The Crimson Tide and Lions will meet for the 22nd time in series history when the two teams start the series on Tuesday
2/25/2019
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball wraps up its nine-game homestand this week with two contests against North Alabama. The Crimson Tide and Lions are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch on Tuesday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium followed by a 3 p.m. start on Wednesday to complete the quick series. Both games in the midweek can be seen live on SEC Network+.
The Tuesday matchup with North Alabama will be the first true "$2 Tuesday" game, one of the Crimson Tide's season-long promotions at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Tuesday's contest will be a $2 Tuesday where fans can get $2 general admission tickets at the window or online. Once inside The Joe, those in attendance can take advantage of $2 hot dogs at all concession stands.
FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow the midweek series via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: RollTide.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
TUESDAY: UA – Wil Freeman (Jr., RHP) vs. UNA – Adam Mancour (Sr., LHP)
WEDNESDAY: UA – TBA vs. UNA – Kyle Moore (Jr., RHP)
LEADING OFF
• Alabama and North Alabama will meet for the 22nd time in series history when the two teams square off for the series opener on Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide holds the all-time series advantage, 19-2, and is 17-1 overall in Tuscaloosa.
• The two in-state foes last met on March 11, 2008, in Florence, with Alabama securing a 17-2 win on the road. Prior to the two midweek matchups on deck, the Crimson Tide and Lions have not met for consecutive games since a doubleheader on March 21, 1979, in Tuscaloosa.
• North Alabama came away victorious, 10-3, in the initial matchup between the two schools on April 1, 1967 in Florence, before the Tide rallied off 14 consecutive wins. UNA then defeated Alabama, 4-3, on Feb. 28, 1985 to break the streak. Following that loss, UA has won each of the last five meetings, outscoring the Lions by a 48-13 margin across that time.
• Alabama will start the two-game stretch with junior Wil Freeman on Tuesday, a right-hander. Wednesday's pitcher is still to be announced for the Crimson Tide.
• North Alabama will begin the series with senior southpaw Adam Mancour on the hill Tuesday. The Lions will follow up by sending junior Kyle Moore, a right-hander, to the mound for Wednesday's matchup.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama wrapped up the week at 3-1, first taking down Jacksonville State on Monday and then defeating Ball State in two of three games on the weekend.
• It was a huge week for Keith Holcombe. The senior batted at a .538 (7-13) clip with a team-high three doubles, 12 RBI and two stolen bases in as many attempts. Holcombe added a home run, four runs scored and two walks across the four games while slugging a team-high 1.000 and sporting a team-best .563 on-base percentage. He contributed at least one RBI across all four games and reached base safely in each contest to extend his streak to 21 consecutive games in which he has reached.
• A seven-run second inning highlighted Alabama's big offensive output on Monday evening, finishing in a 13-2 win over Jacksonville State. The Crimson Tide hitters tallied 13 runs on 10 hits, including a seven-run second that put the game out of reach for JSU early.
• Holcombe and sophomore Tyler Gentry each finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI. Both of Holcombe's hits were doubles, with the senior also contributing a team-high tying two runs. Also notching a multi-hit effort was Morgan McCullough, as the junior wrapped up his day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
• On the hill, the Tide saw six pitchers take the mound with redshirt junior Kyle Cameron earning the win. The right-hander filled up the zone with 20 strikes on his 25 pitches across 2.0 shutout frames that included three strikeouts.
• Senior starter Sam Finnerty's strong effort on the mound helped UA claim a 7-1 win over Ball State in Friday's series opener at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Finnerty was dominant, using just 68 pitches to cruise through 7.0 shutout innings for the win. The righty did not issue a walk and allowed just three singles, retiring 10 straight at one point. He added six strikeouts to his line for a new career-high mark as a starter. A rain delay ended Finnerty's night early.
• The Crimson Tide offensive output was headed by Holcombe once again. The senior finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a pair of runs scored and a career-high tying four RBI. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Kolby Robinson, with the junior going 2-for-3 with a double and adding a walk and a run.
