The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will meet for the 141st time on Thursday evening
March 30, 2016
TUSCALOOSA, AL - The Crimson Tide heads to Athens for a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday with the Georgia Bulldogs at Foley Field. First pitch of game one on Thursday is set for a 6 p.m. CT start with another 6 p.m. CT first pitch on Friday evening. Saturday's series finale is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT. All three contests will air live on the SEC Network with Dave Neal and Chris Burke on the call.
LEADING OFF
The Crimson Tide is currently ranked or receiving votes in all major polls. UA is seeded 21st in the latest Baseball America and 25 in the College Baseball News polls. The Tide is also receiving votes in the D1Baseball, NCBWA and USA Today Coaches polls. Georgia is not ranked in any of the five polls.
The Bulldogs are coming off a midweek loss to Kennesaw State on Tuesday evening. Prior to the 4-2 loss to the Owls, Georgia fell in two of its three games at Mississippi State last weekend. MSU took games one and two before UGA rallied for an 11-8 win on Sunday to avoid the sweep.
Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 141st time on Thursday in a series that dates back to 1904. The Crimson Tide holds a slight advantage, 70-68-2, but Georgia leads when the two teams meet in Athens, 32-25-1. Most recently, UA took two of three games from the Bulldogs in Hoover last season from April 10-12, part of a current eight-series win streak for the Crimson Tide over UGA.
The Crimson Tide will call on its usual trio of right-handers for the three-game set. Thursday's series opener will feature junior Geoffrey Bramblett, and he will be followed by sophomore Jake Walters on Friday. Junior Nick Eicholtz is scheduled as Saturday's starter for Alabama in the series finale.
The Bulldogs will begin the series on Thursday with freshman left-hander Kevin Smith on the hill. On Friday, Georgia will go with junior righty Robert Tyler. UGA's starter for the series finale on Saturday is still to be announced.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
THURSDAY: UA - Geoffrey Bramblett (Jr., RHP) vs. UGA - Kevin Smith (Fr., LHP)
FRIDAY: UA - Jake Walters (So., RHP) vs. UGA - Robert Tyler (Jr., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA - Nick Eicholtz (Jr., RHP) vs. UGA - TBA
LEADING OFF
Alabama travels to Athens after finishing last weekend with a 2-1 series victory over Tennessee and falling to Auburn, 10-1, in the MAX Capital City Classic on Tuesday. The win over the Volunteers secured the Tide its second SEC series victory in as many weekends.
The Crimson Tide fell, 10-1, to Auburn in annual MAX Capital City Classic, on Tuesday evening. Auburn scored a run in each of the first six innings, highlighted by a four-run first inning.
Friday's series opener with Tennessee went in favor of the Crimson Tide, 7-3, as UA bounced back from an early three-run deficit to claim the victory in game one. Starter Geoffrey Bramblett allowed three runs in the first inning, but settled down the next 5.1 innings for his team-leading third win of the year. After giving up three hits in the first, Bramblett allowed just five more the rest of the way, finishing his night with six punchouts and no walks. Alabama scored two in the third and put together a four-run fifth to secure the win. The inning was highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Chance Vincent to break the 3-3 tie and give UA a 6-3 lead.
Saturday featured another doubleheader, with Alabama claiming the 11-3 win in game one. The Tide collected 10 hits leading to the 11 runs to claim the series victory. The offense was highlighted by Cody Henry's 2-for-5 game which included a pair of doubles, a team-high four RBI and two runs scored. Also adding multiple RBI was Cobie Vance, who finished with three on his 1-for-4 day. A seven-run seventh highlighted the scoring.
Game two of Saturday's twinbill went in favor of the Volunteers, 6-3. The two teams were even at 3-3 heading into the ninth before a close play at the plate went to Tennessee for the 4-3 lead. One at-bat later, UT tripled to right to put the game out of reach.
Alabama's offense on Saturday was highlighted by Will Haynie, with the junior collecting three hits, a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Hunter Webb finished the day at .500 (4-8) with a double, three runs scored and two walks. Connor Short also contributed to the Tide offense on Saturday, finishing with three hits, including a double, with two RBI, one run scored and a walk.
