Chris Lemonis explains decision to go with Jurrangelo Cijntje on Saturday

Mississippi State will start switch pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (6-1, 3.79 ERA) against Alabama on Saturday after taking game one against the Crimson Tide in a 13-3 7-inning blowout victory.

Cijntje, who started last Sunday’s 8-7 win over Vanderbilt, was moved forward in the weekend rotation by Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis. He explained his decision to move one of his top starters to game two.

“You’re going to have to do it this week or next because the Thursday, Friday, Saturday is coming,” Lemonis said, referring to the Bulldogs’ upcoming series against No. 2 Arkansas. “The conference tournament is coming. You kind of have to put him in a spot. You’re thinking Regionals or whatever and you don’t him sitting on that backside because it’s really hard to move him up then. We felt like we had to do it this week or the next.

“Being at home, we felt like it was better to move him up. He’ll be ok. He’s a vibrant kid.”

Last time out, Cijntje logged a masterful performance through 5.1 innings. While he allowed five hits, one walk and four earned runs — the Dutch-born Cijntje struck 11 Commodore batters out during the contest. He only faced 16.

Cijntje will look to follow up the quality start that Kahl Stephen (7-3) finished on Friday, only allowing three earned runs despite giving up seven hits, showcasing his command with runners on base and punching out six batters while the Bulldogs offense went lights out. Gavin Black came in to relieve Stephen after five innings and would finish the game.

Lemonis was thrilled for only having to play two pitchers on Friday, because things could have gotten out of hand quick.

“I thought Khal was great through four (innings),” Lemonis said of Friday’s pitching performance. “The thing about Khal – and he’ll probably tell me I’m wrong – he’s pitched in so many tight games he’s never been able to sit back in the dugout and take a deep breath. It’s almost like you lose your focus a little bit and they came out and got a couple of hits and got it going.

“Khal-like, he locks back in and finishes out the inning and I think that’s huge. You could let that inning blow up and the next thing you know we’re still playing two more innings and we’re dogfighting and putting your best bullpen guys out there. He’s just a tough kid – he got it back under him. I thought Gavin was great. He hasn’t been out there in a while and he has good stuff so it was good to see him back out there.”

The first pitch between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and will air live on SECN+.