MOBILE, Ala. — No. 17 Mississippi State scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on a bases-loaded single to beat South Alabama baseball 6-4 on Tuesday night at Eddie Stanky Field.
The loss was the Jaguars’ fourth in a row. South Alabama had rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the game in the seventh inning.
Early Lead Slips Away
South Alabama opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly to left field and held the 1-0 lead until the fourth.
Mississippi State loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, and Jaguars starter Matt Bell balked in the tying run before getting a groundout to first base to end the inning.
The Bulldogs went ahead in the fifth when a run scored on a wild pitch by Bell, then extended the lead to 3-1 on an RBI groundout. Mississippi State added a run in the sixth when a ball was misplayed in right field, making it 4-1.
Seventh-Inning Rally
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh, South Alabama took advantage of two Mississippi State errors to score three runs and tie the game 4-4.
Bulldogs Break the Tie
Mississippi State’s first two batters in the ninth reached base on a single and a hit-by-pitch. A flyout to right field moved a runner to third with one out, and a walk loaded the bases. A two-run single through the right side then provided the final margin.
Pitching
Bell matched his career high with six innings pitched and did not factor in the decision. James Traylor took the loss in two innings of relief, falling to 2-3 on the season.
- Final: Mississippi State 6, South Alabama 4
- Matt Bell: 6 innings (ties career high), no decision
- James Traylor: 2 innings, loss (2-3)
Up Next
South Alabama will try to end its four-game losing streak Wednesday evening when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana at Eddie Stanky Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