Alabama returned home this season after spending 2015 on the road. The Tide played a total of 34 "home" games across the state of Alabama on top of the 22 road contests slotted into the schedule. Thirty of the team's home games were played at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover. The Crimson Tide also played a weekend series at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile and a single game inside Joe W. Davis Municipal Stadium in Huntsville.
In addition to the "home" contests, UA also traveled to Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery for the annual MAX Capital City Classic against Auburn, and then to Regions Field in Birmingham for an away game with UAB.
Alabama's roster features 21 letterwinners from the 2015 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 SEC Tournament. The 2016 Tide returns five positional starters, and five pitchers who made five or more career starts.
SERIES HISTORY - GEORGIA
Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 141st time on Thursday in a series that dates back to 1904.
The Crimson Tide owns a slight advantage in the overall series, 70-68-2, but Georgia leads when the games are played in Athens, 32-25-1.
The Crimson Tide has won the last eight three-game series pairings and owns a 7-3 mark in the last 10 matchups.
Georgia won the inaugural meeting in 1904, 6-4, but Alabama bounced back for a 3-1 win followed by a 3-2 victory to take the series, 2-1, in the initial pairing. All three games were played in Athens.
In the most recent meeting, Alabama won games one and three of the weekend set to take the series in Hoover from April 10-12, 2015. The Tide secured a game-one win, 7-6, in 11 innings. The Bulldogs evened the series with an 8-1 win on Saturday, but UA clinched the series with a 5-2 win on Sunday.
The last time Alabama and Georgia met in Athens, the Crimson Tide left with a three-game sweep from March 22-24, 2013. A pair of 6-3 wins on Friday and Saturday gave UA the series before a 3-0 shutout victory on Sunday locked down the sweep for the Tide.
Under head coach Mitch Gaspard, the Crimson Tide owns an 8-3 mark and have won all three series against the Bulldogs.
ON DECK
Following the trip to Athens, the Crimson Tide will return home for a quick pair of games against Alcorn State on Tuesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 6. Both contests are slated for a 6:30 p.m. CT start on SECN+.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
March 30, 2016
TUSCALOOSA, AL - The Crimson Tide heads to Athens for a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday with the Georgia Bulldogs at Foley Field. First pitch of game one on Thursday is set for a 6 p.m. CT start with another 6 p.m. CT first pitch on Friday evening. Saturday's series finale is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT. All three contests will air live on the SEC Network with Dave Neal and Chris Burke on the call.
LEADING OFF
The Crimson Tide is currently ranked or receiving votes in all major polls. UA is seeded 21st in the latest Baseball America and 25 in the College Baseball News polls. The Tide is also receiving votes in the D1Baseball, NCBWA and USA Today Coaches polls. Georgia is not ranked in any of the five polls.
The Bulldogs are coming off a midweek loss to Kennesaw State on Tuesday evening. Prior to the 4-2 loss to the Owls, Georgia fell in two of its three games at Mississippi State last weekend. MSU took games one and two before UGA rallied for an 11-8 win on Sunday to avoid the sweep.
Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 141st time on Thursday in a series that dates back to 1904. The Crimson Tide holds a slight advantage, 70-68-2, but Georgia leads when the two teams meet in Athens, 32-25-1. Most recently, UA took two of three games from the Bulldogs in Hoover last season from April 10-12, part of a current eight-series win streak for the Crimson Tide over UGA.
The Crimson Tide will call on its usual trio of right-handers for the three-game set. Thursday's series opener will feature junior Geoffrey Bramblett, and he will be followed by sophomore Jake Walters on Friday. Junior Nick Eicholtz is scheduled as Saturday's starter for Alabama in the series finale.
The Bulldogs will begin the series on Thursday with freshman left-hander Kevin Smith on the hill. On Friday, Georgia will go with junior righty Robert Tyler. UGA's starter for the series finale on Saturday is still to be announced.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
THURSDAY: UA - Geoffrey Bramblett (Jr., RHP) vs. UGA - Kevin Smith (Fr., LHP)
FRIDAY: UA - Jake Walters (So., RHP) vs. UGA - Robert Tyler (Jr., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA - Nick Eicholtz (Jr., RHP) vs. UGA - TBA
LEADING OFF
Alabama travels to Athens after finishing last weekend with a 2-1 series victory over Tennessee and falling to Auburn, 10-1, in the MAX Capital City Classic on Tuesday. The win over the Volunteers secured the Tide its second SEC series victory in as many weekends.
