Home runs, timely hitting by the Terrapins proved the difference in the contest
Feb. 20, 2016
TUSCALOOSA, AL - Alabama baseball fell, 9-5, to Maryland on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium as a six-run fourth inning by the Terrapins proved to be the difference. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 1-1 on the young season.
"Maryland put some good swings on some pitches," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "It's not that often you see three, two-run homers in the same inning. I give credit to them, they hit some pitches. It's tough to overcome a six-run inning, but I thought our guys did a good job offensively to grind back and get back in it."
Maryland was behind early, facing a 1-0 deficit after two full, but the Terrapins would rally for six in the fourth inning to take the decisive advantage. The frame began with a leadoff single before Nick Cieri homered to give Maryland the 2-1 lead. A walk in the next at-bat put one on for Anthony Papio, who homered to left to extend the Terrapin advantage.
One more walk was followed by two outs before Alabama starter Jake Walters (0-1) exited the game. Facing the new Crimson Tide pitcher, Dylan Duarte, Madison Nickens would fall behind 1-2 before catching the lefty on the next pitch, homering into the right field terrace to expand the Maryland lead to 6-1. The Crimson Tide would add one in the fourth and fifth before putting up a two-spot in the sixth to narrow the lead to two, but the Terps sealed the victory with a two-run eighth.
Alabama struck first, using a walk and three singles to score the game's first run. Cody Henry led off the bottom half of the second with a walk and was followed by a Cobie Vance single to right. One out later, Connor Short lined a single to left to load the bases for Chance Vincent who would answer with a single to right, bringing across Henry and giving Alabama the 1-0 lead through two full.
Maryland erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth, using the trio of two-run homers to chase Walters and take the 6-1 lead. The Tide countered with a homer of its own in the bottom of the fourth, using a solo shot by Vance to move the margin to 6-2.
The Terps moved in front 7-2 in the fifth, using a leadoff double and then a single to widen the advantage, but the Tide would once again counter with a run of its own. Georgie Salem would use his leadoff walk to eventually score two outs later when Vance collected his second hit of the day, a single to left to set the tally at 7-3.
The Tide continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the sixth, collecting two runs on the back of two hits and an error. Short led off the frame with a double - his third hit of the day - and was followed by Vincent, who singled to center to bring the leadoff man across. Staying alert, Vincent advanced to second on the throw home and then an error by the Maryland catcher allowed the senior to move to third. One out later, an infield groundout plated Vincent and slotted Alabama closer at 7-5 after six innings of play.
Maryland's bullpen would hold the Tide scoreless the rest of the way to notch the win. The Terps added two runs in the top half of the eighth to put the game out of reach.
Vance led the Crimson Tide in hitting, finishing 4-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Short and Vincent each contributed three hits and one run apiece, with Vincent adding two RBI to the team totals.
Alabama and Maryland will return to the diamond tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT inside Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide will send junior righty Nick Eicholtz to the mound while the Terps will call on sophomore right-hander Brian Shaffer in the series-deciding game 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 - Alabama baseball fell, 9-5, to Maryland on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium as a six-run fourth inning by the Terrapins proved to be the difference. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 1-1 on the young season.
"Maryland put some good swings on some pitches," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "It's not that often you see three, two-run homers in the same inning. I give credit to them, they hit some pitches. It's tough to overcome a six-run inning, but I thought our guys did a good job offensively to grind back and get back in it."
Maryland was behind early, facing a 1-0 deficit after two full, but the Terrapins would rally for six in the fourth inning to take the decisive advantage. The frame began with a leadoff single before Nick Cieri homered to give Maryland the 2-1 lead. A walk in the next at-bat put one on for Anthony Papio, who homered to left to extend the Terrapin advantage.
One more walk was followed by two outs before Alabama starter Jake Walters (0-1) exited the game. Facing the new Crimson Tide pitcher, Dylan Duarte, Madison Nickens would fall behind 1-2 before catching the lefty on the next pitch, homering into the right field terrace to expand the Maryland lead to 6-1. The Crimson Tide would add one in the fourth and fifth before putting up a two-spot in the sixth to narrow the lead to two, but the Terps sealed the victory with a two-run eighth.
Alabama struck first, using a walk and three singles to score the game's first run. Cody Henry led off the bottom half of the second with a walk and was followed by a Cobie Vance single to right. One out later, Connor Short lined a single to left to load the bases for Chance Vincent who would answer with a single to right, bringing across Henry and giving Alabama the 1-0 lead through two full.
Maryland erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth, using the trio of two-run homers to chase Walters and take the 6-1 lead. The Tide countered with a homer of its own in the bottom of the fourth, using a solo shot by Vance to move the margin to 6-2.
The Terps moved in front 7-2 in the fifth, using a leadoff double and then a single to widen the advantage, but the Tide would once again counter with a run of its own. Georgie Salem would use his leadoff walk to eventually score two outs later when Vance collected his second hit of the day, a single to left to set the tally at 7-3.
The Tide continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the sixth, collecting two runs on the back of two hits and an error. Short led off the frame with a double - his third hit of the day - and was followed by Vincent, who singled to center to bring the leadoff man across. Staying alert, Vincent advanced to second on the throw home and then an error by the Maryland catcher allowed the senior to move to third. One out later, an infield groundout plated Vincent and slotted Alabama closer at 7-5 after six innings of play.
Maryland's bullpen would hold the Tide scoreless the rest of the way to notch the win. The Terps added two runs in the top half of the eighth to put the game out of reach.
Vance led the Crimson Tide in hitting, finishing 4-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Short and Vincent each contributed three hits and one run apiece, with Vincent adding two RBI to the team totals.
Alabama and Maryland will return to the diamond tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT inside Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide will send junior righty Nick Eicholtz to the mound while the Terps will call on sophomore right-hander Brian Shaffer in the series-deciding game 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:
