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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Alabama’s Alex Kubal hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning as part of an eight-running inning, helping lift the Crimson Tide past the Mississippi State Bulldogs 17-16 in a Southeastern Conference baseball game Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

The middle game of the weekend league series started Saturday night. MSU actually held a 7-3 lead when play was halted after five full innings due to heavy rains and potential tornadoes in the Oktibbeha County area.

When play resumed Sunday, the teams were able to put two more innings into the scorebook before a 2-hour, 56-minute rain delay. Things then got wild again, as Alabama built a 13-7 lead only to see the Bulldogs hit five home runs in their final two at-bats, falling short by a run at the wire.

With Sunday’s win, UA sweeps a rain-shortened two-game weekend series for the first time since 1973 at Dudy Noble Field. Sunday’s third contest was canceled due the Southeastern Conference policy related to travel concerns. For the Tide, it was the first time since 1998 that they had a conference game not played. UA is now 32-15 overall and 14-9 in league play, while MSU is now 21-26 and 6-17.

On Saturday night, Alabama grabbed a 2-0 lead by scoring twice in the top of the first inning. Taylor Dugas started things with a leadoff double. After an out, Ross Wilson followed with an RBI-double. An RBI-single by Kent Matthes extended the lead to 2-0.

MSU answered with a seven-run bottom of the first inning. That at-bat matched a seven-spot secured in a 13-6 win over South Carolina for the largest inning for the MSU offense this season.

Grant Hogue opened that inning with a double. Scott DeLoach followed with an RBI-single. After a walk to Russ Sneed, Connor Powers ripped a game-tying double. After a walk to Cody Freeman, Jason Nappi followed with a three-run double down the right field line. An RBI-single by Jet Butler and RBI-groundout by Hogue capped the inning.

After that inning, both starting pitcher settled down and threw more effectively. MSU starter Nick Routt worked five innings, allowing seven hits and three runs (all earned), with six strikeouts and a walk. UA starter Del Howell also worked five innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs (six earned), with three strikeouts and five walks.

When play was resumed, Lee Swindle took the mound for the Bulldogs. Swindle (1-4) was lifted during the eight-run UA seventh inning and took the loss. Paxton Pace followed and was touched for Kubal’s slam. Jared Wesson worked the Bulldogs out of that seventh inning.

For the Tide, Nathan Increase (3-2) worked the sixth inning and earned the win. Adam Scott worked around a hit batsman and walk in the seventh inning before being touched for five home runs in MSU‘s final two at-bats.

In the eighth inning, UA’s Brandon May touched new MSU pitcher Drew Hollinghead for a two-run home run.

The Bulldogs scored five times in the home half of the eighth inning. Scott was touched for back-to-back-to-back home runs by Russ Sneed, Connor Powers and Ryan Duffy.

The Tide extended the lead to 17-12 when May hit his second home run in as many innings - a towering three-run shot over the extended wall in dead center.

MSU tried to answer with Scott again being touched for two-run home runs by Connor Powers - also his second in as many innings - and Ryan Collins. Tyler White entered for UA. White gave up an infield bunt single by Jet Butler before getting a lineout to end the contest.

Alabama finished with 18 hits. Kubal had a career-high four hits and five RBIs. Wilson added four hits and three RBIs. May had three hits and a career-high seven RBIs.

MSU finished with 17 hits. Connor Powers, DeLoach and Butler each had three hits for the Bulldogs. Connor Powers’ 35th career home run in the ninth inning moved him into 10th place on MSU’s all-time list.

MSU has no midweek games before returning to action next weekend with a conference series against in-state rival Ole Miss. The Bulldogs and Rebels are scheduled to play at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Oxford-University Stadium. The Saturday game will be televised regionally by Fox Sports Net South, while the Sunday game will be shown by Comcast Sports Southeast.