Tide Falls at MSU; Clinches SEC Tournament Berth
5/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State left-hander Justin Pigott took a shutout into the eighth inning and senior first baseman Brian LaNinfa had four RBI, including a two-run home run in the third inning as the Bulldogs evened the weekend series with a 9-3 win over the University of Alabama in front of 4,175 fans at Dudy Noble Field on Friday night.
Despite the loss, Alabama (30-24, 14-15 SEC) clinched a spot in the 2007 SEC Tournament, which begins Wednesday, May 23 at Regions Park in Hoover. After losses by Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee on Saturday, the Crimson Tide can finish no worse than seventh in the league standings.
Pigott (5-5) evened his season record as he held the Crimson Tide to one run and six hits in eight innings en route to the win. He walked two and struck out five.
LaNinfa had two hits and four RBI to lead the Bulldogs nine-hit attack. LaNinfa also drew two walks and reached base four times in the win. Right fielder Mitch Moreland had a double and two RBI for MSU.
Mississippi State (33-17, 15-12 SEC) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Joseph McCaskill drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a Edward Easley's double down the left field line. Mitch Moreland's ground out to second baseman Brandon May chased McCaskill home with the first run and Brian LaNinfa's infield hit scored Easley from third with the second run.
MSU doubled its lead to 4-0 on LaNinfa's two-run home run to right-center field with one out in the third inning.
The Bulldogs put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Jeffrey Rea and McCaskill started the two-out rally with back-to-back RBI singles to put State up 6-0.
Alabama starter Miers Quigley (4-7), who suffered his seventh straight loss, left the game after McCaskill's two-out base hit up the middle. Quigley gave up seven runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He has not won since beating Tennessee on March 16, 2007 in the SEC opener.
Casey Kebodeaux replaced Quigley and walked all three batters he faced, including a bases loaded walk to LaNinfa to make the score 7-0. Senior right-hander Patrick Kelly struck out Connor Powers to end the inning as State left the bases loaded.
Alabama avoided the shutout with a run in the eighth inning off Pigott. After loading the bases with one out, Alex Avila grounded out to second base to drive in Greg Paiml, who drew a lead off walk.
MSU got two more runs in the eighth inning to take a 9-1 lead.
Alabama scored twice in the ninth of reliever Mike Valentine to make the final 9-3. Ryan Rhoden started the rally with a double down the left field line. Jeff Texada was hit by pitch and pinch-hitter Del Howell reached on a fielder's choice as Texada was erased at second base.
Paiml made a 9-2 game with an RBI single to left and Salem loaded the bases with an infield hit. Belcher then drew a bases loaded walk to force home Howell to make it 9-3. Avila grounded out to third base to end the game.
Alabama and Mississippi State wrap up the series and regular season with a 2 p.m. (CDT) game Saturday, May 19 at Dudy Noble Field. Junior lefty Will Stroup (2-0, 4.17 ERA) will pitch for Alabama, while State will counter with senior right-hander Josh Johnson (2-2, 5.67 ERA).
GAME NOTES:
*The Alabama-Mississippi State game was the 1,200th all-time game at Dudy Noble Field.
*Alabama freshman RHP Austin Graham (Hoover) made his first appearance on the mound since March 6, 2006. Graham underwent shoulder surgery for to repair a high school football related injury and has not pitched since a brief start at South Alabama.
*Alabama senior center fielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) went 2-for-4 on Saturday and extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games. He also extended his SEC hitting streak to 13 games.
*Senior RHP Patrick Kelly (Dothan) retired five of the six batters he faced in Saturday's relief appearance.
