⚾ 🥎 2018 UA BSB --Tide drops series against Texas A&M

The Tigers put up four runs in the second to put the game out of reach

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 10th installment of the MAX Capital City Classic saw Alabama baseball fall, 5-2, to Auburn on Tuesday evening in Montgomery. After tonight's game, the annual non-conference series favors the Tigers, 9-1. The Crimson Tide is now 16-10 overall on the season.

"Auburn beat us in every facet of the game tonight," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "They had better at-bats. They pitched better. Obviously, their defense played a huge role as well with (Jay) Estes making some great plays in center to keep us from starting a rally. We've had a real problem getting down big early, and that hurt us again tonight."

Auburn put up a four-spot in the second to put the game out of reach. All four runs came off Alabama starter Mason Duke (2-1), who suffered the loss after the junior worked 1.2 innings. The Crimson Tide battled for one in the sixth but was matched by the Tigers' one tally in the seventh. Alabama scored one in more in the top of the eighth and had the tying run at the plate but was unable to come away with the win.

The Tigers used two homers to plate four run in the bottom of the second to take an early 4-0 lead. A one-out double and a single put two on before the first Auburn home run, a three-RBI shot. One out later, AU tallied a solo home run to increase its lead to four after two innings of play.

Alabama got on the board in the sixth. Junior Chandler Taylor walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. In that same at-bat, senior Chandler Avant singled up the middle to score Taylor, setting the score at 4-1. The Tigers would get the run right back in the next inning, using a solo home run to widen the lead to four again at a 5-1 tally.

The Crimson Tide battled for one more run in the eighth. With two down, a walk to sophomore Walker McCleney gave Alabama a baserunner. A pair of singles, first from senior Cody Henry followed by one from sophomore John Trousdale, scored Alabama's second run to make it a 5-2 game, the eventual final.

Alabama will return home to Sewell-Thomas Stadium this weekend for a three-game series with the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats. Friday's opener is set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch and will be followed by a 2 p.m. start on Saturday and a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. All three games will air live on SEC Network+.

Baseball Comes Up Short vs. Auburn in Montgomery, 5-2 - Alabama Athletics
 
The Crimson Tide recorded its second win of the season over a top-25 opponent

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball paired a standout pitching effort with timely hitting to secure the 4-2, series-opening win over seventh-ranked Kentucky on Friday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson Tide improves 17-10 on the season, including a 2-5 mark in conference play.

"It was a really good win for us," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "It certainly wasn't perfect. We haven't swung the bats great the past week and a half, but tonight we strung together a lot of really tough, quality at-bats. We had a lot of hard contact against one of the best pitchers in the country. Obviously, Cobie (Vance) got a big hit late to increase the lead from one to two runs. Sam Finnerty gave us a great start, then Brock Guffey gave us a big inning, and Deacon Medders was outstanding at the end. It was just a really good all-around team win for us tonight over a very strong opponent."

Alabama received a solid pitching performance from its starter, Sam Finnerty (3-1). The junior tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two runs – only one earned – on eight hits, while issuing three walks and striking out three for his third win of the season. The tandem of freshman Brock Guffey and sophomore Deacon Medders combined for the final 3.1 innings, holding the high-powered Wildcat offense scoreless. Medders collected his team-leading third save of the season, working the final 2.0 frames, to secure the win for UA.

Kentucky got out front first in Friday's opener, using a single and then an error in the next at-bat to reach a pair, before a two-out single to center scored the game's first run. The Wildcats would not hold their lead for long, as Alabama answered with two runs in the bottom of the second.

The Tide began the second with a single from senior Chandler Avant. Following the leadoff man was Joe Breaux, with the junior finding the corner in right for an RBI-triple to even things up at one apiece. A groundout in the next at-bat brought in Breaux from third and gave the Crimson Tide the 2-1 advantage after two innings of play.

Alabama added to its lead with one more run in the bottom of the third. A one-out single from junior Cobie Vance started the run-scoring sequence for UA before a double from fellow junior Chandler Taylor put both runners in scoring positon. Avant brought Vance in two pitches later, grounding out to second to widen the gap to 3-1 through three.

Both teams went scoreless until the top of the sixth when Kentucky cut the lead in half with a solo home run. Alabama would regain its two-run advantage one frame later in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Sam Praytor led things off with a single through the left side. A sac bunt and a groundout to first moved him to third, before a single back up the chute from Vance added one for the Crimson Tide to make it a 4-2 contest, the eventual final.

Senior Hunter Alexander led the Tide in hitting, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI. The trio of Breaux, Praytor and Vance each contributed multi-hit efforts, all finishing with two hits and one run scored. Vance and Breaux also added one RBI apiece with Breaux notching a double and triple.

