⚾ 🥎 Alabama Baseball takes two of three to win the series against Ball State

[UA Press Release]

Weekend Series with Ball State Next Up for Baseball - Alabama Athletics

Alabama baseball remains at home this weekend for a three-game series against Ball State. The Crimson Tide and Cardinals are set to begin the series on Frida...

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball remains at home this weekend for a three-game series against Ball State. The Crimson Tide and Cardinals are set to begin the series on Friday with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch. Saturday's matchup is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start with Sunday's series finale slated for 1 p.m. All three contests will air live on SEC Network+.

Alabama's weekend matchup with Ball State will begin the Crimson Tide's "Kid's Day" promotion on Sundays. All kids (18 and under) can receive a $5 general admission ticket to the series finale. The first 75 kids through the gates of Sewell-Thomas Stadium will receive an Alabama Baseball lunch box. Following the final out of Sunday's matchup, kids 12 and under can run the bases at The Joe.

FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow this weekend's games via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: RollTide.com

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY: UA – Sam Finnerty (Sr., RHP) vs. BSU – Drey Jameson (So., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA – Tyler Ras (Fr., RHP) vs. BSU – Chayce McDermott (R-Fr., RHP)
SUNDAY: UA – Connor Shamblin (Fr., RHP) vs. BSU – Kyle Nicolas (So., RHP)

LEADING OFF
• Alabama will square off with Ball State for the first time in the history of the two programs when the teams meet this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Friday's series opener will be the Crimson Tide's 21st matchup with a Mid-American Conference opponent.
• The Crimson Tide has only faced five current member programs of the MAC in its history, including Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Alabama owns a 14-6 mark in those previous 20 pairings with a MAC opponent.
• Alabama's most frequent MAC opponent is Miami, with the Tide holding a 6-3 advantage against the Redhawks in the nine total meetings. Next is Western Michigan, with UA claiming a 3-1 advantage in the four contests against the Broncos.
• UA is a perfect 3-0 against Kent State and 1-0 against NIU, with only Bowling Green one-upping the Tide. The Falcons have won two of the three matchups between the two schools which were all part of a three-game series in 1970.
• The Crimson Tide has never faced Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Toledo, in addition to Ball State this weekend.
• Alabama will enter the series with the Cardinals using the same rotation from opening weekend. The trio of righties will begin with senior Sam Finnerty on Friday followed by freshmen Tyler Ras (Saturday) and Connor Shamblin(Sunday).
• Ball State will also send three right-handers to the mound this weekend. The Cardinals will begin the series with sophomore Drey Jameson on Friday followed by redshirt freshman Chayce McDermott on Saturday. The Sunday starter for BSU will be sophomore Kyle Nicolas.

ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama baseball opened its 2019 season with a three-game series against the Presbyterian Blue Hose. The Crimson Tide claimed a 7-2 win on Opening Day before splitting a Saturday doubleheader at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Tide fell, 4-1, in the early game before rallying for a 9-4 win in the nightcap. After a quick off day on Sunday, the Crimson Tide took down in-state foe Jacksonville State on Monday afternoon at The Joe by a score of 13-2.
• A seven-run second inning highlighted UA's big offensive day in the win over JSU. The bats totaled 13 runs on 10 hits, including the seven-run second that put the game out of reach for JSU early.
• Keith Holcombe and sophomore Tyler Gentry each finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI, with Holcombe also contributing a team-high tying two runs. Also notching a multi-hit effort was Morgan McCullough, as the junior wrapped up his day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
• Alabama used six pitchers against the Gamecocks with redshirt junior Kyle Cameron getting the win. The right-hander filled up the zone with 20 strikes on his 25 pitches across 2.0 shutout frames that included three strikeouts.
• The Crimson Tide used early offense paired with a solid effort on the mound to earn a 7-2 win over Presbyterian on Opening Day at The Joe. With the victory, UA moved to 10-0 in the month of February under head coach Brad Bohannon. The 10-game winning streak in the month of February is the fourth-longest such streak in program history. Bohannon came up one game short of matching Jim Wells (Feb. 28, 2001-Feb. 14, 2003) and Barry Shollenberger (Feb. 24, 1991-Feb. 23, 1992) for second place. Alabama's all-time leader for consecutive wins in February is Wells, who won 22 straight contests from Feb. 27, 1996 through Feb. 25, 1998.
• The Crimson Tide struck early on Friday, scoring seven runs across the first four innings to build a lead that would prove too much for Presbyterian. The offense was led by senior Joe Breaux and junior Kolby Robinson, with each player totaling one run and three hits on the day, including a double for Breaux. Robinson added a team-high tying two RBI to match Sam Praytor in that category. The sophomore catcher recorded his two RBI on a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, the Crimson Tide's first roundtripper of the 2019 campaign.
• On the mound on Opening Day, Sam Finnerty provided Alabama with a strong starting effort. The senior worked 5.0 frames of two-run baseball, walking one and striking out three before handing the ball over to the bullpen. The duo of junior Wil Freeman and redshirt freshman Chase Lee combined to throw 4.0 shutout innings, with Lee delivering a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory.
• The Crimson Tide split its Saturday doubleheader with Presbyterian, falling in game one, 4-1, before a 9-4 win in the nightcap. With the game-three victory, UA claimed the series win and improved to 2-1 overall on the young season.
• In game one, UA struck first in the top of the second with a solo home run from Praytor, his second in as many games. Presbyterian countered with a solo shot in the top of the third to even things up. The Blue Hose then added one run in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to secure the victory.
• The nightcap went in favor of Alabama with the Crimson Tide using five runs across the first and second innings to take a lead and never look back. The Tide added four more runs across the sixth, seventh and eighth innings while limiting PC to only a single score in the top of the eighth. Alabama's offense produced nine runs on 11 hits, led by Robinson's second three-hit performance of the weekend. The shortstop finished 3-for-4 with a team-high tying two RBI and added one run scored. Matching Robinson in RBI was Holcombe, with the senior tallying two thanks to his two-run home run, part of a 2-for-4 effort at the plate.
• Freshman Connor Shamblin earned the win in his first career start, working 4.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts compared to one walk. Jeremy Randolph collected his first save of the young season with 1.1 innings of shutout baseball, highlighted by three punchouts from the senior reliever.
• Alabama returns 13 letterwinners while losing 18 from the 2018 squad. The 2019 Crimson Tide welcomes back three positional starters and two starting pitchers while hosting 22 newcomers.

ABOUT BALL STATE
• Ball State was selected to finish second overall in the MAC in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
• Rich Mahoney is in his 14th year at Ball State and his 24th season as a collegiate head coach. Mahoney is the winningest coach in the history of BSU and has claimed four MAC regular-season championships in addition to conference Coach of the Year honors on three occasions. A 1986 graduate of Western Michigan, Mahoney is assisted by Dustin Glant and Blake Beemer along with volunteer assistant coach Devin Wilburn.

ON DECK
Alabama remains at home for a pair of midweek matchups with North Alabama. The Crimson Tide and Lions are scheduled for a 6 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 26, before a 3 p.m. first pitch in Wednesday's game. Both games will air live on SEC Network+.

 

[UA Press Release]

Baseball’s Friday Contest with Ball State Postponed to 5 p.m. CT Start - Alabama Athletics

The Friday baseball game between Alabama and Ball State has been postponed to a 5 p.m. CT start at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Friday baseball game between Alabama and Ball State has been postponed to a 5 p.m. CT start at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Games two and three of the weekend series between the Crimson Tide and Cardinals will remain as scheduled. Fans can catch all three contests live on SEC Network+.

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.

 

[UA Press Release]

Finnerty Shines in Baseball’s 7-1 Win over Ball State on Friday Evening - Alabama Athletics

Senior starter Sam Finnerty's strong effort on the mound helped Alabama baseball claim a 7-1 win over Ball State in Friday's series opener at Sewell-Thomas S...

