Alabama Baseball Takes Both Games in UNLV Doubleheader

Alabama baseball opened up its three-game series at UNLV with back-to-back wins over the Rebels on Friday, with the Crimson Tide taking the first game 8-0 and then holding off UNLV for a 5-4 victory in Game 2.

In Game 1, Alabama hit three solo home runs and freshman left-hander Connor Prielipp had another outstanding start.

Sophomore catcher Sam Praytor went 3-for-3 with his first two home runs of the season, and also drew a walk.

The other home run was by senior center fielder Brett Auerbach. The leadoff batter also stole his team-leading fourth base.

Prielipp (2-0) threw five hitless innings to get the win, and retired every batter faced minus one. He struck out eight and walked one.

Sophomore Tyler Ras and junior Ryan O’Connell, who made his Crimson Tide debut, closed out the shutout.

In Game 2, Praytor started his game off with a sacrifice fly to left field, but it was enough to drive in Auerbach for the first run of the ball game.

After the Rebels tied the game in the bottom of the inning, the Crimson Tide came back with another run powered by a double by senior shortstop Kolby Robinson, driving in junior center fielder Jackson Tate.

After Auerbach picked up his second run of the game thanks to a double by junior right fielder Tyler Gentry, UNLV came roaring back with two runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game at three apiece.

The Rebels took the 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but the Crimson Tide wasn't finished yet.

In the top of the eighth, an infield groundout by Prayter moved sophomore left fielder T.J. Reeves across the plate for the tying run.

After UNLV failed to recapture the lead in the bottom of the eighth, Tate hit a home run over the right field fence, giving Alabama the 5-4 lead.

The Rebels were unable to make the comeback, and the Crimson Tide pulled off the comeback win.

Sophomore right hander Connor Shamblin pitched five innings in his start, allowing seven hits and four runs, walking one and striking out four.

Crimson Tide junior left-hander Brock Guffey (1-0) picked up the win for Alabama, pitching one inning, finishing with no runs, no walks and striking out one.

The Crimson Tide finishes out the three-game series against the Rebels on Sunday (12:05 p.m. CT, YouTube TV).