The Crimson Tide claimed its first win of the season on Opening Night at the Sewell-Thomas Stadium
Feb. 20, 2016
TUSCALOOSA, AL - After a year away from Tuscaloosa, Alabama baseball claimed its first victory inside the newly renovated Sewell-Thomas Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,867 fans on the night of the stadium's Grand Reopening.
The Crimson Tide received a standout debut performance from freshman Chandler Taylor in the first game of his collegiate career. The freshman knocked a solo home run on the second pitch of his first at-bat as a member of the Crimson Tide and would finish the night a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch to reach base in all four plate appearances.
Taylor's solo rope left the park in right field to give the Crimson Tide an early 1-0 lead through one full inning. The Terps answered back an inning later, as a bases loaded walk by Zach Jancarski tied the score at 1-1. Alabama starter Geoffrey Bramblett would get out of trouble with a groundout to short, ending the threat and sending the game forward with the score even.
Both team's starters would battle the rest of the way, with Bramblett exiting in the top of the sixth at 90 pitches. The junior worked 5.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking four and striking out six Maryland hitters. The Crimson Tide hitters would chase Mike Shawaryn (0-1) in the bottom half of the same inning.
Chandler Avant kicked of the Tide sixth with a standup double to left for his first of two hits on the night. One batter later, Taylor would add his second RBI of the day, sending a liner to center and bringing Avant across to give Alabama the 2-1 lead and end the Maryland starter's day.
An inning later, Georgie Salem began the frame with a walk before moving to second on the Will Haynie sacrifice bunt. A one-out walk to Chance Vincent put two on and then a flyout to right by pinch-hitter Connor Short placed one on each corner. Avant would collect his first RBI of the season in the very next at-bat, sending a fading single to right to advance everyone one base and give UA the 3-1 lead.
The two-run advantage would prove to be the difference, as Alabama's bullpen shut down the Terrapins, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings and allowing only two hits while punching out four batters. Senior Jon Keller (1-0) earned the win with his 1.2 innings of work, allowing two hits and one walk while recording one strikeout.
Junior college transfer Matt Foster followed with 17 pitches to record three outs, two of which came by the way of the strikeout. Crimson Tide closer Thomas Burrows shut the door, needing only eight pitches to retire the side in order and collect his first save of the season and 19th of his career.
The sellout on Opening Night proved to be the difference, as fans lined up more than three hours out from first pitch to take in the new "Joe" and be a part of the historic night.
"I think (the stadium and atmosphere) was everything we thought of when this thing started to come into fruition," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "I think this stadium brings interest from the fanbase. By them being here and having that energy, it affects your players and motivates them as well. I thought you saw that tonight as the crowd was a part of the energy that we gave out on the field."
The Crimson Tide and Terrapins will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CT. Alabama will send sophomore right-hander Jake Walters to mound while Maryland will counter with a sophomore righty of its own, Taylor Bloom. Fans can catch all the action on SECN+.
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:
Feb. 20, 2016
TUSCALOOSA, AL - After a year away from Tuscaloosa, Alabama baseball claimed its first victory inside the newly renovated Sewell-Thomas Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,867 fans on the night of the stadium's Grand Reopening.
The Crimson Tide received a standout debut performance from freshman Chandler Taylor in the first game of his collegiate career. The freshman knocked a solo home run on the second pitch of his first at-bat as a member of the Crimson Tide and would finish the night a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch to reach base in all four plate appearances.
Taylor's solo rope left the park in right field to give the Crimson Tide an early 1-0 lead through one full inning. The Terps answered back an inning later, as a bases loaded walk by Zach Jancarski tied the score at 1-1. Alabama starter Geoffrey Bramblett would get out of trouble with a groundout to short, ending the threat and sending the game forward with the score even.
Both team's starters would battle the rest of the way, with Bramblett exiting in the top of the sixth at 90 pitches. The junior worked 5.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking four and striking out six Maryland hitters. The Crimson Tide hitters would chase Mike Shawaryn (0-1) in the bottom half of the same inning.
Chandler Avant kicked of the Tide sixth with a standup double to left for his first of two hits on the night. One batter later, Taylor would add his second RBI of the day, sending a liner to center and bringing Avant across to give Alabama the 2-1 lead and end the Maryland starter's day.
An inning later, Georgie Salem began the frame with a walk before moving to second on the Will Haynie sacrifice bunt. A one-out walk to Chance Vincent put two on and then a flyout to right by pinch-hitter Connor Short placed one on each corner. Avant would collect his first RBI of the season in the very next at-bat, sending a fading single to right to advance everyone one base and give UA the 3-1 lead.
The two-run advantage would prove to be the difference, as Alabama's bullpen shut down the Terrapins, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings and allowing only two hits while punching out four batters. Senior Jon Keller (1-0) earned the win with his 1.2 innings of work, allowing two hits and one walk while recording one strikeout.
Junior college transfer Matt Foster followed with 17 pitches to record three outs, two of which came by the way of the strikeout. Crimson Tide closer Thomas Burrows shut the door, needing only eight pitches to retire the side in order and collect his first save of the season and 19th of his career.
The sellout on Opening Night proved to be the difference, as fans lined up more than three hours out from first pitch to take in the new "Joe" and be a part of the historic night.
"I think (the stadium and atmosphere) was everything we thought of when this thing started to come into fruition," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "I think this stadium brings interest from the fanbase. By them being here and having that energy, it affects your players and motivates them as well. I thought you saw that tonight as the crowd was a part of the energy that we gave out on the field."
The Crimson Tide and Terrapins will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CT. Alabama will send sophomore right-hander Jake Walters to mound while Maryland will counter with a sophomore righty of its own, Taylor Bloom. Fans can catch all the action on SECN+.
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:
