Despite Loss to Florida, Pitching Depth Serves as Silver Lining for Alabama Baseball

HOOVER, Ala. — Despite a 7-2 loss at the hands of the No. 6-seed Florida Gators on Thursday afternoon in the Third Round of the 2021 SEC Tournament, one positive remained following disappointing outcome for Alabama baseball.

For the third straight game, the Crimson Tide had its starting pitcher establish a solid mound presence while having a deep outing, limiting head coach Brad Bohannon's need to call on the bullpen and keep his pitchers fresh.

"I feel like this is very important for us," Alabama starting pitcher Dylan Smith said. "We had to save the pen because you never know what you're going to do in Hoover. I felt like every starter went out there and gave it their best and extended their outing to help the bullpen.

"So we have everybody for tomorrow, and when we win tomorrow, hopefully we can save the bullpen tomorrow as well.

Similarly to Tyler Ras and Jacob McNairy during the first and second rounds, Smith started and went deep into the game. He went seven innings, and yielded just one run through the first six.

However, he finished with four runs off nine hits, walked none and struck out six.

"I probably should have gone and got Dylan," Bohannon said. "I mean, he was up there in the 90s, and I could tell his stuff wasn't sharp and as crisp as it was early, but we were trying to sneak another inning out of him.

"Don't want it to go unsaid how proud I am of Dylan. I thought he was awesome."

Despite the loss, the positive fact that the Crimson Tide will have the majority of its pitchers available for Friday's win-or-go-home game against the second-seeded Volunteers remains a key takeaway.

Bohannon went so far as to say his Crimson Tide won't be pulling any punches regarding pitcher availability because the season could be on the line.

"Everything is on the table," Bohannon said. "The only thing I can say is I can't see Dylan pitching again. I don't even want to say an inning or two late on Sunday. Nothing's off the table.

"We'll just take it day by day, inning by inning. I hope we'll have to make some tough decisions in a couple of days."

While Alabama wasn't able to get the run production it needed behind Smith — an issue that has cast a shadow on Smith's performances all season — the pitchers have done what they were supposed to, give the Crimson Tide a chance to win each game in Hoover.

"They've been incredible so far," third baseman Zane Denton said. "It's really good to see. I thought Dylan was amazing today. Florida is a really good hitting team. If we can keep this pitching up the rest of the tournament, I think it puts us in a good position."

Alabama and Tennessee will face each other for the second time this tournament on Friday (10 a.m. CT, SEC Network), with the winner advancing to the semifinals. The loser will be eliminated and left waiting for the NCAA tournament selection announcement on Monday.