The Crimson Tide received a solo home run from Georgie Salem to break up Georgia's no-hit bid in the ninth inning
April 1, 2016
ATHENS, GA - Alabama baseball fell, 7-1, to Georgia on Friday evening, using a two-out, ninth-inning home run by Georgie Salem to avoid being no-hit. With the loss, Alabama falls to 16-10 overall and 5-3 in SEC play.
"(Robert) Tyler pitched well," said Gaspard of Georgia's starter. "You have to tip your hat. He sat at 94-97 the entire game with nice command. We just couldn't figure him out. He's a kid that pitched for Team USA and is probably the best arm in the conference right now. He's a projected first-rounder, and he pitched like it tonight."
Georgia starter Robert Tyler threw a complete game, one-hitter. The junior righty worked 9.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit while walking two and striking out nine. Alabama reached two runners on walks in the seventh, but faced the potential of a no-hitter entering the ninth. With two down and no one on, pinch-hitter Georgie Salem sent the first pitch he saw off the top of scoreboard in right field to put Alabama on the board.
Not to be overshadowed was another strong outing from Alabama starter Jake Walters, who worked 6.0 innings and allowed one earned run (three total) on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Walters was the victim of two errors in the third that resulted in two of his three runs allowed.
"I thought Jake was outstanding tonight," Gaspard said of his starter. "As I told the team, when you're facing a guy like we did tonight you have to match him. I thought Jake did, but defensively we broke down in the third inning and made the two errors that led to their two runs. You have to play clean when you face a team like this, but I thought Jake did a nice job. He stretched out the start to get us through the sixth inning, but he kept us in the ballgame."
The Bulldogs used the pair of errors to score two in the third to kick off the game's scoring. A single led off the inning, but a fielder's choice error at second put two on. Another error on a flyout loaded the bases, before a single to center scored the two runs, both unearned, to give Georgia the 2-0 lead. In the sixth, a two-out single to center followed by a double to left plated one more for the Bulldogs and pushed the advantage to 3-0.
The scoring continued for Georgia in the eighth, as a pair of singles and a sac bunt put two in scoring position with one down. Following a pitching change, UGA sent a slow roller to short that led to a play at the plate, but the Bulldog runner was able to cross for one. A wild pitch put two in scoring position again, and then a single to short scored the inning's second run. One out later, the Bulldogs doubled to right to clear the bases and cross two more, making it a 7-0 game heading to the ninth.
In that final frame, Salem notched his second home run of the season to break up the no-hitter. Salem's homer came in his first at-bat of the series and gave the Crimson Tide it's only run of the game. The last time Alabama baseball was one hit came on March 7, 2004, when a trio of Kansas State pitchers completed the task.
"It's about winning series," added Gaspard. "That game three is big any way you cut it up. We have (Nick) Eicholtz that is ready to go and give us a strong outing. Offensively, we need to get off to a good start, get going, put some good swings on it and try to get out of here with another series win."
The two teams will meet on Saturday to decide the series. Alabama will call on junior right-hander Nick Eicholtz, while Georgia has yet to name a starter. First pitch of the series finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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 1, 2016
ATHENS, GA - Alabama baseball fell, 7-1, to Georgia on Friday evening, using a two-out, ninth-inning home run by Georgie Salem to avoid being no-hit. With the loss, Alabama falls to 16-10 overall and 5-3 in SEC play.
"(Robert) Tyler pitched well," said Gaspard of Georgia's starter. "You have to tip your hat. He sat at 94-97 the entire game with nice command. We just couldn't figure him out. He's a kid that pitched for Team USA and is probably the best arm in the conference right now. He's a projected first-rounder, and he pitched like it tonight."
Georgia starter Robert Tyler threw a complete game, one-hitter. The junior righty worked 9.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit while walking two and striking out nine. Alabama reached two runners on walks in the seventh, but faced the potential of a no-hitter entering the ninth. With two down and no one on, pinch-hitter Georgie Salem sent the first pitch he saw off the top of scoreboard in right field to put Alabama on the board.
Not to be overshadowed was another strong outing from Alabama starter Jake Walters, who worked 6.0 innings and allowed one earned run (three total) on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Walters was the victim of two errors in the third that resulted in two of his three runs allowed.
"I thought Jake was outstanding tonight," Gaspard said of his starter. "As I told the team, when you're facing a guy like we did tonight you have to match him. I thought Jake did, but defensively we broke down in the third inning and made the two errors that led to their two runs. You have to play clean when you face a team like this, but I thought Jake did a nice job. He stretched out the start to get us through the sixth inning, but he kept us in the ballgame."
The Bulldogs used the pair of errors to score two in the third to kick off the game's scoring. A single led off the inning, but a fielder's choice error at second put two on. Another error on a flyout loaded the bases, before a single to center scored the two runs, both unearned, to give Georgia the 2-0 lead. In the sixth, a two-out single to center followed by a double to left plated one more for the Bulldogs and pushed the advantage to 3-0.
The scoring continued for Georgia in the eighth, as a pair of singles and a sac bunt put two in scoring position with one down. Following a pitching change, UGA sent a slow roller to short that led to a play at the plate, but the Bulldog runner was able to cross for one. A wild pitch put two in scoring position again, and then a single to short scored the inning's second run. One out later, the Bulldogs doubled to right to clear the bases and cross two more, making it a 7-0 game heading to the ninth.
In that final frame, Salem notched his second home run of the season to break up the no-hitter. Salem's homer came in his first at-bat of the series and gave the Crimson Tide it's only run of the game. The last time Alabama baseball was one hit came on March 7, 2004, when a trio of Kansas State pitchers completed the task.
"It's about winning series," added Gaspard. "That game three is big any way you cut it up. We have (Nick) Eicholtz that is ready to go and give us a strong outing. Offensively, we need to get off to a good start, get going, put some good swings on it and try to get out of here with another series win."
The two teams will meet on Saturday to decide the series. Alabama will call on junior right-hander Nick Eicholtz, while Georgia has yet to name a starter. First pitch of the series finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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:
