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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 2022 Alabama baseball season is set to begin as the Crimson Tide welcomes the Xavier Musketeers to Sewell-Thomas Stadium for a three-game set. Friday's season opener is scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT first pitch. The Saturday matchup is slated for 2 p.m. with the series finale starting at 1 p.m. All three games during Opening Weekend will air live on SEC Network+.
Opening Weekend at The Joe will have numerous promotions for fans of all ages as the Crimson Tide begins the 2022 campaign with a three-game set against Xavier. Friday's season opener will feature free T-shirts for the first 1,000 students. Fans can pick up a copy of the Crimson Tide's official 2022 poster at Saturday's matchup. The posters are free to all fans in attendance across the weekend series. The series finale on Sunday will begin the Tide's "Kids' Day at The Joe" promotion. All kids 18-and-under can purchase a $5 general admission ticket. Children will also have the chance to run the bases postgame.
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 100.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: RollTide.com
SATURDAY: UA – Antoine Jean (Jr., LHP) vs. XU – Bryce Barnett (Jr., RHP)
SUNDAY: UA – Grayson Hitt (So., LHP) vs. XU – George Eisenhardt (Fr., RHP)
• The Tide and Musketeers previous meeting came on April 1, 1982 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama finished the midweek matchup with a 24-8 win.
• Alabama will start the season with junior college transfer Garrett McMillan on the mound for Friday's contest. The right-hander will be followed by a pair of lefties in Antoine Jean on Saturday and Grayson Hitt in Sunday's series finale.
• Xavier sends veteran left-hander Trevor Olson to the hill in the series opener. The Musketeers will then look to righty Bryce Barnett on Saturday with fellow right-hander George Eisenhardt making the start on getaway day.
• The 2021 team advanced to the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2016 and earned a spot in an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2014.
• The Tide went 2-2 in the SEC Tournament, reaching the Friday round of games for the first time since the 2015 season. Alabama defeated No. 24 South Carolina to advance to the double-elimination round where UA took down fourth-ranked Tennessee. The Tide then fell in back-to-back games to No. 13 Florida and the Volunteers to end the Hoover trip.
• Alabama's efforts in the conference tournament cemented their spot in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed at the Ruston Regional. The Crimson Tide traveled west to Ruston for the Regional hosted by Louisiana Tech. UA fell, 8-1, to No. 16 NC State in the opening game before defeating Rider, 3-1, on Saturday. Alabama then squared off with the 20th-ranked Bulldogs, falling 10-8 with the game-winning home run falling short at the track.
• The Crimson Tide reached the top 25 rankings in four separate polls in 2021 including Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball News, the NCBWA and USA Today Coaches. The Tide peaked at No. 19 in the NCBWA poll and was as high as No. 22 by BA along with a No. 23 ranking on both the CBN and the USA Today polls.
• Alabama's offense batted .260 (507-1,951) in 2021. The Crimson Tide bats totaled 96 doubles, seven triples and 67 home runs on the way to 818 total bases and a .419 slugging percentage. UA combined for 224 walks and 58 hit-by-pitch for a team .350 on-base percentage. The Tide also scored 334 runs while stealing 33 bases in 44 attempts.
• On the mound, UA maintained a 4.78 ERA (273 ER/514.0 IP) and tossed two shutouts. The Tide pitchers struck out 497 compared to just 178 walks and held opposing hitters to a .263 average. Alabama's 2.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked eighth in the SEC and was 36th nationally. Additionally, UA's 3.12 walks allowed per 9.0 innings was third in the league and ranked 19th in Division I.
• The 2021 defense was solid once again, sporting a .977 fielding mark. The Tide committed 49 errors across 2,157 chances and turned 47 double plays. The 47 double plays were the third-most in the SEC and ranked 45th nationally.
• The story of the 2021 season was the Crimson Tide's ability to still see success despite numerous injuries to key players throughout the year. Alabama was without two weekend starters in Antoine Jean and preseason All-America candidate Connor Prielipp for a majority of the year while also overcoming injuries to starters William Hamiter, T.J. Reeves and Drew Williamson along with relievers Brock Guffey, Chase Lee and Jacob McNairy.
• Alabama had a total of five student-athletes from the 2021 roster selected in the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft, including: Peyton Wilson (Kansas City Royals, 2nd Round), Dylan Smith (Detroit Tigers, 3rd Round), Chase Lee (Texas Rangers, 6th Round), Sam Praytor (Miami Marlins, 6th Round) and Tyler Ras (Colorado Rockies, 14th Round).
• The Tide's four picks through the first six rounds were the most by any single Crimson Tide roster in program history and tied with the 1983 team for the most picks through the first 10 rounds of any MLB Draft. Additionally, Alabama's five total selections across the first 15 rounds tied the 2015 team for the most over that stretch in program history.
• Alabama returns 18 letterwinners while losing 11 from the 2021 squad. The 2022 Crimson Tide welcomes back six positional starters and nine total pitchers while hosting 24 redshirts or newcomers.
rolltide.com
Opening Weekend at The Joe will have numerous promotions for fans of all ages as the Crimson Tide begins the 2022 campaign with a three-game set against Xavier. Friday's season opener will feature free T-shirts for the first 1,000 students. Fans can pick up a copy of the Crimson Tide's official 2022 poster at Saturday's matchup. The posters are free to all fans in attendance across the weekend series. The series finale on Sunday will begin the Tide's "Kids' Day at The Joe" promotion. All kids 18-and-under can purchase a $5 general admission ticket. Children will also have the chance to run the bases postgame.
