Tide blew the game open in the eighth after taking a one-run lead an inning earlier
3/1/2019
MOBILE, AL – A three-run eighth put the game out of reach, as Alabama baseball came away with a 7-3 win over South Alabama on Friday night at Stanky Field. The Crimson Tide's first road victory of the season improves the team's overall record to 8-2.
"This was a really good win for us all around," said head coach Brad Bohannon. "(Sam) Finnerty and (Casey) Cobb were awesome on the mound, really pounded the strike zone. (South Alabama) did help us a little bit with the walks, but, to our credit, we took advantage of it. This was a really impressive win against a good team on the road."
Alabama was able to jump out to an early two-run advantage, but a three-run homer by South Alabama in the third gave the Jaguars the lead. The Crimson Tide answered back three innings later, plating one run in both the sixth and seventh innings followed by the huge three-run eighth to blow things open.
The Crimson Tide offense was patient at the plate, drawing a season-high 10 walks in addition to the nine hits. All nine starters on offense reached base safely with eight of the nine recording a hit. Sophomore Tyler Gentry and freshman Drew Williamson each recorded three base-on-balls, while junior Justin King led the team in hits with a 2-for-4 night that included a double, an RBI and one of the team's walks.
On the mound, Sam Finnerty (3-0) tossed another quality start for UA. The senior worked 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with four punchouts. He ended his night by retiring seven straight before handing the ball over to Casey Cobb. The junior right-hander notched his first save of the season with 3.0 scoreless frames that included three punchouts and only one hit allowed.
Both teams went scoreless in the first before Alabama made its mark in the second with a pair of runs for the 2-0 lead. Two walks began the frame before King found space in the left field corner for an RBI-double to cross the game's first run. Another walk loaded the bases for Kolby Robinson, with the junior sending a liner to right for a sacrifice fly and an RBI, giving UA the early advantage.
In the third, South Alabama singled to lead off the inning before drawing a one-out walk to put two aboard. The next hitter sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right to put the Jaguars in front, 3-2, through three full. Alabama did not allow USA to hold the lead for long, putting up the tying run in the top of the sixth. A walk with one down to Gentry followed by a single and a walk loaded the bases for the Crimson Tide, forcing a call to the pen for the Jaguars. The new reliever got a flyout deep to left from Robinson, but just deep enough to let Gentry tag from third and make it a 3-3 contest.
Alabama followed up with another run in the seventh to regain the lead. A two-out walk to Morgan McCullough gave the Tide life before senior Keith Holcombe brought the junior second baseman home on an RBI-triple, giving UA a one-run lead at 4-3.
The one run would not be the end for Alabama, as the Tide blew things open with a three-run eighth. Williamson reached once again, doubling in his fourth plate appearance of the night to lead things off in the inning. One out later, junior Kobe Morris blooped a single just behind the Jaguar first baseman to allow Williamson to score. Another single, this one from senior Joe Breaux, forced a USA pitching change.
The swap did not put an end to the Tide's hot hitting. Junior Brett Auerbach greeted the new arm with an RBI single and good baserunning from Breaux placed runners on the corners, still with one down. A fourth single followed, with McCullough crossing Breaux to end the scoring and set things at 7-3, the eventual final, as Cobb shut the door on the Jaguars.
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader at Stanky Field. Game one of the day will begin at 2 p.m. as originally scheduled with the second contest set to start 45 minutes after the final out of the first matchup. The Crimson Tide will look to freshman right-hander Connor Shamblin to start the afternoon followed by another righty in redshirt junior Brock Love for game two. The Jaguars will send JoJo Booker, a sophomore righty, to the hill to start the day and then redshirt junior southpaw Caleb Yarbrough will get the nod in game two.
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:
3/1/2019
MOBILE, AL – A three-run eighth put the game out of reach, as Alabama baseball came away with a 7-3 win over South Alabama on Friday night at Stanky Field. The Crimson Tide's first road victory of the season improves the team's overall record to 8-2.
"This was a really good win for us all around," said head coach Brad Bohannon. "(Sam) Finnerty and (Casey) Cobb were awesome on the mound, really pounded the strike zone. (South Alabama) did help us a little bit with the walks, but, to our credit, we took advantage of it. This was a really impressive win against a good team on the road."
Alabama was able to jump out to an early two-run advantage, but a three-run homer by South Alabama in the third gave the Jaguars the lead. The Crimson Tide answered back three innings later, plating one run in both the sixth and seventh innings followed by the huge three-run eighth to blow things open.
The Crimson Tide offense was patient at the plate, drawing a season-high 10 walks in addition to the nine hits. All nine starters on offense reached base safely with eight of the nine recording a hit. Sophomore Tyler Gentry and freshman Drew Williamson each recorded three base-on-balls, while junior Justin King led the team in hits with a 2-for-4 night that included a double, an RBI and one of the team's walks.
On the mound, Sam Finnerty (3-0) tossed another quality start for UA. The senior worked 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with four punchouts. He ended his night by retiring seven straight before handing the ball over to Casey Cobb. The junior right-hander notched his first save of the season with 3.0 scoreless frames that included three punchouts and only one hit allowed.
Both teams went scoreless in the first before Alabama made its mark in the second with a pair of runs for the 2-0 lead. Two walks began the frame before King found space in the left field corner for an RBI-double to cross the game's first run. Another walk loaded the bases for Kolby Robinson, with the junior sending a liner to right for a sacrifice fly and an RBI, giving UA the early advantage.
In the third, South Alabama singled to lead off the inning before drawing a one-out walk to put two aboard. The next hitter sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right to put the Jaguars in front, 3-2, through three full. Alabama did not allow USA to hold the lead for long, putting up the tying run in the top of the sixth. A walk with one down to Gentry followed by a single and a walk loaded the bases for the Crimson Tide, forcing a call to the pen for the Jaguars. The new reliever got a flyout deep to left from Robinson, but just deep enough to let Gentry tag from third and make it a 3-3 contest.
Alabama followed up with another run in the seventh to regain the lead. A two-out walk to Morgan McCullough gave the Tide life before senior Keith Holcombe brought the junior second baseman home on an RBI-triple, giving UA a one-run lead at 4-3.
The one run would not be the end for Alabama, as the Tide blew things open with a three-run eighth. Williamson reached once again, doubling in his fourth plate appearance of the night to lead things off in the inning. One out later, junior Kobe Morris blooped a single just behind the Jaguar first baseman to allow Williamson to score. Another single, this one from senior Joe Breaux, forced a USA pitching change.
The swap did not put an end to the Tide's hot hitting. Junior Brett Auerbach greeted the new arm with an RBI single and good baserunning from Breaux placed runners on the corners, still with one down. A fourth single followed, with McCullough crossing Breaux to end the scoring and set things at 7-3, the eventual final, as Cobb shut the door on the Jaguars.
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader at Stanky Field. Game one of the day will begin at 2 p.m. as originally scheduled with the second contest set to start 45 minutes after the final out of the first matchup. The Crimson Tide will look to freshman right-hander Connor Shamblin to start the afternoon followed by another righty in redshirt junior Brock Love for game two. The Jaguars will send JoJo Booker, a sophomore righty, to the hill to start the day and then redshirt junior southpaw Caleb Yarbrough will get the nod in game two.
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:
