The Bulldogs homered with one down and a runner on to claim the win
April 26, 2016
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Alabama baseball suffered a walkoff loss at Samford, 3-2, as the Bulldogs homered with one down in the ninth for the win. Following the midweek game, the Crimson Tide is now 24-18 overall.
"We missed some opportunities, particularly there in the ninth when we had two in scoring position and didn't add one more," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "I thought our freshmen threw the ball really well; we sent four of them out there and they all did a good job of keeping us in the game. We played good defense, too, but we just missed some opportunities and that was really the difference in the game today."
A one-out, two-run home run from the Bulldogs in the ninth handed Alabama the loss.
Samford scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second. The Bulldogs led the inning off with a double and followed immediately with a single to bring the man home, taking the early 1-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide evened things up in the top of the seventh, thanks to a solo home run from Daniel Cucjen. The shortstop took a 1-0 pitch to left that was hooking but stayed fair to make it a 1-1 game. The home run was the second of Cucjen's career, with his other roundtripper coming on Feb. 15, 2014, against St. Louis.
Alabama broke the game's tie in the top of the ninth, taking its first lead of the game. Daniel Cucjen led off the inning with a single before a Samford pitching change. Cucjen moved to second on a wild pitch and then a Gene Wood 4-3 groundout to the right side moved Cucjen 90 feet away. Georgie Salem walked to put runners on the corners before Cobie Vance slapped a single past a diving first baseman to bring the go-ahead run across to give UA the 2-1 lead.
Samford walked it off in the ninth with a two-run home run to claim the 3-2 win.
Cucjen finished 2-for-4 with the home run and both of the Crimson Tide's runs. Also recording a pair of hits was Chance Vincent, with the senior finishing 2-for-4 with a double.
Alabama rallied for the go-ahead run in the ninth thanks to the Vance single to go in front for the first time on the night. In the final half inning, Finnerty shut the Bulldogs down to claim the save.
The Crimson Tide will now return home to Tuscaloosa to prepare for a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series with third-ranked Mississippi State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Thursday's series opener will air nationally on ESPNU with a 6:30 p.m. CT start. Friday's second game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT while Saturday's finale is slated for a 3 p.m. CT first pitch. The final two games of the series will air 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:
April 26, 2016
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Alabama baseball suffered a walkoff loss at Samford, 3-2, as the Bulldogs homered with one down in the ninth for the win. Following the midweek game, the Crimson Tide is now 24-18 overall.
"We missed some opportunities, particularly there in the ninth when we had two in scoring position and didn't add one more," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "I thought our freshmen threw the ball really well; we sent four of them out there and they all did a good job of keeping us in the game. We played good defense, too, but we just missed some opportunities and that was really the difference in the game today."
A one-out, two-run home run from the Bulldogs in the ninth handed Alabama the loss.
Samford scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second. The Bulldogs led the inning off with a double and followed immediately with a single to bring the man home, taking the early 1-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide evened things up in the top of the seventh, thanks to a solo home run from Daniel Cucjen. The shortstop took a 1-0 pitch to left that was hooking but stayed fair to make it a 1-1 game. The home run was the second of Cucjen's career, with his other roundtripper coming on Feb. 15, 2014, against St. Louis.
Alabama broke the game's tie in the top of the ninth, taking its first lead of the game. Daniel Cucjen led off the inning with a single before a Samford pitching change. Cucjen moved to second on a wild pitch and then a Gene Wood 4-3 groundout to the right side moved Cucjen 90 feet away. Georgie Salem walked to put runners on the corners before Cobie Vance slapped a single past a diving first baseman to bring the go-ahead run across to give UA the 2-1 lead.
Samford walked it off in the ninth with a two-run home run to claim the 3-2 win.
Cucjen finished 2-for-4 with the home run and both of the Crimson Tide's runs. Also recording a pair of hits was Chance Vincent, with the senior finishing 2-for-4 with a double.
Alabama rallied for the go-ahead run in the ninth thanks to the Vance single to go in front for the first time on the night. In the final half inning, Finnerty shut the Bulldogs down to claim the save.
The Crimson Tide will now return home to Tuscaloosa to prepare for a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series with third-ranked Mississippi State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Thursday's series opener will air nationally on ESPNU with a 6:30 p.m. CT start. Friday's second game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT while Saturday's finale is slated for a 3 p.m. CT first pitch. The final two games of the series will air 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:
