STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State pounded out 13 hits tonight en route to a 13-3 win over Alabama. The offense started hot for MSU, as leadoff hitter Bryce Chance dropped a single into right field. 

Dakota Jordan worked a walk after falling behind 0-2, and once again, the red-hot Hunter Hines had a chance to do damage. The junior first baseman continued his hot streak with a three-run home run to center field just out of the reach of the leaping Crimson Tide defender. 

They were not done. The bottom of the order started the rally in the second as freshman second baseman Ethan Pulliam worked a walk, and Johnny Long hit a soft groundball to move Pulliam up to second with two outs.

The first pitch hit Chance in his at-bat, and David Mershon ripped an RBI single into right field to extend the State lead to 4-0. Hines was not done inflicting damage as he destroyed a ball to left field for a solo home run in the third. 

“We are really hard to beat when Hunter Hines plays like that,” Lemonis said. 

Johnny Long drove home Pulliam on an infield single to extend the lead to 6-0. Once again, State used the long ball to add to their lead as Bryce Chance hit a solo home run in the fourth. 

After a pair of walks, it brought up a slumping Larry with the bases loaded with no outs. The Lousiana native has struggled this season and was moved out of the lead-off spot, but he took advantage of this opportunity by blasting a grand slam into the left field lounge to give State a 12-0 lead. 

“Big night, great kid (Larry), he never put his head down,” Lemonis said. 

“I am proud of him,” Hines said. 

The Bulldog offense reaches a new level when Hines is hitting well, and tonight was one of the best offensive days for this team in SEC play this year. Five MSU hitters had two hits tonight, and everyone in the lineup reached base, with Hines and Larry each having four RBIs. 

“It feels great…. it is more about the team and keep supporting no matter what,” Larry said. 

The potential of this lineup has been evident all year long, but they have struggled to put all their pieces together. This team is playing their best baseball at the perfect time, especially offensively, as for the first time all season, every guy in the lineup is being productive at the plate. 

“A lot of guys had really good at-bats,” Lemonis said. “The guys at the front were really pulling.”

The expectations of this team have changed from making postseason play to potentially being a host site. The past two seasons have been a struggle, and most of these players are experiencing a postseason push for the first time. 

“It is fun,” Hines said. “This is what I came here to do.” 

The Bulldogs have another opportunity tomorrow to enhance their resume as they go for the series at 2 p.m. CT.

STARKVILLE — As the postseason nears, each weekend becomes more important for Mississippi State baseball in its pursuit of hosting NCAA Tournament games. The SEC series against Alabama, which begins Friday at Dudy Noble Field, is no exception.

MSU (30-15, 12-9 SEC) has won eight of its past nine games, capped by a Governor’s Cup victory against rival Ole Miss on Wednesday.

The stretch of success started after the Bulldogs dropped two of three in Oxford against the Rebels. Since then, MSU has picked up a three midweek wins while sweeping Auburn at home and taking two at Vanderbilt.

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No. 21 Mississippi State enters the weekend in third place of the SEC West standings and fifth overall in the conference.

Alabama (28-16, 9-12) enters three games behind MSU. The Crimson Tide, under first-year coach Rob Vaughn, are coming off a series win at Ole Miss. Alabama has won four of its past five games.

What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs. Alabama on today?

Mississippi State vs. Alabama start time

• May 3: 6 p.m.
• May 4: 2 p.m.
• May 5: 1 p.m.

Mississippi State vs. Alabama: Probable pitchers

• Friday: RHP Khal Stephen (6-3, 2.77 ERA) vs. LHP Greg Farone (4-1, 3.10 ERA)
• Saturday: BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (6-1, 3.79 ERA) vs. LHP Zane Adams (4-2, 4.43 ERA)
• Sunday: RHP Brooks Auger (1-1, 3.08 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (3-4, 7.31 ERA)

Mississippi State baseball score update vs. Alabama

Mississippi State baseball 2024 schedule

Next five opponents for the Bulldogs:

• May 3-5: vs. Alabama
• May 10-12: at Arkansas
• May 14: vs. North Alabama
• May 16-19: vs. Missouri

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Mississippi State baseball hosts Alabama at Dudy Noble Field this weekend. Following their midweek Governor’s Cup victory over Ole Miss, the Diamond Dawgs (30-15, 12-9 SEC) have won eight of their last nine games.

Despite some of the frustrations of this season, which were amplified given the struggles of the last two years, State is not only in position to return to the postseason. They suddenly have a very good chance of hosting. A series win over #15 RPI Alabama would go a long way towards making that happen.

The Crimson Tide are 28-16 on the season and 9-12 in the SEC. First year HC Rob Vaughn has done a fantastic job with the Tide thus far. His squad has impressive series wins over Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas. They have struggled on the road, however, getting swept at both Georgia and Kentucky.

Bama is one of the better hitting teams in the SEC. They’re third in the conference in batting average (.311) and fourth in both slugging (.538) and runs scored (351). They don’t walk or strikeout frequently nor do they play small-ball. This is a team that tries to hit it hard, and they do it well.

Third-baseman Gage Miller is having an outstanding year, leading the team in average (.386), RBI (47), and home runs (18). Five other members of the Tide lineup are hitting .300 and three others have double-digit home runs.

State’s pitching staff has done a good job against some of the better lineups they’ve faced this year. They’ll be tested again with Alabama.

Pitching has not been a strong suit for Alabama this year. In SEC games, the Tide have a team ERA of 6.71 and a batting average allowed of .271, both of which put them towards the bottom of the conference.

Friday night Ace Gage Farone has been solid with a 3.68 SEC ERA. Saturday starter Zane Adams (5.06) has been at bit more up-and-down, and Sunday starter Ben Hess (10.21) has struggled mightily. Their bullpen has struggled as well. Alton Davis (5.14) has been their most consistent reliever, but beyond him they don’t have much.

Ironically, Mississippi State’s lineup has seemingly struggled the most this season when facing weaker pitching staffs. Ideally they can reverse that trend this weekend.