| BSB/SB ⚾ Reeves’ Home Run Powers Baseball to 6-3 Win for Series Sweep of Harvard

[UA Press Release]

Crimson Tide vs. Crimson at The Joe as Baseball Hosts Harvard this Weekend - University of Alabama Athletics

Alabama baseball continues its 10-game homestand this weekend as the Harvard Crimson come to Sewell-Thomas Stadium for a three-game set. The series kicks off on

rolltide.com

The Crimson Tide and Crimson will square off for the first time in series history on Friday night

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball continues its 10-game homestand this weekend as the Harvard Crimson come to Sewell-Thomas Stadium for a three-game set. The series kicks off on Friday night with a 3 p.m. CT start followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch in game two of the weekend. Things wrap up on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on getaway day. All three games will air live on SEC Network+.

This weekend with Harvard will feature numerous promotions, starting on Saturday. The Saturday matchup will feature a "Leap Day Ticket Special". Fans can purchase four tickets for $29 online through RollTide.com/tickets. The special offer is online only.

Sunday's giveaway will be the second set of Alabama baseball trading cards for all fans. The promotion will be a reoccurring giveaway each weekend at Sewell-Thomas, giving fans an opportunity to collect a team set by year's end. The series finale will also continue the Tide's "Kids' Day at The Joe" promotion. All kids 12-and-under can purchase a $5 general admission ticket. Children will also have the chance to run the bases and get autographs postgame.

Follow the Tide
Fans can follow the weekend series 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 – Connor Prielipp (Fr., LHP) vs. HU – Kieran Shaw (Sr., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA – Connor Shamblin (So., RHP) vs. HU – Owen Holt (So., RHP)
SUNDAY: UA – Antoine Jean (Fr., LHP) vs. HU – Enzo Stefanoni (Jr., RHP)

Leading Off
• Alabama and Harvard will meet for the first time in series history when the two teams square off on Friday night for this weekend's series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
• The Crimson Tide has faced four of the eight member schools in the Ivy League in program history, going 9-3 in the 12 combined meetings. Alabama has paired with Yale on six occasions (3-3), Brown three times (3-0), Dartmouth for two games (2-0) and Princeton once (1-0). UA has never squared off with Columbia, Cornell, Harvard or Penn.
• Alabama will continue with its regular weekend rotation in the three-game set against Harvard. The series opens on Friday with freshman left-hander Connor Prielipp toeing the rubber for the Crimson Tide. Sophomore Connor Shamblin, a righty, will follow on Saturday before the series finale, where Alabama will call on freshman lefty Antoine Jean.
• Harvard's rotation features three right-handers to counter the Tide. Senior Kieran Shaw gets the nod on Friday followed by sophomore Owen Holt in game No. 2 of the series. The Crimson will then send junior Enzo Stefanoni to the mound on Sunday for the finale.

About Alabama
• Alabama enters this weekend with Harvard after a 3-0 stint in Vegas against UNLV followed by a pair of midweek wins, first over UT-Martin on Tuesday followed by a victory over Middle Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon.
• The Crimson Tide finished Friday's doubleheader with a two-game sweep and clinched the series win over UNLV. The Tide took game one by a score of 8-0 before a late-game comeback helped UA to a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
• Connor Prielipp shined once again on Friday, striking out a season-high eight and walking just one while retiring 14 straight before allowing the free pass. The left-hander worked 5.0 frames and then handed it over to the duo of sophomore Tyler Ras and junior Ryan O'Connell.
• Alabama's bats produced nine hits, including three solo home runs. Two of the solo homers came from redshirt sophomore Sam Praytor. The Tide catcher finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two roundtrippers, two RBI, a pair of runs scored and an intentional walk. The other solo home run came from Brett Auerbach. The senior went 1-for-4 with two RBI, a pair of runs and his team-leading fourth stolen base of the season.
• A ninth-inning, game-winning home run from junior Jackson Tate completed the comeback as the Tide came away with a 5-4 win in the day's second game. Alabama took a 1-0 lead after one but was matched in the home half by UNLV. The Tide added single tallies in the second and third but were countered once again by the Rebels, making it a 3-3 contest after three full. In the fourth, UNLV took a one-run lead before both teams went quiet until the eighth. In that eighth inning, Alabama was able to tie things up and then used the Tate homer in the ninth to move ahead for good.
• The bullpen kept the Tide in the game. Casey Cobb was first to enter, working 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball with four strikeouts. The senior was followed by junior Brock Guffey who picked up his first win of the season with 1.0 scoreless frame, using just 10 pitches to get out of the inning. Chase Lee entered for the save as the sophomore recorded a strikeout and two groundouts to send the Tide home with a Friday sweep.
• A trio of home runs led Alabama baseball to a 5-1 victory over UNLV on Sunday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Junior Tyler Gentry homered twice on Sunday, finishing 2-for-4 with a career-high tying four RBI and two runs scored. Also homering was Praytor, who went 1-for-3 with a solo shot. The home run for Praytor was his third of the weekend following a two-homer performance in game one of Friday's doubleheader with the Rebels.
• The Tide arms were good once again. Freshman Antoine Jean picked up his second win of the season with 4.0 innings of one-run baseball. He was followed by sophomore Jacob McNairy and redshirt freshman Landon Green. The duo combined for 5.0 scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out three UNLV batters.
• Alabama picked up a 10-5 win over UT-Martin on Tuesday, using a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and sixth innings to pull away. UA got up 5-1 after two but a three-run third by UT-Martin made things close. The Tide countered with one in the home half of the third and used two in the fourth and a pair in the sixth to secure the midweek win.
• The Crimson Tide was able to hang on thanks to 6.2 solid innings from its bullpen. Leading the way was redshirt junior Garret Rukes, who contributed 3.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out a career-high six batters for the win.
• Despite falling behind early, Alabama posted 10 runs across the middle innings to cruise to an eventual 12-6 win over Middle Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. MTSU got in front 3-0 in the top of the second, but Alabama steadily chipped away before eventually moving forward in the fifth.
• The Tide gained its lead by scoring in five consecutive innings, starting in the third. UA put up one apiece in the third and fourth but MTSU countered with one in the fifth. Trailing by two, Alabama exploded for a five-run fifth while adding one in the sixth and four in the seventh to secure the win. The Blue Raiders would add two more in the ninth, but it was not enough, as the Tide finished off the 12-6 midweek victory.
• The offense posted season-high marks in hits and runs, with 15 and 12, respectively. Alabama was led at the plate by freshman Peyton Wilson. The Tide catcher finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base. Trailing closely behind was Gentry and sophomore Drew Williamson, who each posted three-hit efforts and contributed two runs apiece.
• Cobb picked up the win on Wednesday night. The Alabama senior entered in a tough spot in the second but worked a career-long 4.1 frames, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three.

About Harvard
• Harvard travels to Tuscaloosa following a 27-16 campaign in 2019 that included a 14-7 mark in Ivy League play to come out as conference champions. The league title earned the Crimson an automatic bid in the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional where Harvard's season would come to an end after two games.
• The reigning Ivy League Coach of the Year, Bill Decker is in his ninth season with the Crimson. A 1985 graduate of Ithaca College, Decker is joined by associate head coach Bryan Stark, assistant coach Brady Kirkpatrick and volunteer assistant coach Kyle Decker.
• Harvard was selected to finish second overall and received four first-place votes in the Ivy League's preseason poll, as voted on by two members of each school's media contingent.

On Deck
The Crimson Tide will continues its homestand with a pair of midweek games next week. First up for Alabama will be South Alabama on Tuesday, March 3. The Jaguars will be followed by North Alabama, as the Lions travel to Tuscaloosa the very next day on Wednesday. Both pairings are slated for a 3 p.m. start and will air on SEC Network+.

 

[UA Press Release]

Offense Stays Hot in Baseball's 15-3 Win over Harvard on Friday - Alabama Athletics

Alabama baseball posted a season-high 19 hits and 14 walks on the way to 15 runs in a 15-3 win over Harvard on Friday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Th...

rolltide.com

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Harvard	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	3	7	2
Alabama	0	0	7	1	0	2	4	1	X	15	19	0

W: Connor Prielipp (3-0) L: Shaw,Kieran (0-1)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball posted a season-high 19 hits and 14 walks on the way to 15 runs in a 15-3 win over Harvard on Friday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win pushes the Crimson Tide to 10-0 to start the season, tied for the third-best start to a season in program history.

Alabama scored in five of the final seven innings, highlighted by a seven-run third inning put the game out of reach early. All 13 hitters reached base safely at least once on the day with eight total batters posting multi-hit outings. Leading the way on offense were seniors Brett Auerbach and Kolby Robinson along with freshman Peyton Wilson, with the group recording three hits apiece. Wilson added a team-high three runs scored and two RBI while Auerbach and Robinson each scored two runs. Freshman Owen Diodati led the team in walks, drawing five on the day to match the program record for a single game.

Connor Prielipp (3-0) picked up his third win in the Friday start, building on his previous two performances. The freshman worked a season-long 6.0 innings, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out a season-high nine batters. Prielipp has now struck out seven or more in all three starts and has accumulated 24 punchouts across 15.0 innings to begin his Crimson Tide career.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
"This was just a really complete day for us. I'm really, really pleased with our effort. We had eight players with multiple hits, made a lot of hard contact up and down the lineup, and, again, we scored in five innings. Connor Prielipp just gave us an outstanding start, and we put up a zero in the error column. This was just a really complete effort for us. I'm really proud of our team, and I really hope we come out and do that again tomorrow."

