Diodati's two-run double not enough for Tide in loss

Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) had a two-run double for the Alabama Crimson Tide in their 7-6 loss to Mississippi State on Friday. Photo: Alabama Athletics

March 26, 2022

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Alabama baseball suffered a 7-6 loss to Mississippi State in the 10th inning of Friday’s game at Dudy Noble Field.

The Crimson Tide is now 13-10 on the season and 1-3 in Southeastern Conference play.

State was first on the board with one in the second before Alabama took the lead with a three-run fourth. The Tide added two more in the top of the seventh, but the Bulldogs were able to counter with three in the bottom of the frame to make it a one-run ballgame. Alabama added one in the ninth but a two-run home run in the home half sent the game to extras. The Bulldogs secured the win with a solo homer in the 10th.

Garrett McMillan provided the Crimson Tide with a solid start on Friday evening. The junior tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run baseball, allowing six hits and issuing two walks with six strikeouts. Dylan Ray suffered the loss (0-2) while Mississippi State reliever Brooks Auger (2-0) picked up the win.

Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) went 1-for-3 with a two-run double for the Tide.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“We competed really well tonight. We certainly made plenty of mistakes, but the kids competed well and did some good things. Garrett McMillan really battled through some traffic. Brock Guffey did a good job before he got hurt. We finally got some big hits with runners in scoring position – Caden Rose had a huge double; Owen Diodati had a huge double; and Dominic Tamez got a big two-out RBI in the ninth. It’s really hard to close out games on the road in front of 12,000 people, and we gave a really good Mississippi State team too much help tonight.”

How It Happened

B2 | State started the inning with a single. The leadoff man came home later in the frame thanks to a two-out RBI-double over the first base bag. (1-0, Mississippi State)

T4 | Owen Diodati led off with a walk and was followed by Andrew Pinckney, who singled through the left side. One out later, Caden Rose crossed the tying run with a double to left. Bryce Eblin then put the Tide in front with a sacrifice bunt to score Pinckney. Jim Jarvis was next up, tripling to right-center to score one more. (3-1, Alabama)

T7 | Diodati recorded a two-run double to push the advantage to four. The junior brought in Tommy Seidl, who reached on a hit-by-pitch, followed by Zane Denton, who put Tide on the corners for Diodati thanks to a single. (5-1, Alabama)

B7 | The Bulldogs cut the lead to one thanks to a three-run home run from Kellum Clark. (5-4, Alabama)

T9 | Seidl was hit by the pitch to give the Tide a one-out baserunner. The left fielder then stole second to put himself in scoring position. The extra base was key as Dominic Tamez singled with two down to add a run. (6-4, Alabama)

B9 | A two-run home run from Hunter Hines tied things up. (6-6)

B10 | RJ Yeager hit a solo home run for the Bulldogs. (7-6, Mississippi State)

Postgame Notes

-Alabama’s pitchers struck out 13 and have now struck out 10-or-more batters in 10 games this season.

-Eight of the nine starters for Alabama tallied a hit on Friday night.

-Owen Diodati has recorded a hit in seven straight games thanks to his 1-for-3 effort. Across the streak, the junior is batting .385 (10-26) with four doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, seven runs scored and four walks.

-Jim Jarvis has reached base safely in 14 straight SEC games dating back to May 2 of last season against Missouri.

The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs return to the diamond on Saturday for a 2 p.m. CT start at Dudy Noble Field. Alabama will send senior right-hander Jacob McNairy to the mound while Mississippi State calls on righty Parker Stinnett, a junior. Fans can catch game two of the series on SEC Network+.