Follow the Tide
Fans can follow this weekend's game via the below outlets:Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 100.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: RollTide.com
Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
FRIDAY: UA – Garrett McMillan (Jr., RHP) vs. XU – Trevor Olson (Gr., LHP)SATURDAY: UA – Antoine Jean (Jr., LHP) vs. XU – Bryce Barnett (Jr., RHP)
SUNDAY: UA – Grayson Hitt (So., LHP) vs. XU – George Eisenhardt (Fr., RHP)
Leading Off
• Alabama and Xavier will meet for just the second time in series history when the two programs open the 2022 season on Friday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide came away with a win in the only other meeting between the two programs back in 1982.• The Tide and Musketeers previous meeting came on April 1, 1982 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama finished the midweek matchup with a 24-8 win.
• Alabama will start the season with junior college transfer Garrett McMillan on the mound for Friday's contest. The right-hander will be followed by a pair of lefties in Antoine Jean on Saturday and Grayson Hitt in Sunday's series finale.
• Xavier sends veteran left-hander Trevor Olson to the hill in the series opener. The Musketeers will then look to righty Bryce Barnett on Saturday with fellow right-hander George Eisenhardt making the start on getaway day.
About Alabama
• Alabama enters the 2022 campaign with high expectations after a 32-26 finish a season ago.• The 2021 team advanced to the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2016 and earned a spot in an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2014.
• The Tide went 2-2 in the SEC Tournament, reaching the Friday round of games for the first time since the 2015 season. Alabama defeated No. 24 South Carolina to advance to the double-elimination round where UA took down fourth-ranked Tennessee. The Tide then fell in back-to-back games to No. 13 Florida and the Volunteers to end the Hoover trip.
• Alabama's efforts in the conference tournament cemented their spot in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed at the Ruston Regional. The Crimson Tide traveled west to Ruston for the Regional hosted by Louisiana Tech. UA fell, 8-1, to No. 16 NC State in the opening game before defeating Rider, 3-1, on Saturday. Alabama then squared off with the 20th-ranked Bulldogs, falling 10-8 with the game-winning home run falling short at the track.
• The Crimson Tide reached the top 25 rankings in four separate polls in 2021 including Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball News, the NCBWA and USA Today Coaches. The Tide peaked at No. 19 in the NCBWA poll and was as high as No. 22 by BA along with a No. 23 ranking on both the CBN and the USA Today polls.
• Alabama's offense batted .260 (507-1,951) in 2021. The Crimson Tide bats totaled 96 doubles, seven triples and 67 home runs on the way to 818 total bases and a .419 slugging percentage. UA combined for 224 walks and 58 hit-by-pitch for a team .350 on-base percentage. The Tide also scored 334 runs while stealing 33 bases in 44 attempts.
• On the mound, UA maintained a 4.78 ERA (273 ER/514.0 IP) and tossed two shutouts. The Tide pitchers struck out 497 compared to just 178 walks and held opposing hitters to a .263 average. Alabama's 2.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked eighth in the SEC and was 36th nationally. Additionally, UA's 3.12 walks allowed per 9.0 innings was third in the league and ranked 19th in Division I.
• The 2021 defense was solid once again, sporting a .977 fielding mark. The Tide committed 49 errors across 2,157 chances and turned 47 double plays. The 47 double plays were the third-most in the SEC and ranked 45th nationally.
• The story of the 2021 season was the Crimson Tide's ability to still see success despite numerous injuries to key players throughout the year. Alabama was without two weekend starters in Antoine Jean and preseason All-America candidate Connor Prielipp for a majority of the year while also overcoming injuries to starters William Hamiter, T.J. Reeves and Drew Williamson along with relievers Brock Guffey, Chase Lee and Jacob McNairy.
• Alabama had a total of five student-athletes from the 2021 roster selected in the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft, including: Peyton Wilson (Kansas City Royals, 2nd Round), Dylan Smith (Detroit Tigers, 3rd Round), Chase Lee (Texas Rangers, 6th Round), Sam Praytor (Miami Marlins, 6th Round) and Tyler Ras (Colorado Rockies, 14th Round).
• The Tide's four picks through the first six rounds were the most by any single Crimson Tide roster in program history and tied with the 1983 team for the most picks through the first 10 rounds of any MLB Draft. Additionally, Alabama's five total selections across the first 15 rounds tied the 2015 team for the most over that stretch in program history.
• Alabama returns 18 letterwinners while losing 11 from the 2021 squad. The 2022 Crimson Tide welcomes back six positional starters and nine total pitchers while hosting 24 redshirts or newcomers.
Baseball Opens 2022 Season at Home against Xavier - University of Alabama Athletics
The 2022 Alabama baseball season is set to begin as the Crimson Tide welcomes the Xavier Musketeers to Sewell-Thomas Stadium for a three-game set.
rolltide.com
