Alabama 5, Mississippi St. 4

By

Posted 6:06AM on Sunday, April 2, 2006

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) No. 16 Alabama held off a late rally by top-ranked Mississippi State to preserve a 5-4 win Saturday. Mississippi State (21-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) scored three runs in the final three innings to close the gap to 5-4. The Bulldogs brought the tying and go-ahead runs to the plate in the ninth inning against sophomore right-handed closer David Robertson, before senior first baseman Brad Jones struck out to end the game. Robertson worked 2 2/3 innings for his sixth save of the season. He allowed three runs and three hits, with three walks and six strikeouts. MSU cut the deficit to 5-2 in the eighth inning with a two-out rally. Pinch-hitter Wyn Diggs reached on two-out infield single and scored on Jeff Butts' RBI double. The Bulldogs quickly cut the margin to 5-4 in the ninth inning when Ed Easley led off with a walk and scored on senior shortstop Thomas Berkery's two-run home run to left field. Robertson recovered to get the next two hitters before Brian LaNinfa drew a walk in an 11-pitch plate appearance that saw him foul off five, two-strike pitches. Robertson then fanned Jones to end the game. Alabama (22-8, 7-1 SEC) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first against MSU starter Josh Johnson (4-1), who suffered his first loss of the year for MSU. He allowed five runs and six his in seven innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. The Crimson Tide is off to its best start in SEC play in 51 years. The last time Alabama started the conference season with a 7-1 record was 1955. Saturday's win before some 6,821 fans was the 500th victory for Alabama coach Jim Wells. Alabama built a 4-0 lead through two innings as they scored two runs in each of the first two innings. The three-game series ends Sunday. (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)