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior starter Sam Finnerty's strong effort on the mound helped Alabama baseball claim a 7-1 win over Ball State in Friday's series opener at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson Tide improves to 4-1 overall on the season.

"We got a really good win tonight," said Bohannon. "Sam was outstanding and was as good as he's been during my time here. He kept pounding the strike zone and threw three pitches for a strike. I thought Deacon (Medders) had one of the best outings of his career. We turned two beautiful double plays, and we were very opportunistic offensively. Keith (Holcombe) and Drew (Williamson) both had big hits for us. I have to give their pitcher credit – he was a real challenge for us, striking us out 12 times, but, overall, a really good night for us."

Finnerty (2-0) was dominant on Friday evening, using just 68 pitches to cruise through 7.0 shutout innings for the win. The righty did not issue a walk and allowed just three singles, retiring 10 straight at one point. He added six strikeouts to his line for a new career-high mark as a starter. A rain delay ended Finnerty's night early, with the duo of junior Deacon Medders and freshman Dylan Smithtossing an inning apiece on the way to the win.

The Crimson Tide offensive output was headed by Keith Holcombe. The senior finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a pair of runs scored and a career-high tying four RBI. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Kolby Robinson, with the junior going 2-for-3 with a double and adding a walk and a run to extend his season-opening hitting streak to five games.

Alabama got out front early with a three-run first. Senior Joe Breaux led things off with a walk and was followed by Brett Auerbach, with the junior reaching on an infield single. Two outs later, Holcombe sent a single to center to score Breaux for the game's first run. A walk then loaded the bases for Drew Williamson. The freshman capitalized, roping a single through the hole on the right side to bring in two and make it a 3-0 affair after one full.

The Tide added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth with another three runs to set the score at 6-0.

Junior Morgan McCullough started the rally with a single, and an error in the next at-bat placed two on with none down for Holcombe. The left fielder continued his hot day at the plate, homering to right-center to put three up in a hurry and give UA a six-run advantage.

Alabama added one in the eighth on a wild pitch to cap its scoring before Ball State crossed one in the ninth for a 7-1 final in favor of UA.

The Crimson Tide and Cardinals return to the diamond on Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch for the day has been moved up to Noon CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium with the game airing live on SEC Network+.

 

[TerryP]

Rain delay/postponement of Saturday's game with Ball State leading 7-4 in the bottom of the 7th. The game will resume at 11 tomorrow followed by the series finale.

 

[UA Press Release]

Late Rally Falls Short for Baseball in 8-5 Loss to Ball State - Alabama Athletics

Alabama baseball rallied late, but was unable to complete the comeback in an 8-5 loss to Ball State that started on Saturday and was completed on Sunday at S...

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball rallied late, but was unable to complete the comeback in an 8-5 loss to Ball State that started on Saturday and was completed on Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 4-2 on the young season.

Alabama entered the ninth down four and rallied for a run but could not complete the comeback. A leadoff double followed by three walks brought in one tally and put the go-ahead run at the plate. On a 2-0 count, the Tide saw a deep fly ball reach the warning track but fall short of leaving the ballpark to end the day's game in favor of BSU.

Ball State reliever Mike Pachmayer (1-0) earned the win with announced Sunday starter Kyle Nicolas entering for the Cardinals for the final two innings of relief to get the save. Alabama freshman Tyler Ras (0-1) suffered the loss.

Two hits in the top of the first got Ball State on the board to give the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. One inning later, BSU added four runs in the top of the second for a five-run advantage. Alabama rallied for one in the home half of that second, using a leadoff home run from sophomore Tyler Gentry to make it a 5-1 game through two.