• Alabama rallied late but was unable to complete the comeback in an 8-5 loss to Ball State that started on Saturday and was completed on Sunday. The Tide entered the ninth down four and rallied for a run but could not complete the comeback.
• UA used three arms to one-hit Ball State in the Crimson Tide's 6-0, shutout win over the Cardinals, earning the Sunday victory while also claiming the series. Connor Shamblin earned his second win as many starts with 5.0 no-hit innings. The freshman starter added five strikeouts with just one walk before handing it over to the bullpen.
• Junior Casey Cobb followed with 3.0 frames that included one strikeout, and graduate transfer Jeremy Randolph closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth, all by way of the strikeout.
• Alabama's offense matched the effort on the mound with 11 hits, including a season-high four doubles, on the way to six runs. The Tide's 1-through-4 hitters combined to go 9-for-17 with all four of the two baggers and added six RBI along with four runs scored.
• Holcombe wrapped up his day a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a career-high tying four RBI. Matching Holcombe in the hit column Brett Auerbach, with the junior finishing 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a team-high two runs.
• Alabama returned 13 letterwinners while losing 18 from the 2018 squad. The 2019 Crimson Tide welcomed back three positional starters and two starting pitchers while hosting 22 newcomers.
ABOUT NORTH ALABAMA
• Mike Keehn is in his 11th season with the Lions in 2019 and owned a 308-201-1 entering the new campaign. Keehn is joined by assistant head coach Anthony DeCicco and assistant coach Nick McGregor along with volunteer assistant Chase Scott.
• North Alabama returns 15 letter winners, including four starters, from the 2018 team that finished 31-20 overall in the Lions' final season of Division II play. The 2019 roster is without 13 lettermen from a season ago, a number that includes five positional starters.
• The Lions were selected to finish eighth overall in the Atlantic Sun in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
ON DECK
Alabama will take to the road for the first time this season, traveling three hours south to Mobile for a weekend series with South Alabama to begin the month of March. Friday's series opener at Stanky Field is slated for 6:30 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and a scheduled 1 p.m. start on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast through USA's website.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
2/25/2019
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball wraps up its nine-game homestand this week with two contests against North Alabama. The Crimson Tide and Lions are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch on Tuesday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium followed by a 3 p.m. start on Wednesday to complete the quick series. Both games in the midweek can be seen live on SEC Network+.
The Tuesday matchup with North Alabama will be the first true "$2 Tuesday" game, one of the Crimson Tide's season-long promotions at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Tuesday's contest will be a $2 Tuesday where fans can get $2 general admission tickets at the window or online. Once inside The Joe, those in attendance can take advantage of $2 hot dogs at all concession stands.
FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow the midweek series via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: RollTide.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
TUESDAY: UA – Wil Freeman (Jr., RHP) vs. UNA – Adam Mancour (Sr., LHP)
WEDNESDAY: UA – TBA vs. UNA – Kyle Moore (Jr., RHP)
LEADING OFF
• Alabama and North Alabama will meet for the 22nd time in series history when the two teams square off for the series opener on Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide holds the all-time series advantage, 19-2, and is 17-1 overall in Tuscaloosa.
• The two in-state foes last met on March 11, 2008, in Florence, with Alabama securing a 17-2 win on the road. Prior to the two midweek matchups on deck, the Crimson Tide and Lions have not met for consecutive games since a doubleheader on March 21, 1979, in Tuscaloosa.
• North Alabama came away victorious, 10-3, in the initial matchup between the two schools on April 1, 1967 in Florence, before the Tide rallied off 14 consecutive wins. UNA then defeated Alabama, 4-3, on Feb. 28, 1985 to break the streak. Following that loss, UA has won each of the last five meetings, outscoring the Lions by a 48-13 margin across that time.
• Alabama will start the two-game stretch with junior Wil Freeman on Tuesday, a right-hander. Wednesday's pitcher is still to be announced for the Crimson Tide.
