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State delivers big home runs, dominant pitching to grab series against No. 12 Bama

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•04/13/25•

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Ross Highfill (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

Mississippi State couldn’t find a big hit in Saturday’s loss to No. 12 Alabama, but the Diamond Dawgs had just enough on Sunday.

Solo home runs from Ross Highfill and Ace Reese in the latter innings would spearhead a 4-2 victory in Tuscaloosa. Behind another strong bullpen game, State was able to take the series over the Crimson Tide.

The series was the second-straight in SEC play for the Bulldogs and they’ve now defeated the Crimson Tide in nine-consecutive series dating back to 2016. Head coach Chris Lemonis is 14-4 against Bama, the best record for the coach against any team in the SEC.

State managed just five hits in the game but three of those came via the long ball. Sawyer Reves hit a two-run home run in the opening inning giving the Bulldogs a home run in the first frame in all three games over the weekend.

While Bama worked its way back into the game with a sacrifice fly in the third and the sixth inning, Highfill would come through after the game was tied. The catcher pinch hit for starter Joe Powell and hit a solo homer off the scoreboard in left field. Reese followed in the eighth with a solo homer of his own and it was 4-2.

Diamond Dawg hurler Nate Williams did his job beyond that as he pitched 3.1 innings of relief with no hits, one walk and four strikeouts to earn the win. Karson Ligon started the game and delivered a solid start with 4.0 innings pitched, one hit, one unearned run, two walks and four strikeouts. Chase Hungate pitched 1.2 inning also giving up just an unearned run with one hit and three strikeouts.  

Reeves led State with the two RBI on his home run and hit his first two long balls of the year over the weekend. Reeves finished 6-of-12 in the three-game set with seven RBI, two home runs and one double.

State (22-14, 5-10 SEC) has now won six of the last eight games and are beginning to get themselves off of the mat. The Diamond Dawgs are back home this week taking on Southern University on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. with another big weekend series against Florida. All three games are on network television with a Friday matchup against the Gators at 7 p.m. on SEC Network, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN 2 and Sunday at 2 p.m. also on ESPN2.

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