Alabama looks for the series win on Saturday afternoon in game two of the series, which is scheduled for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network+. The Crimson Tide will call on senior right-hander Jake Walters in the start while the Wildcats will counter with junior righty Zach Haake.

Standout Pitching, Timely Hitting Helps Baseball to 4-2 Win over No. 7 Kentucky on Friday - Alabama Athletics
 
The Crimson Tide had two total hits on the day, with the grand slam being the one that mattered

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A game-winning grand slam from senior Hunter Alexander provided Alabama baseball with the necessary offense as the Crimson Tide defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win ensured the series victory for UA and moved the Tide's overall record to 18-10 and 3-5 in Southeastern Conference play.

"It was a great team win for us," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "Jake Walters was outstanding, and (Dylan) Duarte and (Deacon) Medders pitched well out of the bullpen. Their starter (Zach) Haake was outstanding, as he took a no-hitter into the seventh. He was effectively wild and had a really good slider that was a real challenge for our hitters. The kids did a great job of keeping their poise and scratching and clawing for this win."

Alabama's offense totaled two hits on the day, with the first coming in the seventh inning to break a no-hit bid by Kentucky starter Zach Haake. The second came from Alexander in the eighth, as the senior took the 0-1 pitch deep to left to clear the bases. Alabama was able to load them up for Alexander with three walks in the inning before the game-winning grand slam.

The Crimson Tide pitchers held the Wildcat offense in check for a second consecutive day. Senior starter Jake Walters was handed the no-decision despite another impressive outing that saw the right-hander throw 7.1 innings of one-run baseball. He gave up seven hits and issued only one walk while striking out seven before turning things over to the relievers with the Tide trailing, 1-0.

Junior Dylan Duarte (3-0) earned the win in the eighth thanks to the Tide's four-run output in the home half. Duarte recorded one out in the ninth before loading the bases. Sophomore Deacon Medders then entered in a jam, with the right-hander closing out the final 0.2 of an inning for his fourth save of the season and second in as many games.

Kentucky struck first after the two starters combined for a scoreless game through the first six innings of play. In the seventh, the Wildcats led off with a double before a single up the middle in the next at-bat brought in the game's first run to make it a 1-0 contest. In the home half of that frame, junior Jett Manning recorded a two-out single off Haake's glove to give UA its first hit of the afternoon.

One inning later, the Crimson Tide would take the definitive lead. Sophomore Walker McCleney led off the inning with a walk – his third of the day. Two outs later, senior Chandler Avant and junior Chandler Taylor each walked in consecutive at-bats to load them up for Alexander. The senior took advantage of his opportunity, putting the ball over the fence in left for the game-winning home run.

In the ninth, a trio of softly hit singles loaded the bases for Kentucky, leading to a UA pitching change. A walk with the bases full brought in the Wildcats' second run of the day, but Medders bounced back to strand three with a strikeout and a flyout to center to end the game.

The series win was Alabama's eight consecutive at home against Kentucky. The Wildcats last won a series in Tuscaloosa in 1993.

Alabama will go for the series sweep of Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. The Crimson Tide will look to redshirt freshman Garret Rukes, a left-hander, in the start while junior righty Justin Lewis toes the rubber for the Wildcats. The game will air live on SEC Network+ with 1 p.m. CT first pitch.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.

Alexander’s Grand Slam Leads Baseball Past No. 7 Kentucky on Saturday, 4-2 - Alabama Athletics
 
No sport crazier than baseball. Can’t manage a hit until the 7th and add only 1 more yet beat #7 team in county 4-2. A few days ago it looked as if we might not win anymore games the way we were playing and now a chance to sweep a top 10 team.
 
Brockmire is how I would want my announcer to sound at a game. Keep me awake. Being at the game is a little less boring than watching it on the tube.

Playing it is a bit more fun though. Former Dixie Youth All-Star 1st baseman here. By the time HS rolled around, I did not love the game enough to put up with a jackass head coach.
 
Roadtrip Sends Baseball to Columbia for Three-Game Series at Missouri

The Crimson Tide and Tigers will meet for the 11th time in series history when the two teams square off on Friday

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Crimson Tide will take to the road this weekend for a three-game SEC series with the Missouri Tigers. The trio of games will begin on Friday with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch. Saturday's contest is slated for 2 p.m. and will be followed by a 1 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon. All three games can be seen live on SEC Network+.

FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow this weekend's matchups via the below outlets:

Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: MUTigers.com

LEADING OFF
• Alabama and Missouri will meet for only the 11th, 12th and 13th times in a short series history when the two teams began the weekend on Friday evening in Columbia. The series began in 2013 with the first matchup coming as part of a three-game set following the Tigers' entrance into the SEC in 2012.
• The Tigers own a slight advantage in the series, 6-4, and are 2-1 when hosting the Crimson Tide in Columbia. Alabama won the initial series between the two teams from May 10-12, 2013, in Tuscaloosa, but Mizzou has since won both of the most recent three-game sets between the two schools.
• Missouri traveled to Tuscaloosa in 2017 to close out the Crimson Tide's 20-game homestand to begin the season. The Tigers came to Sewell-Thomas Stadium with a 16-game winning streak after falling in their home opener and continued the streak with a three-game sweep of UA to start each team's Southeastern Conference slate from March 17-19.
• Mizzou welcomes the Tide to Columbia at 22-7 overall, including a 5-4 conference record and an impressive 15-1 mark at home. The Tigers spent last weekend in Auburn, winning the final two games of the three-game pairing to secure the series win over then-No. 16 Auburn. The SEC schedule for MU began with a home series against Mississippi State, with Missouri winning the bookend games of the weekend to claim the series win.
• Most recently, the Tigers took down SIU-Edwardsville, 12-1, on Wednesday evening at Taylor Stadium. Missouri totaled 12 runs on 14 hits and nine walks to cruise past the Cougars.
• Alabama continues with its regular SEC weekend rotation. Friday's opener will feature junior right-hander Sam Finnerty, followed by senior righty Jake Walters on Saturday and Garret Rukes, a redshirt freshman left-hander, on getaway day.
• Missouri will throw a pair of southpaws followed by a right-hander on the weekend. The series opener on Friday will feature sophomore left-hander T.J. Sikkema followed by junior Michael Plassmeyer, also a lefty, on Saturday. The Tigers will send redshirt junior righty Bryce Montes De Oca to hill in the weekend finale.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY: UA – Sam Finnerty (Jr., RHP) vs. MU – T.J. Sikkema (So., LHP)
SATURDAY: UA – Jake Walters (Sr., RHP) vs. MU – Michael Plassmeyer (Jr., LHP)
SUNDAY: UA – Garret Rukes (R-Fr., LHP) vs. MU – Bryce Montes De Oca (R-Jr., RHP)

ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama enters this weekend with a 2-2 mark over its last four games. The Crimson Tide claimed a series victory over seventh-ranked Kentucky last weekend, winning each of the first two games of the three-game set. Most recently, UA was shut out by in-state foe Jacksonville State on Tuesday night.
• Jacksonville State used four arms to combine for the 4-0 shutout of the Crimson Tide on Tuesday. After a combined four scoreless innings, the Gamecocks struck for four runs in the top of the fifth. Alabama had its chances, placing runners in scoring position in each of the first four inning and in the eighth, but was unable to capitalize on the opportunities.
• Alabama paired a standout pitching effort with timely hitting for the 4-2, series-opening win over Kentucky on Friday evening. The Crimson Tide received a solid pitching performance from its starter, Sam Finnerty. The junior tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two runs – only one earned – on eight hits, while issuing three walks and striking out three for his third win of the season.
• The tandem of Brock Guffey and Deacon Medders combined for the final 3.1 innings, holding the high-powered Wildcat offense scoreless. Medders collected his team-leading third save of the season, working the final 2.0 frames, to secure the win for UA.
• A game-winning grand slam from Hunter Alexander provided Alabama baseball with the necessary offense as the Crimson Tide defeated Kentucky, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon. Alabama's offense totaled two hits on the day, with the first coming in the seventh inning to break a no-hit bid by Kentucky starter Zach Haake. The second came from Alexander in the eighth, as the senior took the 0-1 pitch deep to left to clear the bases. The Tide was able to load them up for Alexander with three walks in the inning before the game-winning grand slam.
• Tide pitchers held the Wildcat offense in check for a second consecutive day on Saturday. Senior starter Jake Walters was handed the no-decision despite another impressive outing that saw the right-hander throw 7.1 innings of one-run baseball. He gave up seven hits and issued only one walk while striking out seven before turning things over to the relievers with the Tide trailing, 1-0.
• Dylan Duarte earned the win in the eighth thanks to the Tide's four-run output in the home half. Duarte recorded one out in the ninth before loading the bases. Medders then entered in a jam, with the right-hander closing out the final 0.2 of an inning for his fourth save of the season and second in as many games
• Alabama fell to the Wildcats, 5-2, as Kentucky's three runs across the final three innings proved to be the difference on Sunday. The Crimson Tide carried a 2-1 lead into the top of the sixth, but Kentucky would score three runs across the sixth and seventh innings to take the advantage before adding an insurance run in the ninth. Alabama did not go quietly, threatening in the bottom of the eighth with the tying runs on base, but a call to the bullpen by the Wildcats halted the Tide offense.
• The series victory for the Crimson Tide marked the eighth consecutive series win over the Wildcats at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, with UK's last win over a three-game set coming in 1993.
• Alabama returned 21 letterwinners while losing 11 from the 2017 squad. The 2018 Crimson Tide welcomed back eight positional starters and three starting pitchers while hosting 11 newcomers (including one transfer who sat out last season).

ABOUT MISSOURI
• Missouri returned 14 letterwinners, including eight positional starters and nine pitchers, from the 2017 squad that finished 36-23 overall and 14-16 in SEC play. The 2018 roster is without 13 lettermen from a season ago, a number that includes a pair of positional starters and six pitchers. Mizzou also welcomed 21 newcomers for the new season.
• The Tigers were selected to finish sixth in the Eastern Division and 12th overall in the SEC in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
• Steve Bieser is in his second season with the Missouri baseball program and his fifth year overall as a head coach. Bieser began his head coaching career at Vianney High School in St. Louis from 2004-10 before moving into the college ranks as an assistant at Southeast Missouri from 2011-12. He was promoted to the head coaching role at SEMO in 2013 and held the position through the 2016 campaign before taking the job at Missouri. A 1989 graduate of Southeast Missouri, Bieser is assisted by Fred Corral and Lance Rhodes along with volunteer assistant Jonathan Roof.
• Missouri baseball was founded in 1891 and entered the new season with a 2,290-1,561-20 all-time record. The Tigers have won 15 conference titles in program history with the most recent coming in 1980 when MU was a member of the Big Eight Conference. Mizzou has made 15 NCAA postseason appearances with the most recent coming in 2012 and have advanced to the College World Series six times with the last trip to Omaha coming in 1964.
• The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 as the first public institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. Located in Columbia, it is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri System and boasts an enrollment of 30,870 students.

ON DECK
Next up for the Crimson Tide is a quick trip home on Tuesday, April 10, to complete the home-and-home series with the UAB Blazers. The two in-state foes are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium with the game airing live on SEC Network+. Following the midweek matchup, Alabama will travel to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies from Thursday, April 12 through Saturday, April 14.
 
Standout pitching, solid defense and timely hitting propelled the Crimson Tide to the game-one win

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Alabama baseball combined a standout pitching performance, solid defense behind the arms and timely hitting for the 2-1 win over Missouri on a blistery Friday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. The win improves the Crimson Tide's record to 19-12 on the season and 4-6 in Southeastern Conference play.

"Today was an all-around team win against a good Missouri team," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "(Sam) Finnerty and (Deacon) Medders were outstanding; we played good defense behind them; and we had some timely hits. I'm proud of the way our kids competed through the tough weather, and it will take our best effort the next two days to win the series."

Alabama starter Sam Finnerty (4-1) allowed only one earned run in 7.0 innings to collect his team-leading fourth win of the season. The right-hander gave up 10 hits and issued a walk while striking out one Tiger hitter across his season-high tying 102 pitches of work. Finnerty handed the ball over to Deacon Medders, with the sophomore earning his team-high fifth save of the season thanks to 2.0 scoreless frames.

The pitchers were complemented by a clean effort behind them in the field, with the defense turning a season-high three double plays and not committing an error on the day. The defensive performance allowed Finnerty and Medders to get out of some tough situations, stranding a combined eight Missouri runners.

Senior Chandler Avant paced the Crimson Tide in hits, going 2-for-4 for his team-high 16th multi-hit effort of the season. Fellow senior Hunter Alexander joined junior Chandler Taylor in collecting one double each, while Alexander added a run scored. Sam Praytor, a freshman, and junior Kyle Kaufman both contributed one RBI apiece with Praytor adding a walk and a run scored to his line.

Alabama struck for two runs in the second. Alexander started the rally with a one-out double to right. One out later, Praytor delivered an RBI-single back up the middle, with Alexander narrowly beating the tag at plate to get the Crimson Tide on the board. A single in the next at-bat moved Praytor into scoring position, and one more single, this one from Kaufman, brought in the inning's second run with Praytor using a great slide to avoid the tag at the dish and give Alabama the 2-0 advantage.

The Tigers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. Missouri led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Another single one out later brought in the man from second to make it a 2-1 contest and put runners on the corners. Finnerty would get out of the jam, however, using a 6-3 double play to end the threat and keep Alabama in front. Missouri would get no closer, as Finnerty and Medders combined to hold the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way.

Alabama will go for the series win on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT when the two teams meet for the second game of the series. The Crimson Tide will send senior right-hander Jake Walters to the mound while the Tigers will counter with left-hander Michael Plassmeyer, a junior. The game can be seen live on SEC Network+.

Complete Team Effort Leads Baseball to 2-1 Win at Missouri on Friday - Alabama Athletics
 

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