Alabama baseball split a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
rolltide.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball split a doubleheader with Columbia on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the split, the 18th-ranked Crimson Tide is now 15-2 on the season.
The Crimson Tide came away with a 6-2 win in game one before a 15-3 loss in the nightcap.
"You got to give Columbia credit, they just kind of took it to us in the second game and did a really great job doing what we did the first 14 games this season. They were the aggressor. We get a day tomorrow to kind of catch our breath and get back on track next week."
GAME ONE
Alabama used a six-run fifth to provide all of its offense in a 6-2 win over Columbia in game one.
The Lions were first on the board with one in the third but a six-run fifth proved more than enough. That fifth included a two-run shot by
Colby Shelton and a grand slam from
Ed Johnson. Columbia was able to add one in the sixth but would get no closer.
Alabama starter
Ben Hess (3-0) was solid in the start, picking up his third win of the season. The sophomore allowed one run on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts across his 5.0 innings.
How It Happened
- T3 | The Lions started the inning with a double before a groundout moved the leadoff man to third. The next CU batter sent a single up the middle for the game's first run. (1-0, Columbia)
- B5 | Will Portera struck out to start the frame but a wild pitch allowed him to reach for Colby Shelton. The freshman proceeded to give the Tide the lead with a two-run home run to right. UA then loaded the bases up for Ed Johnson, with the second baseman hitting a ball into the playground area in left for a grand slam. (6-1, Alabama)
- T6 | A pair of walks followed by a two-out single added one for the Lions. (6-2, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Alabama's five grand slams this season are the most by a Tide offense during the 'dead bat' era (since 2011).
GAME TWO
The Crimson Tide fell, 15-3, in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday. Columbia put together an 11-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach for the series-clinching win.
Columbia starter Joe Sheets (1-0) got the win while reliever Derek Yoo picked up his first save. Alabama starter
Jacob McNairy (2-1) suffered the loss.
How It Happened
- T1 | A walk and a single put two on for the Lions before a double crossed a run and put two in scoring position. After a strikeout, a two-run double to right made it a three-run ballgame. (3-0, Columbia)
- T3 | The Lions added one more with a sacrifice fly. (4-0, Columbia)
- T4 | Eight hits and four free passes led to 11 runs for CU. (15-0, Columbia)
- B4 | Colby Shelton led off the inning with a double and moved to third on an infield groundout. Andrew Pinckney followed with a sacrifice fly to score Shelton. (15-1, Columbia)
- B5 | The Tide loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly from Will Hodo brought a run in. (15-2, Columbia)
- B6 | With the bases loaded, a William Hamiter sac fly scored one. (15-3, Columbia)
Postgame Notes
- Game two of the doubleheader marked the first contest the Tide has not homered in this season.
- Caden Rose has reached base safely in his last 33 consecutive games dating back to April 25.
- Drew Williamson has gotten aboard in all 17 contests to start his graduate season. Including the final game of last season, Williamson has gotten aboard in 18 straight games.
- Will Hodo has reached base safely in the last 15 games played.
- Jim Jarvis' streak of getting on base ended at 13 games. The streak dated back to Feb. 21.
- ATTENDANCE: 3,145
Alabama will take to the road next week for four games. The Tide will first meet with South Alabama in Mobile on Tuesday, March 14. First pitch at Stanky Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT with the game airing on ESPN+. The Tide will then open SEC play at Florida from Thursday through Saturday.
