Alabama Baseball Splits Doubleheader Exhibition Against Mississippi State

A four-run second inning propelled the Crimson Tide to a Game 1 victory over the Bulldogs, then Mississippi State won Game 2 4-0

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama baseball hosted its first of two fall scrimmages on Friday evening, with the Crimson Tide taking on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a seven-and-seven doubleheader at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Alabama defeated Mississippi State in Game 1 thanks to a four-run second frame powered by a two-RBI double by right fielder Andrew Pinckney. Combined with a three-run double by second baseman Bryce Eblin in the bottom of the seventh, and the Crimson Tide concluded the first game with a 7-3 victory.

Here's what happened in the Crimson Tide's first two exhibition games of the fall:

Game 1

Mississippi State started the scoring with an RBI-groundout in the top of the second.

In the bottom of the side, Alabama responded with four runs to jump out to a 4-1 lead. With the bases loaded, shortstop Jim Jarvis hit an RBI single to give the Crimson Tide its first run of the game. A bases-loaded walk for center fielder Caden Rose was quickly followed up by a two-RBI double by Pinckney to give Alabama its lead heading into the fifth.

An RBI flyout by the Bulldogs in the top of the fifth cut the Crimson Tide's lead to 4-2 and a solo home run by Mississippi State catcher Luke Hancock in the top of the sixth pulled the Bulldogs within one run.

Despite Alabama clinching the win after the top of the seventh, the second half of the final inning was played due to the setup of the exhibition. In the final frame with the bases loaded, Crimson Tide second baseman Bryce Eblin hit a bases-clearing double, advancing to third on the throw to blow the game wide open.

Alabama completed the win, defeating Mississippi State by a final score of 7-3.

On the mound for Alabama, Garrett McMillan started the game and finished with one run off of two hits, one walk and one strikeout through 2.0 innings pitched. However, it was true freshman Riley Quick who really shined with no hits or runs allowed through 2.0 innings pitched. Quick struck out three batters, retiring six in a row.

Zane Probst also saw time on the mound, surrendering two runs off of one hit, walked two batters and struck out two more through 2.0 innings pitched. Braylon Myers closed out the game for the Crimson Tide and gave up no runs, no hits, struck out one batter and walked none in 1.0 inning pitched.

Unofficial Game 1 Stats

Game 2

Luke Holman got the start on the mound for the Tide, striking out three batters in two innings of no-hit pitching. That was where the success ended for the Tide, however, as the Bulldogs scored four runs in the final five innings to win 4-0 in Game 2.

Head coach Brad Bohannon shared his thought on the night, citing an overall positive performance from his team.

"I really appreciate Chris [Lemonis] and those guys coming over. It was a beneficial night for both clubs," Bohannon said in a press release. "There were a lot of good players on the field, and I thought this was a really solid effort by our group. It was good to get some nerves out – some of the new kids looked a little tight, a little anxious. That’s why it’s so important to be older in this league, and we’re going to have a chance to put a lot of older kids on the field this season.

"Overall, this was a good night for our club, and we found some things that we can work on and get better at this week before we head to Auburn next Friday.”

The team will practice and have an intra-squad scrimmage Saturday morning before going to Auburn next Friday for an exhibition. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. CT.