(Games from March 29- April 4)
Overall Record: 16-11 (12-8 at home | 4-3 on the road)
SEC Record: 2-7
Record Last Week: 1-2 (1-2 at home)
Streak: Lost 2
Last Week’s Results (1-2):
Friday, April 2 – Defeated #6 Tennessee, 7-4
Saturday, April 3 – Lost to #6 Tennessee, 4-8 (11 innings)
Sunday, April 4 – Lost to #6 Tennessee, 8-9
This Week’s Schedule (All Times Central)
Wednesday, April 7 – vs. ULM (10-14/3-6 Sun Belt), Sewell-Thomas Stadium, 3 p.m.
Friday, April 9 – at Texas A&M (19-11/3-6 SEC), Blue Bell Park, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 10 – at Texas A&M (19-11/3-6 SEC), Blue Bell Park, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 11 – at Texas A&M (19-11/3-6 SEC), Blue Bell Park, 1 p.m.
Team Notes
Alabama returned to the diamond after a week off to host sixth-ranked Tennessee. The Crimson Tide fished 1-2 against the Vols, earning the win on opening night before falling in two close games on Saturday and Sunday.
In the absence of at least one weekend starter, the Crimson Tide bullpen was tasked with throwing 18.0 of the 27.0 innings in the series. The only Alabama starter to take the hill against the Vols and make it to the halfway point was Tyler Ras, who contributed 5.0 frames on his way to earning the win in Friday’s matchup. The next two days saw UA’s starter exit early, forcing Alabama to lean on nine total relief arms by weekend’s end, four of which had to make two separate appearances.
Alabama was able to keep things close offensively thanks to six home runs over the three-day stretch. Sam Praytor led the way with two as part of his .500 (6-12) weekend. William Hamiter returned from a five-game hiatus to lead UA in average at .538 (7-13) while also contributing his first career home run. Owen Diodati, Drew Williamson and Peyton Wilson each added a homer of their own with Williamson’s roundtripper adding an insurance run in Friday’s win.
The Crimson Tide scored seven unearned runs in a 7-4 comeback win over Tennessee on Friday. Alabama fell behind, 4-0, after two innings. The Tide rallied for three in the fourth before adding another three runs an inning later in the fifth to take the lead for good. One more run in the bottom of the eighth provided all the security UA would need on the way to the Friday night win. Ras grinded through 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts for his fourth win of the season. William Freeman followed with 1.0 inning before Landon Green took the hill to contribute 2.0 frames. Chase Lee then entered for the final inning to pick up his second save of the season. The trio combined for 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out eight Volunteer hitters. Alabama’s effort at the plate was highlighted by Praytor and Williamson. Praytor led the Tide in hits, finishing 3-for-4 with the go-ahead home run and adding two RBI to go with a pair of runs scored. Williamson was UA’s leader in RBI with three as part of his 1-for-2 effort that included one run, a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly.
A wild, extra-innings game between Alabama and Tennessee finished in favor of the Volunteers, 8-4, on Saturday evening. UA used a solo home run from Hamiter to get on the board in the fourth. The Tide then held the lead until the top of the seventh when Tennessee posted a four-spot to gain the advantage. Alabama answered with one in the home half of the seventh before tying things up in the bottom of the eighth with two runs. Both teams were unable to score in the ninth, sending it to extras. The two squads went scoreless in the 10th before the Vols used two hits and three walks to bring in four runs in the 11th.
Alabama battled all game in the series finale but came up short, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon. Tennessee put pressure on the Tide from the start, scoring three in the top of the first. Alabama answered right back with three of their own in the home half before UT put up two in the top of the second. Once again, UA answered, this time with one run. Tennessee proceeded to add one in the fourth with Alabama matching in the home half. The Vols posted single tallies in the sixth, seventh and eighth, but the Tide would not sit idly by, scoring two in the eighth and one in the ninth. Alabama was able to reach the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth but a groundout to second ended the game in favor of UT. Seven of the nine Alabama starters recorded at least one hit on Sunday, led by Hamiter. The sophomore finished 3-for-5 with a double and one run scored. Also notching multi-hit efforts were Praytor and Williamson. Praytor went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Williamson recorded two hits as part of his 2-for-5 day that included a double, one run and a stolen base.
