Taylor Guilbeau tossed a complete game, but was unable to get the win on Friday evening
April 17, 2015
COLUMBIA, MO - Alabama baseball fell to No. 14 Missouri, 4-3, as both team's starting pitchers dueled for the win on Friday evening inside Taylor Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 19-17 on the season and 6-10 in SEC play.
"(Taylor) Guilbeau had a good start tonight," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "He kept his pitch count down and kept us in the game all night, but you have to tip your cap to them. They were able to string together some hits and build a lead. Offensively, we had a good approach today and put some good swings on the ball, but we fell just a little bit short against a good arm (in Missouri starter Reggie McClain)."
Taylor Guilbeau tossed all eight innings for the Tide, allowing four runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts across 104 total pitches. The nine hits were a season-high and the two strikeouts were a season-low for the southpaw, but the senior kept Alabama in the game all night. Guilbeau was outshined by Missouri starter Reggie McClain, with the Tiger righty going 8.2 innings and allowing three runs for his fifth win of the season.
McClain came one out short of the complete game, as the Crimson Tide rallied in the ninth to chase the Tiger starter before game's end. With two down, J.C. Wilhite recorded his team-leading third hit of the night, a double to right-center field to give Alabama life. Will Haynie followed Wilhite with a double of his own to set the score at 4-3 and force a Missouri pitching change.
Chance Vincent stepped in against the Mizzou closer and drew a four-pitch walk to give Alabama two on with two down, but the rally would end there. Chandler Avant knocked a hard grounder to the right side that nearly broke through, but the Tiger second baseman ranged to his left to collect the ball and throw Avant out at first, ending the game at 4-3.
Avant led off tonight's series-opener with a single and then advanced to second on a fielding error by the Missouri center fielder. Georgie Salem stepped in next and attempted to sacrifice himself, but an errant throw to first base went into right field and allowed Avant to cross to give the Tide a 1-0 lead after a half inning of play.
Missouri would counter in the bottom of the second, using a double followed by a sacrifice bunt and an infield groundout to even the score at 1-1. The Tigers would then add one in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead, and the followed that up with a two-run fifth to widen the gap to 4-1.
The Crimson Tide trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the eighth. Avant once again led off with a single, and in the next at-bat moved to second when Salem laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in another Tiger error and put both runners on. A double play moved Avant to third, and then a wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed the freshman to cross easily. The Tide would head to the ninth down two, but would continue to fight, coming up one run short by game's end.
Alabama and Missouri will look to wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon as the two teams will take part in a Saturday doubleheader. The first game of the twinbill is scheduled for Noon CT, with the second game starting 30 minutes following the final out of the first contest.
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-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
April 17, 2015
COLUMBIA, MO - Alabama baseball fell to No. 14 Missouri, 4-3, as both team's starting pitchers dueled for the win on Friday evening inside Taylor Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 19-17 on the season and 6-10 in SEC play.
"(Taylor) Guilbeau had a good start tonight," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "He kept his pitch count down and kept us in the game all night, but you have to tip your cap to them. They were able to string together some hits and build a lead. Offensively, we had a good approach today and put some good swings on the ball, but we fell just a little bit short against a good arm (in Missouri starter Reggie McClain)."
Taylor Guilbeau tossed all eight innings for the Tide, allowing four runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts across 104 total pitches. The nine hits were a season-high and the two strikeouts were a season-low for the southpaw, but the senior kept Alabama in the game all night. Guilbeau was outshined by Missouri starter Reggie McClain, with the Tiger righty going 8.2 innings and allowing three runs for his fifth win of the season.
McClain came one out short of the complete game, as the Crimson Tide rallied in the ninth to chase the Tiger starter before game's end. With two down, J.C. Wilhite recorded his team-leading third hit of the night, a double to right-center field to give Alabama life. Will Haynie followed Wilhite with a double of his own to set the score at 4-3 and force a Missouri pitching change.
Chance Vincent stepped in against the Mizzou closer and drew a four-pitch walk to give Alabama two on with two down, but the rally would end there. Chandler Avant knocked a hard grounder to the right side that nearly broke through, but the Tiger second baseman ranged to his left to collect the ball and throw Avant out at first, ending the game at 4-3.
Avant led off tonight's series-opener with a single and then advanced to second on a fielding error by the Missouri center fielder. Georgie Salem stepped in next and attempted to sacrifice himself, but an errant throw to first base went into right field and allowed Avant to cross to give the Tide a 1-0 lead after a half inning of play.
Missouri would counter in the bottom of the second, using a double followed by a sacrifice bunt and an infield groundout to even the score at 1-1. The Tigers would then add one in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead, and the followed that up with a two-run fifth to widen the gap to 4-1.
The Crimson Tide trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the eighth. Avant once again led off with a single, and in the next at-bat moved to second when Salem laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in another Tiger error and put both runners on. A double play moved Avant to third, and then a wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed the freshman to cross easily. The Tide would head to the ninth down two, but would continue to fight, coming up one run short by game's end.
Alabama and Missouri will look to wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon as the two teams will take part in a Saturday doubleheader. The first game of the twinbill is scheduled for Noon CT, with the second game starting 30 minutes following the final out of the first contest.
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-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
