Hitt’s Start Not Enough as Baseball Drops Series Finale with Mississippi State, 8-4
4/8/2023 9:19:00 PM | Baseball
The junior posted a quality start with three runs over 6.0 innings and a career-high nine strikeouts
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball suffered an 8-4 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide is now 23-10 overall and 4-8 in Southeastern Conference play.
Things were tied at two apiece after one inning of play with State adding a run in the top of the third. Alabama then took the lead thanks to a two-run home run from Drew Williamson in the bottom of the fifth. Both teams were scoreless through the sixth with a two-run seventh giving Mississippi State the lead once again. The Bulldogs added two more in the eighth and one in the ninth for the series-clinching win.
Grayson Hitt posted a quality start for the Crimson Tide, but it was not enough on Saturday. The junior allowed three runs on four hits and four walks with a career-high nine strikeouts across his 6.0 innings of work. Mississippi State reliever Nate Dohm (4-3) picked up the win while Aidan Moza (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
"It was the same story in SEC play for us. We just weren't good enough in the bullpen tonight. Grayson Hitt gave us a good start. We did some good things offensively, and Mississippi State made two amazing defensive plays that saved two runs. We're just obviously having a hard time closing games out."
How It Happened
- T1 | The Bulldogs got on the board thanks to a two-run home run by Hunter Hines. (2-0, Mississippi State)
- B1 | Jim Jarvis reached on an error before Ed Johnson got aboard with a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before another error on a William Hamiter ground ball brought in Jarvis. A fielder's choice from Dominic Tamez in the next at-bat crossed Johnson to even things up. (2-2)
- T3 | A pair of singles to start the inning put runners on the corners with a wild pitch then bringing in the go-ahead run for the Bulldogs. (3-2, Mississippi State)
- B5 | Drew Williamson moved the Tide in front with a two-run home run, scoring Jarvis who reached with a leadoff single. (4-3, Alabama)
- T7 | Ross Highfill tied things up with a solo home run. A single followed with a go-ahead two-out double giving the Bulldogs the lead once again. (5-4, Mississippi State)
- T8 | After a leadoff walk, Kellum Clark widened the gap with a two-run homer to right. (7-4, Mississippi State)
- T9 | The Bulldogs reached a baserunner with a one-out double before a groundout to first moved the man to third. A wild pitch in the next at-bat added to the advantage. (8-4, Mississippi State)
Postgame Notes
- Grayson Hitt struck out a career-high nine batters in tonight's start. His previous high was eight, which he had on three previous occasions and most recently against Columbia on March 10.
- Hitt's 6.0 innings matched his season-high total. The junior also threw 6.0 against Kentucky on March 26.
- Alabama has now homered in 27 games this season.
- Ed Johnson extended his hitting streak to eight games. Across the streak, Johnson is batting .455 (15-33) with a double, one home run, seven RBI, eight runs, three walks and a stolen base.
- Jim Jarvis has gotten aboard in 15 consecutive games dating back to March 16, including all 12 SEC contests.
- Andrew Pinckney reached base in tonight's game and has now done so in 14 straight contests.
- ATTENDANCE: 4,393
Next up for Alabama is a home matchup with Southern Miss on Tuesday April 11. The Crimson Tide and Golden Eagles are set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch at The Joe with the game airing on SEC Network+.
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