• North Alabama will begin the series with senior southpaw Adam Mancour on the hill Tuesday. The Lions will follow up by sending junior Kyle Moore, a right-hander, to the mound for Wednesday's matchup.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama wrapped up the week at 3-1, first taking down Jacksonville State on Monday and then defeating Ball State in two of three games on the weekend.
• It was a huge week for Keith Holcombe. The senior batted at a .538 (7-13) clip with a team-high three doubles, 12 RBI and two stolen bases in as many attempts. Holcombe added a home run, four runs scored and two walks across the four games while slugging a team-high 1.000 and sporting a team-best .563 on-base percentage. He contributed at least one RBI across all four games and reached base safely in each contest to extend his streak to 21 consecutive games in which he has reached.
• A seven-run second inning highlighted Alabama's big offensive output on Monday evening, finishing in a 13-2 win over Jacksonville State. The Crimson Tide hitters tallied 13 runs on 10 hits, including a seven-run second that put the game out of reach for JSU early.
• Holcombe and sophomore Tyler Gentry each finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI. Both of Holcombe's hits were doubles, with the senior also contributing a team-high tying two runs. Also notching a multi-hit effort was Morgan McCullough, as the junior wrapped up his day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
• On the hill, the Tide saw six pitchers take the mound with redshirt junior Kyle Cameron earning the win. The right-hander filled up the zone with 20 strikes on his 25 pitches across 2.0 shutout frames that included three strikeouts.
• Senior starter Sam Finnerty's strong effort on the mound helped UA claim a 7-1 win over Ball State in Friday's series opener at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Finnerty was dominant, using just 68 pitches to cruise through 7.0 shutout innings for the win. The righty did not issue a walk and allowed just three singles, retiring 10 straight at one point. He added six strikeouts to his line for a new career-high mark as a starter. A rain delay ended Finnerty's night early.
• The Crimson Tide offensive output was headed by Holcombe once again. The senior finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a pair of runs scored and a career-high tying four RBI. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Kolby Robinson, with the junior going 2-for-3 with a double and adding a walk and a run.
• Alabama rallied late but was unable to complete the comeback in an 8-5 loss to Ball State that started on Saturday and was completed on Sunday. The Tide entered the ninth down four and rallied for a run but could not complete the comeback.
• UA used three arms to one-hit Ball State in the Crimson Tide's 6-0, shutout win over the Cardinals, earning the Sunday victory while also claiming the series. Connor Shamblin earned his second win as many starts with 5.0 no-hit innings. The freshman starter added five strikeouts with just one walk before handing it over to the bullpen.
• Junior Casey Cobb followed with 3.0 frames that included one strikeout, and graduate transfer Jeremy Randolph closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth, all by way of the strikeout.
• Alabama's offense matched the effort on the mound with 11 hits, including a season-high four doubles, on the way to six runs. The Tide's 1-through-4 hitters combined to go 9-for-17 with all four of the two baggers and added six RBI along with four runs scored.
• Holcombe wrapped up his day a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a career-high tying four RBI. Matching Holcombe in the hit column Brett Auerbach, with the junior finishing 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a team-high two runs.
• Alabama returned 13 letterwinners while losing 18 from the 2018 squad. The 2019 Crimson Tide welcomed back three positional starters and two starting pitchers while hosting 22 newcomers.
ABOUT NORTH ALABAMA
• Mike Keehn is in his 11th season with the Lions in 2019 and owned a 308-201-1 entering the new campaign. Keehn is joined by assistant head coach Anthony DeCicco and assistant coach Nick McGregor along with volunteer assistant Chase Scott.
• North Alabama returns 15 letter winners, including four starters, from the 2018 team that finished 31-20 overall in the Lions' final season of Division II play. The 2019 roster is without 13 lettermen from a season ago, a number that includes five positional starters.
• The Lions were selected to finish eighth overall in the Atlantic Sun in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
ON DECK
Alabama will take to the road for the first time this season, traveling three hours south to Mobile for a weekend series with South Alabama to begin the month of March. Friday's series opener at Stanky Field is slated for 6:30 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and a scheduled 1 p.m. start on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast through USA's website.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
