The Tide scored three in the ninth but could not complete the comeback
4/14/2018
COLLEGE STATION, TX – A late surge by the Crimson Tide offense was not enough, as Alabama baseball came up short at No. 19 Texas A&M, 9-6, on Friday night at Blue Bell Park. The Aggies claimed the series win with the victory, while the Tide moved to 21-15 on the season and 5-9 in Southeastern Conference play.
Alabama entered the ninth trailing by six, but the Tide reached a pair before freshman Sam Praytor homered with two outs to make it a 9-6 contest. A single from junior Jett Manning followed, but a strikeout ended the game with the tying run in the on-deck circle.
The Aggies jumped out front early on Friday night with five runs in the bottom of the second which would prove the difference by night's end. The two teams matched runs with one apiece in the third, fifth and sixth innings, and A&M added one tally in the fourth. Alabama had its chances, advancing runners into scoring position in six of the nine innings, but could not overcome the early five-run deficit.
Texas A&M put together a five-run frame in the second, with the Aggies scoring all their runs with two outs. A walk and single put two on to start the inning before a deep flyout moved the man from second up 90 feet. A 4-3 groundout then crossed the game's first run. The next Aggie hitter was hit by a pitch and a single followed, bringing in the inning's second run. With two still aboard, A&M registered a three-run home run to take a 5-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide got on the board in the top of the third, cutting the deficit to 5-1. Senior Chandler Avant drew a two-out walk and was followed by another free pass, this one to junior Chandler Taylor. With a pair on, senior Hunter Alexander doubled off the top of the wall in left, narrowly missing a home run, but bringing in one run for UA.
Texas A&M added single tallies in the third and fourth innings to make it a 7-1 game after four. Alabama cut into the lead again in the fifth with one run, setting things at 7-2. The Tide loaded the bases with a one-out single from Taylor followed by an Alexander walk and an error in junior Joe Breaux's at-bat. A groundout to third in the next at-bat crossed the runner from third for the Tide's second run. A&M came right back in the home half of the fifth, scoring one to add to the advantage at 8-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Tide recorded its third run of the night. The rally begin with a one-out error by the Aggies that allowed sophomore Walker McCleney to reach. McCleney advanced to second on a walk and a Taylor single through the right side brought in the Tide center fielder, making it an 8-3 game. Texas A&M answered with a run of its own in the home half to make it a 9-3 game after six full.
Alabama mounted a comeback in the ninth, scoring three runs on three hits and an error to set the score at 9-6 but would get no closer.
Texas A&M starter Mitchell Kilkenny (8-0) earned the win while Asa Lacy collected his first save of the season. Alabama starter Jake Walters (2-4) suffered the loss.
Six of the nine Tide starters recorded at least one hit, with four of the hitters tallying multi-hit games. Taylor paced UA, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a team-high two runs scored. Also contributing multi-hit outings were Breaux, Manning and Praytor. The freshman backstop Praytor doubled, scored one run and contributed a team-leading four RBI on the night to go with the first home run of his career.
The series wraps up on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch at Blue Bell Park. Alabama will look to redshirt freshman Garret Rukes, a left-hander, in the start while A&M will counter with junior righty Stephen Kolek. The game can be seen live on 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:
4/14/2018
COLLEGE STATION, TX – A late surge by the Crimson Tide offense was not enough, as Alabama baseball came up short at No. 19 Texas A&M, 9-6, on Friday night at Blue Bell Park. The Aggies claimed the series win with the victory, while the Tide moved to 21-15 on the season and 5-9 in Southeastern Conference play.
Alabama entered the ninth trailing by six, but the Tide reached a pair before freshman Sam Praytor homered with two outs to make it a 9-6 contest. A single from junior Jett Manning followed, but a strikeout ended the game with the tying run in the on-deck circle.
The Aggies jumped out front early on Friday night with five runs in the bottom of the second which would prove the difference by night's end. The two teams matched runs with one apiece in the third, fifth and sixth innings, and A&M added one tally in the fourth. Alabama had its chances, advancing runners into scoring position in six of the nine innings, but could not overcome the early five-run deficit.
Texas A&M put together a five-run frame in the second, with the Aggies scoring all their runs with two outs. A walk and single put two on to start the inning before a deep flyout moved the man from second up 90 feet. A 4-3 groundout then crossed the game's first run. The next Aggie hitter was hit by a pitch and a single followed, bringing in the inning's second run. With two still aboard, A&M registered a three-run home run to take a 5-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide got on the board in the top of the third, cutting the deficit to 5-1. Senior Chandler Avant drew a two-out walk and was followed by another free pass, this one to junior Chandler Taylor. With a pair on, senior Hunter Alexander doubled off the top of the wall in left, narrowly missing a home run, but bringing in one run for UA.
Texas A&M added single tallies in the third and fourth innings to make it a 7-1 game after four. Alabama cut into the lead again in the fifth with one run, setting things at 7-2. The Tide loaded the bases with a one-out single from Taylor followed by an Alexander walk and an error in junior Joe Breaux's at-bat. A groundout to third in the next at-bat crossed the runner from third for the Tide's second run. A&M came right back in the home half of the fifth, scoring one to add to the advantage at 8-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Tide recorded its third run of the night. The rally begin with a one-out error by the Aggies that allowed sophomore Walker McCleney to reach. McCleney advanced to second on a walk and a Taylor single through the right side brought in the Tide center fielder, making it an 8-3 game. Texas A&M answered with a run of its own in the home half to make it a 9-3 game after six full.
Alabama mounted a comeback in the ninth, scoring three runs on three hits and an error to set the score at 9-6 but would get no closer.
Texas A&M starter Mitchell Kilkenny (8-0) earned the win while Asa Lacy collected his first save of the season. Alabama starter Jake Walters (2-4) suffered the loss.
Six of the nine Tide starters recorded at least one hit, with four of the hitters tallying multi-hit games. Taylor paced UA, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a team-high two runs scored. Also contributing multi-hit outings were Breaux, Manning and Praytor. The freshman backstop Praytor doubled, scored one run and contributed a team-leading four RBI on the night to go with the first home run of his career.
The series wraps up on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch at Blue Bell Park. Alabama will look to redshirt freshman Garret Rukes, a left-hander, in the start while A&M will counter with junior righty Stephen Kolek. The game can be seen live on 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:
