide offense quiet as No. 12 Alabama dropped its second-straight series as they fall 4-2.

Alabama tallied just two hits Sunday, one being a two-out double from Will Hodo and the other a push bunt down the left field line from Brady Neal against the shift.  Alabama's four other baserunners came via three walks and an error by the Mississippi State left fielder. The Tide's two hits were tied for the season low, set last Friday in their 10-0 loss to Auburn.

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Alabama entered the weekend with the Sunday starting pitcher listed as 'To Be Announced'. The assumption was that head coach Rob Vaughn and pitching coach Jason Jackson would opt for the usual Sunday pick, Bobby Alcock, JT Blackwood, or Aeden Finateri, who've seen starting action during the midweek and Finateri once against Oklahoma.

Instead, the Alabama coaching staff threw a curveball, handing the ball to reliever Tyler Fay for his first collegiate start.

Fay got off to a poor start. RF Gehrig Frei led off the game with a single to left field, setting up a two-run jack from Sawyer Reeves to begin the game with a quick 2-0 lead in favor of the Bulldogs.

The Doniphan, Neb., native settled into the game following the Reeves home run, retiring the next three batters he faced to hold the early deficit at 2-0.

The Crimson Tide didn't have an answer in the bottom of the first. Mississippi State starter Karson Ligon retired the top of the Tide order with three flyouts.

The Crimson Tide cut the Mississippi State lead in half two innings later. Richie Bonomolo Jr. lifted a fly ball to center field to score Brady Neal from third. Alabama, 1. Mississippi State, 2.

Fay and the Alabama bullpen silenced a potent Mississippi State offense throughout the middle of the game, tossing five straight shutout innings to give the Alabama batting order a chance to break through.

The Crimson Tide finally tied it up at the bottom of the sixth. Justin Lebron led off the inning, reaching third on an error to set up another sac fly, this time via Kade Snell, to even up the ballgame at two apiece. Alabama couldn't add another baserunner or run in the frame.

Just as it felt that momentum began to shift towards Alabama, Mississippi State had an answer.

Pinch-hitting for catcher Joe Powell, sophomore Ross Highfill dug in with two outs. On a 1-1 pitch, Highfill ambushed Alabama reliever Braylon Myers with a home run to right field to take the lead back for the Bulldogs. 3-2, advantage Mississippi State.

The following inning, the Bulldogs tacked on an insurance run thanks to another solo shot, this time from third baseman Ace Reese to push their lead to 4-2.

Searching for answers, the Tide came up empty. Bulldog reliever Nate Williams forced two 1-2-3 innings, allowing only one baserunner, to close the door on the Crimson Tide the last three innings of the afternoon.

Alabama looks to rebound Tuesday as UAB travels down I-20 for an intra-state matchup.

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