Live Blog: No. 12 Alabama Baseball vs. Mississippi State, Game Three

Alabama Baseball looks for the series win on Sunday afternoon against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron (1) celebrates a double during the game with Mississippi State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa Friday, April 11, 2025. / Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Following a 4-1 win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, the Crimson Tide looks for a series win on Sunday afternoon. After getting run-ruled on Friday night, Alabama's pitching staff bounced back in a big way led by the right arm of Riley Quick, who put up season bests in innings pitched (5.1) strikeouts (7) and walks (0).

In games three, Rob Vaughn turns to a new starter in right-hander, Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.91 ERA) a 6-foot-5 middle reliever making his first start of the season in replacement of previous game three starter Bobby Alcock. The decision comes as somewhat of a surprise going with a pitcher that has not thrown more than 2.1 innings or 40 pitches across any of his appearances. It would seem likely in that case that Vaughn is comfortable getting his bullpen up early with a short leash for Fay.

For Mississippi State, right-hander, Karson Ligon (3-4, 5.83 ERA) making his ninth start of the season for the Bulldogs. Despite the numbers looking less than stellar, Ligon is coming off his best start of the season, tossing a six-inning shutout last week, featuring just one hit and one walk surrendered and eight strikeouts in the team's 6-0 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

It is a significant Sunday afternoon for the Crimson Tide, as salvaging a series win after a 13-3 loss in game one is crucial to remaining in the mix in the top half of the SEC ahead of a trip to Baton Rogue to face the No. 3 LSU Tigers next weekend.

Starting Lineups:

Alabama:

• CF Richie Bonomolo Jr (R)

• 2. SS Justin Lebron (R)

• 3. LF Kade Snell (L)

• 4. 3B Jason Torres (R)

• 5. RF Bryce Fowler (L)

• 6. 1B Will Hodo (L)

• 7. DH Garrett Staton (R)

• 8. C Brady Neal (L)

• 9. 2B Jon Young Jr (L)

SP: RHP Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.91 ERA)

Mississippi State:

• 1. LF Gehrig Frei (R)

• 2. SS Sawyer Reeves (R)

• 3. 3B Ace Reese (L)

• 4. DH Noah Sullivan (R)

• 5. 1B Hunter Hines (L)

• 6. CF Aaron Downs (R)

• 7. RF Reed Stallman (L)

• 8. 2B Gatlin Sanders (L)

• 9. C Joe Powell (R)

SP: RHP Karson Ligon (3-4) 5.83 ERA

Game Start: 1 p.m. CT

Bottom 9th: The Crimson Tide go down in order without a threa to end the game. Just six total baserunners on the afternoon as the team drops the series to fall to 29-8 on the season and 8-7 in SEC play. FINAL: Alabama 2, Mississippi State 4

Top 9th: Closer, Carson Ozmer (3-0, 1.23 ERA) takes the ball for the Crimson Tide and sits down Bulldog batters in order. Alabama down to its final three outs with the score remaining 4-2, Mississippi State.

Bottom 8th: Coleman Mizell pinch hits for Young Jr and rolls over to tap out to the pitcher. A two out walk from Lebron brings the tying run to the plate, but Snell grounds out to second to end the threat. Just two hits through eight innings for Alabama batters. Mississippi State still up 4-2.

Top 8th: Austin Morris (2-0, 3.38 ERA) comes in and gives up a one-out solo shot to add an insurance run for the Bulldogs. Left-hander, Connor Lehman (0-0, 9.00 ERA) comes in to face the lefty, Hines, with two outs, and a hard-hit ball right into the shift ends the inning. 4-2, Mississippi State with Young Jr-Bonomolo Jr-Lebron due up.

Bottom 7th: Crimson Tide go down one-two-three with two strikeouts to make it nine Ks for Alabama batters this afternoon. Offensive struggles this weekend continue, getting down in counts and not a lot of hard contact. Still 3-2, Mississippi State as Alabama is down to their final six outs.

Top 7th: Meyers begins inning with back-to-back strikeouts, but a two out solo shot from pinch hitter, Ross Highfill, gives Mississippi State the lead back. Meyers ends the inning with another K, but the score shifts back in the visitor's direction. 3-2, Mississippi State.

Bottom 6th: Lebron hits a ball hard the other way, and moves to third after the right fielder misplays and drops the ball which leads to the swing being ruled an error. A sac fly from Snell plates the runner to tie the game at two a piece with two outs. New pitcher for Mississippi State, Nate Williams (0-2, 2.45 ERA) strikes out Fowler to end the inning. Game now tied, 2-2 through six innings.

Top 6th: Back-to-back one out walks led to Heiberger getting pulled for right-hander, Braylon Meyers (2-0, 2.74 ERA) who strikes out the following batter and then walking the next to load the bases. A grounder to third leads to a tag to end the inning. Score still 2-1, Mississippi State.

Bottom 5th: Hodo leads off with a walk, resulting in Ligon getting pulled for right-hander, Chase Hungate (2-1, 2.29 ERA). A one-out, shift-beating, bunt single from Neal, followed by a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third; however, back-to-back strikeouts left both runners stranded. Still 2-1, Mississippi State.

Top 5th: Heiberger pitches around a two-out, infield single, picking up two strikeouts to keep the score level. Alabama pitchers have retired 14 of last 16 Bulldog batters going back to the first inning home run. Score remains 2-1, Mississippi State.

Bottom 4th: Crimson Tide go down in order, with the two and three batters punching out to end the inning. Just two baserunners through four innings for Alabama. Score remains 2-1, Mississippi State.

Top 4th: A one-out walk from Fay leads to left-hander, Matthew Heiberger (3-1, 1.39 ERA) taking over. His first pitch is a tapper that Lebron turns into an unassisted double play that ends the inning. Stil 2-1, Mississippi State in front.

Bottom 3rd: Alabama gets on the board with a leadoff walk from Neal being brought in following a passed ball and ground out advancing him to third and a sac-fly bringing him home. An injury to the umpire results in a 11-minute stoppage and change behind the plate. Lebron strikes out to end the inning. Now 2-1, Mississippi State.

Top 3rd: Mississippi goes one-two-three, with Fay beginning and ending the inning with strikeouts. Nine-straight now retired for Fay following the home run. Still 2-0, Mississippi State.

Bottom 2nd: A two-out double from Hodo hits off the top of the wall, barely missing a solo-shot, and Staton follows with a groundout to shortstop. Score remains 2-0, Mississippi State still out in front.

Top 2nd: Fay bounces back with a one-two-three second inning, picking up a strikeout in the process. After surrendering hard contact in the first, the right-hander avoids the barrel with Torres-Fowler-Hodo due up for the Crimson Tide. 2-0, Mississippi State.

Bottom 1st: The Crimson Tide are sat down in order with three straight fly outs. The score remains 2-0 with no base traffic in the home-half of the first.

Top 1st: Fay gives up a leadoff base knock, and the ensuing batter, Sawyer Reeves, pulls one over the left field wall to, again, get runs on the board before recording an out. Fay retires the next three batters, but Mississippi State does damage in their half of the first for the third straight game. 2-0 Bulldogs.

First pitch: 1:02 p.m.

Read More:

• Riley Quick, Alabama Pitching Staff Catalysts in Win Over Mississippi State

• Alabama Baseball Bounces Back Against Mississippi State Behind Stellar Pitching

• Alabama Baseball's Starting Pitching Falling Short in Recent SEC Weekends

• Riley Quick, Alabama Pitching Staff Catalysts in Win Over Mississippi State