Top-Seeded Alabama Wins, 3-2

OMAHA —  Matt Frick’s leadoff triple in the bottom of the ninth and Mark Peer’s RBI single lifted top-seeded Alabama past Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi State, 3-2, Saturday night in the final first-round game of the College World Series.

After Frick led off the ninth with a triple, Mississippi State’s Eric DuBose (9-4) walked the bases loaded and Peer followed with the game-winner--a soft liner to right.

Jarrod Kingrey (9-1) gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Two of the highest-scoring teams in college baseball ended up in a pitching duel. But the Crimson Tide won its 32nd game of the season in its final at-bat.

Alabama’s tandem of Heath Henderson and Kingrey gave up seven hits to eighth-seeded Mississippi State, which lost for the third time in five games this season against Alabama.

Alabama (53-12) reached Monday’s winners’ bracket game against fifth-seeded Miami (50-16), a 7-3 winner in 12 innings against fourth-seeded UCLA. Mississippi State (46-20) meets UCLA (45-20-1) in the losers’ bracket Monday.--Associated Press