The Crimson Tide and Gators will meet for the 118th time in series history on Friday evening
3/28/2019
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama continues its stretch on the road with a three-game series in Gainesville this weekend against 15th-ranked Florida. The Crimson Tide and the Gators are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. CT first pitch on both Friday and Saturday followed by a Noon CT start on Sunday. The three games at McKethan Stadium can be seen live on SEC Network+.
FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow this weekend's games via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: FloridaGators.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY: UA – Sam Finnerty (Sr., RHP) vs. UF – Tommy Mace (So., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA – Brock Love (R-Jr., RHP) vs. UF – Tyler Dyson (Jr., RHP)
SUNDAY: UA – TBA vs. UF – Jack Leftwich (So., RHP)
LEADING OFF
• Alabama and Florida will meet for the 118th time in series history when the two teams square off for the series opener on Friday night at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium. Florida holds the all-time series advantage, 60-57, including a 30-18 mark in Gainesville.
• The two conference foes last met for a series from May 12-14, 2017, in Tuscaloosa, with the seventh-ranked Gators earning the sweep. The Crimson Tide came up short in the opener, 2-1. The Crimson Tide received a quality start from Jake Walters who tossed 7.0 innings of one-run baseball, allowing only two hits while striking out a season-high tying eight batters. Walters' lone mistake of the night came on a 3-1 pitch to JJ Schwarz for a solo home run in the seventh. Florida continued with a 13-6 win on Saturday night and a 10-5 victory on Sunday afternoon to secure the sweep.
• Alabama enters the weekend in Gainesville with senior right-hander Sam Finnerty slotted in the Friday night starter spot. The Crimson Tide will send righty Brock Love, a redshirt junior, to the hill on Saturday with Sunday's starter still to be announced.
• Florida will use a trio of righties this weekend. The Gators call on sophomore Tommy Mace on Friday to open the series followed by junior Tyler Dyson on Saturday. Sophomore Jack Leftwich will get the nod on Sunday in game three of the series.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama enters the weekend in Gainesville having gone 2-2 over the last four games. The Crimson Tide pitched a 10-0 shutout of ninth-ranked Arkansas last Saturday as part of the weekend series before downing No. 12 Auburn by a score of 6-3 in the annual MAX Capital City Classic in Montgomery on Tuesday evening.
• The Crimson Tide suffered a 12-3 loss at the hands of ninth-ranked Arkansas on Friday. The Razorbacks scored one in the first before putting up six in the second and another single tally in the third to put the game out of reach. Arkansas widened their lead with two apiece in both the eighth and the ninth to end their scoring at 12. Alabama was able to post three runs in the ninth, but the late rally was not enough in the end.
• Alabama turned the tables on Saturday, blanking the Razorbacks by a score of 10-0. Alabama excelled on both sides of the ball, posting 10 runs while shutting out the high-powered Razorback offense. All nine Crimson Tide starters reached base safely, with eight of the nine collecting at least one RBI and seven of the starters recording one or more runs scored.
• Keith Holcombe finished his day at 2-for-5 with a double and his third home run of the season. The senior added one RBI and a team-high tying two runs scored. Also recording two hits was Kolby Robinson, with the junior going 2-for-5 and crossing a team-high three RBI to go with his one run scored.
• On the mound, redshirt junior Brock Love earned his third win of the season thanks to a career-long 5.1 scoreless frames. The right-hander allowed two hits and three walks while striking out one across his 83 pitches before turning it over to the bullpen. Brock Guffey followed, with the sophomore matching his career-long for innings at 2.2 before freshman Connor Shamblin closed things out with a scoreless ninth.
• The Crimson Tide fell to Arkansas by a score of 10-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Razorbacks got on the board first with two runs apiece in the first and third frames. Alabama cut the early lead in half with a two-run fourth, but four runs in the fifth and another pair in the eighth secured the series-clinching win for the Hogs.
• A three-run eighth helped Alabama secure the 6-3 win over 12th-ranked Auburn on Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium. The victory was UA's first in the neutral site matchup since 2014.
• The Crimson Tide offense was led by Drew Williamson who earned MVP honors in the Capital City Classic. The freshman finished a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Senior Joe Breaux also contributed a multi-hit effort, finishing 2-for-3 with a double plus a team-high three RBI and two walks.
• Alabama utilized a season-high eight arms on the mound with Jeremy Randolph earning his first win of the season. The graduate transfer tossed the final 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out two, including the game's final out.
• The Tide and Tigers played the game in front of a Riverwalk Stadium record-setting attendance total of 7,896.
• 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 FLORIDA
• Kevin O'Sullivan is in his 12th season with the Gators in 2019 and entered the new campaign with a career record of 497-229 - all in Gainesville. His time at UF is highlighted by five SEC Championships, seven NCAA College World Series appearances and one National Championship in 2017. O'Sullivan is joined by assistant coaches Craig Bell and Brad Weitzel along with volunteer assistant coach Lars Davis.
• Florida returned 15 letterwinners, including five positional starters and seven pitchers, from the 2018 team that finished 49-21 overall and 20-10 in SEC action to finish first in the East. The Gators went on to advance to the CWS where they were eliminated by Arkansas. The 2019 roster is without 12 lettermen from a season ago, a number that includes four positional starters and seven pitchers. The 2019 UF roster features 15 newcomers, 11 of which are freshmen.