The Crimson Tide fell, 10-1, to Auburn in annual MAX Capital City Classic, on Tuesday evening. Auburn scored a run in each of the first six innings, highlighted by a four-run first inning.
Friday's series opener with Tennessee went in favor of the Crimson Tide, 7-3, as UA bounced back from an early three-run deficit to claim the victory in game one. Starter Geoffrey Bramblett allowed three runs in the first inning, but settled down the next 5.1 innings for his team-leading third win of the year. After giving up three hits in the first, Bramblett allowed just five more the rest of the way, finishing his night with six punchouts and no walks. Alabama scored two in the third and put together a four-run fifth to secure the win. The inning was highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Chance Vincent to break the 3-3 tie and give UA a 6-3 lead.
Saturday featured another doubleheader, with Alabama claiming the 11-3 win in game one. The Tide collected 10 hits leading to the 11 runs to claim the series victory. The offense was highlighted by Cody Henry's 2-for-5 game which included a pair of doubles, a team-high four RBI and two runs scored. Also adding multiple RBI was Cobie Vance, who finished with three on his 1-for-4 day. A seven-run seventh highlighted the scoring.
Game two of Saturday's twinbill went in favor of the Volunteers, 6-3. The two teams were even at 3-3 heading into the ninth before a close play at the plate went to Tennessee for the 4-3 lead. One at-bat later, UT tripled to right to put the game out of reach.
Alabama's offense on Saturday was highlighted by Will Haynie, with the junior collecting three hits, a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Hunter Webb finished the day at .500 (4-8) with a double, three runs scored and two walks. Connor Short also contributed to the Tide offense on Saturday, finishing with three hits, including a double, with two RBI, one run scored and a walk.
Alabama returned home this season after spending 2015 on the road. The Tide played a total of 34 "home" games across the state of Alabama on top of the 22 road contests slotted into the schedule. Thirty of the team's home games were played at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover. The Crimson Tide also played a weekend series at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile and a single game inside Joe W. Davis Municipal Stadium in Huntsville.
In addition to the "home" contests, UA also traveled to Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery for the annual MAX Capital City Classic against Auburn, and then to Regions Field in Birmingham for an away game with UAB.
Alabama's roster features 21 letterwinners from the 2015 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 SEC Tournament. The 2016 Tide returns five positional starters, and five pitchers who made five or more career starts.
SERIES HISTORY - GEORGIA
Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 141st time on Thursday in a series that dates back to 1904.
The Crimson Tide owns a slight advantage in the overall series, 70-68-2, but Georgia leads when the games are played in Athens, 32-25-1.
The Crimson Tide has won the last eight three-game series pairings and owns a 7-3 mark in the last 10 matchups.
Georgia won the inaugural meeting in 1904, 6-4, but Alabama bounced back for a 3-1 win followed by a 3-2 victory to take the series, 2-1, in the initial pairing. All three games were played in Athens.
In the most recent meeting, Alabama won games one and three of the weekend set to take the series in Hoover from April 10-12, 2015. The Tide secured a game-one win, 7-6, in 11 innings. The Bulldogs evened the series with an 8-1 win on Saturday, but UA clinched the series with a 5-2 win on Sunday.
The last time Alabama and Georgia met in Athens, the Crimson Tide left with a three-game sweep from March 22-24, 2013. A pair of 6-3 wins on Friday and Saturday gave UA the series before a 3-0 shutout victory on Sunday locked down the sweep for the Tide.
Under head coach Mitch Gaspard, the Crimson Tide owns an 8-3 mark and have won all three series against the Bulldogs.
ON DECK
Following the trip to Athens, the Crimson Tide will return home for a quick pair of games against Alcorn State on Tuesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 6. Both contests are slated for a 6:30 p.m. CT start on SECN+.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