How It Happened

• B3 | Alabama erupted for seven runs on six hits to put the game out of reach early. Auerbach led things off with a single to center and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a walk to Diodati, Tyler Gentry singled to left with the junior's liner scoring Auerbach. Redshirt sophomore Sam Praytor then singled up the middle to load the bases before a single from sophomore Drew Williamson scored two. Sophomore T.J. Reeves was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again before another single, this one from Wilson, plated a pair. Robinson followed with one more single, scoring Reeves and forcing a Harvard pitching change. After a walk loaded the bases a third time, Auerbach grounded into a double play, bringing home Wilson for the Tide's seventh run in the inning. (7-0, Alabama)
• B4 | Gentry sent the first pitch he saw through the right side for a single. He then moved into scoring position on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt. The extra 90 feet paid off, as Williamson brought him home on a single up the middle to add one more. (8-0, Alabama)
• B6 | With the bases loaded and one down, Auerbach sent a two-RBI single to left to add to the Tide lead. (10-0, Alabama)
• T7 | Harvard began the inning with a double before the leadoff man moved to third on a flyout. A single through the left side in the next at-bat brought in the Crimson's first run. (10-1, Alabama)
• B7 | An error on Auerbach's grounder to short pushed a run home, as the Tide had the bases loaded with two down in the seventh. A walk to Diodati followed, scoring another run, before a double down the line in left from junior Jackson Tate added two more for UA. (12-1, Alabama)
• T8 | A two-run home run for Harvard cut into the deficit. (14-3, Alabama)
• B8 | Diodati drew his program-high tying fifth walk, once again with the bases loaded, to score one and cap the scoring. (15-3, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

• Alabama is 10-0 to begin the 2020 campaign which is the best start under head coach Brad Bohannon, surpassing the 2018 squad's 9-0 start to the year. The 10-0 mark is the best start to a season since 2002 when Jim Wells' team began 10-0. The 10-win mark has been reached three times now (also 1998) while the 1988 team won 11 straight and the 1997 squad won 15 consecutive games to start the season – the program's all-time mark.
• Freshman Connor Prielipp worked a career-long 6.0 innings and struck out nine, also a career-best total. Prielipp has improved on his innings and strikeout total in each of his three starts.
• The Crimson Tide set a season-high total for runs with 15. The 15 runs are the most by UA since April 9, 2019 at Samford when Alabama posted 21 runs.
• Alabama tallied 19 hits in the game, the most since the Tide totaled 19 hits in that Samford game last season.
• The Crimson Tide scored seven runs in the third inning of today's game. The seven-run inning is UA's most in a single frame since March 8, 2019, when UA posted seven in the fifth inning of the matchup with Northern Kentucky.
• The six hits in that seventh inning are the most in any frame this season and the most since Alabama had six in that same fifth inning against Northern Kentucky.
• Alabama has now recorded double-digit hits in seven games this season, including six of the seven matchups at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
• All 13 batters reached base safely at least once on the afternoon.
• Eight of Alabama's nine starters totaled one or more runs.
• Seven of the nine starters for the Crimson Tide posted double-digit hits on the night. Alabama had eight total multi-hit efforts as Jackson Tate came off the bench to go 2-for-4.
• Owen Diodati drew five walks to match the Alabama record for walks in a game. He tied Joe Breaux, who drew five vs. Washington State in game one of a doubleheader on Feb. 23, 2018.
• Kolby Robinson's 3-for-6 day extended his hitting streak to eight games, the longest by any member of the Crimson Tide this season. Across those eight games, Robinson is batting .375 (12-32) with four doubles, six RBI, five runs scored, two hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.
• With his 2-for-3 day, Tyler Gentry extended his hitting streak to five games. Over that stretch, Gentry is batting .733 (11-15) with a double, two home runs, seven RBI, eight runs scored, two walks and two hit-by-pitch.
• ATTENDANCE: 2,874

Alabama will look to secure the series win over Harvard tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. CT. The game will feature a pair of righties as the Crimson Tide will look to sophomore Connor Shamblin in the start while the Crimson counter with Owen Holt, also a sophomore. Fans can catch all the action live on SEC Network+.

 

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[UA Press Release]

Reeves' Home Run Powers Baseball to 6-3 Win for Series Sweep of Harvard - University of Alabama Athletics

Alabama baseball completed the series sweep of Harvard with a 6-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win moves the Crimson Tide to 12-0 o...

rolltide.com

The sophomore sent a deep shot to left to help UA regain the lead in the seventh

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Harvard	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	8	1
Alabama	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	X	6	9	0

W: Brock Guffey (2-0) L: Thomas,Pryor (0-1)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball completed the series sweep of Harvard with a 6-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win moves the Crimson Tide to 12-0 on the year, the second-best start to a season in program history.

Alabama moved out front early with three runs in the second before Harvard got on the board with two runs in the third. The Crimson evened things up in the sixth with one run but a solo home run from sophomore T.J. Reeves in the bottom of the seventh put the Crimson Tide in front for good. Alabama added two more in the bottom of the eighth for a cushion on the way to the 6-3 win.

Reeves was tops in the RBI column for UA, finishing with two as part of his 1-for-4 afternoon that included the home run, a walk and one run scored. Senior Brett Auerbach led all hitters with a 2-for-5 showing, adding an RBI and one run scored. The duo joined five other starters in recording at least one hit on getaway day.

Alabama's arms gave the offense time to get a lead once again. Antoine Jean got the start, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six. The freshman then handed it over to sophomore Jacob McNairy out of the pen. McNairy allowed one run on three hits while striking out a pair to keep things close before Brock Guffey (2-0) entered the game in the seventh. Guffey was dominant, with the junior allowing no hits and striking out seven across 3.0 frames for his second win of the season.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
"This was just another really good win for us today. When the wind's blowing in, you're going to be in tight games and that was a good experience for us to be in, a tight game like that. Antoine (Jean) pitched well today, worked around some bad luck, some soft contact, and, obviously, I feel like I keep saying this but the bullpen was just awesome. (Jacob) McNairy and (Brock) Guffey were outstanding. We had a couple of games the last week and a half where we have gotten behind, and one of the big keys to winning those games is the bullpen coming in, giving our offense time to work and multiple guys have just been really, really good in that role. I'm glad to get the win, glad to get the sweep, and I'm excited to continue to move forward with league play around the corner."

How It Happened

• B2 | Freshman Myles Austin began the inning with a leadoff walk. He came around to score in the next at-bat when fellow freshman Zane Denton sent an RBI-double off the warning track in right-center. A sac bunt put Denton at third before a single up the middle from Auerbach scored the inning's second run. One out later, Tyler Gentry doubled to the left field line with the junior's two-bagger bringing in Auerbach. (3-0, Alabama)
• T3 | A one-out single and walk put two on for Harvard. Following a strikeout, the Crimson knocked a two-RBI single to center to cut the deficit to one. (3-2, Alabama)
• T6 | Harvard evened things up. The Crimson loaded the bases with three straight singles before a 5-4 fielder's choice crossed the tying run. (3-3)
• B7 | Reeves sent a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left to put the Crimson Tide back out front. The home run was the sophomore's first of the season. (4-3, Alabama)
• B8 | With the bases loaded, Reeves drew a two-out walk to bring in one more. Freshman Jim Jarvis followed with a high chopper to second for an infield single and another RBI. (6-3, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

• Alabama is 12-0 to begin the 2020 campaign which is the best start under head coach Brad Bohannon, surpassing the 2018 squad's 9-0 start to the year. The 12-0 mark is now the second-best start to a season in program history. The Alabama all-time mark for wins to begin a season is 15 which was accomplished by the 1997 squad.
• The Crimson Tide arms struck out a season-high 15 batters. The 15 punchouts are the most since game two of the Tide's March 2 doubleheader at South Alabama a season ago when Alabama totaled 17 strikeouts.
• Brock Guffey's seven strikeouts are a new career-best total. His previous high for strikeouts in a game was three, which he had accomplished on multiple occasions, most recently against LSU on April 26, 2019.
• Guffey's 3.0 innings of relief match his career-high inning total. The junior also tossed 3.0 frames against LSU on April 28, 2019.
• The Crimson Tide hitters have now hit at least one home run in 10 of 12 games with multiple homers in four of those contests.
• With his 1-for-3 showing, redshirt sophomore Sam Praytor has now recorded a hit in his last six games. Across the streak, Praytor is batting .444 (8-18) with a double, two home runs, four RBI, seven runs scored, four walks and five hit-by-pitch.
• Kolby Robinson's hitting streak came to an end at nine games. Across those nine games, Robinson batted .375 (14-36) with four doubles, seven RBI, seven runs scored, two hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.
• ATTENDANCE: 2,540

Next up for Alabama are a pair of midweek matchups against in-state foes. First, the Crimson Tide will welcome South Alabama to The Joe on Tuesday, March 3 before the Lions of North Alabama travel to Tuscaloosa the next day on Wednesday. Both contests are scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT start and will air live on SEC Network+.

 

[BamaFan334]

Roll Tide.

 

[rick4bama]

Good start.

 

[UAgrad93]

Can't win them all unless you win the first 12!!!