• The Gators were selected to finish second in the East and third overall in the SEC in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
ON DECK
Alabama returns home for a four-game stretch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, first with a matchup on Tuesday, April 2 against Troy. First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Trojans is set for 6 p.m. CT with the game airing live on SEC Network+.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
3/28/2019
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama continues its stretch on the road with a three-game series in Gainesville this weekend against 15th-ranked Florida. The Crimson Tide and the Gators are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. CT first pitch on both Friday and Saturday followed by a Noon CT start on Sunday. The three games at McKethan Stadium can be seen live on SEC Network+.
FOLLOW THE TIDE
Fans can follow this weekend's games via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 102.9 FM / CTSN / TuneIn App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: FloridaGators.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY: UA – Sam Finnerty (Sr., RHP) vs. UF – Tommy Mace (So., RHP)
SATURDAY: UA – Brock Love (R-Jr., RHP) vs. UF – Tyler Dyson (Jr., RHP)
SUNDAY: UA – TBA vs. UF – Jack Leftwich (So., RHP)
LEADING OFF
• Alabama and Florida will meet for the 118th time in series history when the two teams square off for the series opener on Friday night at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium. Florida holds the all-time series advantage, 60-57, including a 30-18 mark in Gainesville.
• The two conference foes last met for a series from May 12-14, 2017, in Tuscaloosa, with the seventh-ranked Gators earning the sweep. The Crimson Tide came up short in the opener, 2-1. The Crimson Tide received a quality start from Jake Walters who tossed 7.0 innings of one-run baseball, allowing only two hits while striking out a season-high tying eight batters. Walters' lone mistake of the night came on a 3-1 pitch to JJ Schwarz for a solo home run in the seventh. Florida continued with a 13-6 win on Saturday night and a 10-5 victory on Sunday afternoon to secure the sweep.
• Alabama enters the weekend in Gainesville with senior right-hander Sam Finnerty slotted in the Friday night starter spot. The Crimson Tide will send righty Brock Love, a redshirt junior, to the hill on Saturday with Sunday's starter still to be announced.
• Florida will use a trio of righties this weekend. The Gators call on sophomore Tommy Mace on Friday to open the series followed by junior Tyler Dyson on Saturday. Sophomore Jack Leftwich will get the nod on Sunday in game three of the series.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama enters the weekend in Gainesville having gone 2-2 over the last four games. The Crimson Tide pitched a 10-0 shutout of ninth-ranked Arkansas last Saturday as part of the weekend series before downing No. 12 Auburn by a score of 6-3 in the annual MAX Capital City Classic in Montgomery on Tuesday evening.
• The Crimson Tide suffered a 12-3 loss at the hands of ninth-ranked Arkansas on Friday. The Razorbacks scored one in the first before putting up six in the second and another single tally in the third to put the game out of reach. Arkansas widened their lead with two apiece in both the eighth and the ninth to end their scoring at 12. Alabama was able to post three runs in the ninth, but the late rally was not enough in the end.
• Alabama turned the tables on Saturday, blanking the Razorbacks by a score of 10-0. Alabama excelled on both sides of the ball, posting 10 runs while shutting out the high-powered Razorback offense. All nine Crimson Tide starters reached base safely, with eight of the nine collecting at least one RBI and seven of the starters recording one or more runs scored.
• Keith Holcombe finished his day at 2-for-5 with a double and his third home run of the season. The senior added one RBI and a team-high tying two runs scored. Also recording two hits was Kolby Robinson, with the junior going 2-for-5 and crossing a team-high three RBI to go with his one run scored.
• On the mound, redshirt junior Brock Love earned his third win of the season thanks to a career-long 5.1 scoreless frames. The right-hander allowed two hits and three walks while striking out one across his 83 pitches before turning it over to the bullpen. Brock Guffey followed, with the sophomore matching his career-long for innings at 2.2 before freshman Connor Shamblin closed things out with a scoreless ninth.
• The Crimson Tide fell to Arkansas by a score of 10-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Razorbacks got on the board first with two runs apiece in the first and third frames. Alabama cut the early lead in half with a two-run fourth, but four runs in the fifth and another pair in the eighth secured the series-clinching win for the Hogs.
• A three-run eighth helped Alabama secure the 6-3 win over 12th-ranked Auburn on Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium. The victory was UA's first in the neutral site matchup since 2014.
• The Crimson Tide offense was led by Drew Williamson who earned MVP honors in the Capital City Classic. The freshman finished a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Senior Joe Breaux also contributed a multi-hit effort, finishing 2-for-3 with a double plus a team-high three RBI and two walks.
• Alabama utilized a season-high eight arms on the mound with Jeremy Randolph earning his first win of the season. The graduate transfer tossed the final 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out two, including the game's final out.
• The Tide and Tigers played the game in front of a Riverwalk Stadium record-setting attendance total of 7,896.
• 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 FLORIDA
• Kevin O'Sullivan is in his 12th season with the Gators in 2019 and entered the new campaign with a career record of 497-229 - all in Gainesville. His time at UF is highlighted by five SEC Championships, seven NCAA College World Series appearances and one National Championship in 2017. O'Sullivan is joined by assistant coaches Craig Bell and Brad Weitzel along with volunteer assistant coach Lars Davis.
• Florida returned 15 letterwinners, including five positional starters and seven pitchers, from the 2018 team that finished 49-21 overall and 20-10 in SEC action to finish first in the East. The Gators went on to advance to the CWS where they were eliminated by Arkansas. The 2019 roster is without 12 lettermen from a season ago, a number that includes four positional starters and seven pitchers. The 2019 UF roster features 15 newcomers, 11 of which are freshmen.
• The Gators were selected to finish second in the East and third overall in the SEC in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
ON DECK
Alabama returns home for a four-game stretch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, first with a matchup on Tuesday, April 2 against Troy. First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Trojans is set for 6 p.m. CT with the game airing live on SEC Network+.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