Alabama put a dent into the lead in the bottom of the fifth to set the score at 5-4. Senior Joe Breaux led things off with a walk and was followed by a Brett Auerbach single and Morgan McCullough walk with the juniors joining Breaux on the packed bases to force a Ball State pitching change. The reliever immediately walked senior Keith Holcombe to cross one and issued a free pass to Gentry in the next at-bat to bring one more in. Junior John Trousdale followed one out later with a fielder's choice to push the runner from third home and cut the lead to one.

The gap would widen once again with Ball State adding two more in the top of the sixth for a 7-4 advantage. Following a scoreless bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, the game entered a weather delay. The delay lasted 1:47 on Saturday with the game being postponed to Sunday. Sunday's contest resumed at 11:02 a.m.

The two teams went scoreless until the ninth when BSU added one run to make it an 8-4 affair. Alabama would not go quietly with Auerbach leading things off with a double to give the Tide life. One out later Holcombe drew a walk and following one more out another free pass, this one to freshman Drew Williamson, loaded the bases. Following a mound visit by Ball State, senior John Trousdale added another walk in the frame and crossed one for UA. Pinch-hitter Sam Praytor came to the plate and watched two balls before sending a deep fly to the warning track in right that was cut and ended the game at 8-5.

Game three of the series began at 12:20 and will air live on SEC Network+.

 

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[RTB X Bot]

 

[UA Press Release]

Trio of Pitchers Help Baseball One-Hit Ball State in Sunday’s 6-0 Win - Alabama Athletics

Alabama baseball used three arms to one-hit Ball State in the Crimson Tide's 6-0, shutout win over the Cardinals, earning the Sunday victory while also claim...

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball used three arms to one-hit Ball State in the Crimson Tide's 6-0, shutout win over the Cardinals, earning the Sunday victory while also claiming the series. With the win, UA improves to 5-2 overall.

"It was a really good win for us today behind Connor (Shamblin)," said Bohannon. "The pitching was outstanding. Connor did a great job with throwing his breaking ball for a strike for five no-hit innings. Casey Cobb came in and really attacked with his fastball and commanded it to both sides, and then Jeremy Randolphwas awesome in the ninth. The at-bats were better with more solid contact, and we came ready to defend the field. Overall, it was a really good game for us."?

Connor Shamblin (2-0) earned his second win as many starts with 5.0 no-hit innings. The freshman starter added five strikeouts with just one walk before handing it over to the bullpen. Junior Casey Cobb followed with 3.0 frames that included one strikeout, and graduate transfer Jeremy Randolph closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth, all by way of the strikeout.

Alabama's offense matched the effort on the mound with 11 hits, including a season-high four doubles, on the way to six runs. The Tide's 1-through-4 hitters combined to go 9-for-17 with all four of the two baggers and added six RBI along with four runs scored. Senior Keith Holcombe wrapped up his day a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a career-high tying four RBI. Matching Holcombe in the hit column was Brett Auerbach, with the junior finishing 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a team-high two runs scored.

The Crimson Tide got out front early, scoring one run in the first on back-to-back, two-out doubles by junior Morgan McCullough and Holcombe. Alabama added a single run in the third to move the lead to 2-0. Auerbach began the inning with a double off the left field wall and moved to third on a fielder's choice. The leadoff man was then brought home on a sacrifice fly from Holcombe to give Alabama a two-run lead through three.

In the fifth, UA extended its lead with a pair of runs. Two straight singles by senior Joe Breaux and Auerbach started things off in the frame. One out later, Holcombe sent a shot up the middle to score both runners for his third and team-leading fourth RBI of the day, making it a 4-0 affair.

The Tide added one more in the sixth. Junior Justin King drew a two-out walk and then proceeded to steal second. An errant throw on the theft moved King to third before Auerbach brought him in with a single to right. Alabama padded its lead with an RBI-double from Breaux in the eighth to move the score to 6-0, the eventual final.

Alabama returns to the diamond on Tuesday to begin a midweek series against North Alabama. The Crimson Tide and Lions are set for a 6 p.m. CT start on Tuesday evening followed by a 3 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday. Both contests will air live on SEC Network+.