Late Rally Not Enough for Alabama Baseball, Auburn Prevails 8-4
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When it comes to baseball in the Southeastern Conference, every game during conference play matters. For Alabama baseball, that harsh reality is starting to become more and more apparent.
Heading into Friday’s night game against in-state rival Auburn at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, both the Crimson Tide and the Tigers were tied for fourth in the SEC West division with each possessing a 4-8 record in conference play. The two teams are tied no longer as Auburn won by a score of 8-4, breaking the tie and jumping into the lead in the weekend series.
"Obviously a tough night at the park tonight," Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon said after the game. "Tommy Vail their starter gave them a great start — that's by far the best outing of the season for him. Luke [Holman] gave us a good start. Really liked the fight that we showed late in the game but we just didn't show enough fight before the ninth inning."
A two-run home run by Auburn left fielder Chris Stanfield in the top of the second put the Tigers on the board first. Both sides had to wait all the way until the top of the seventh for the next runs scored — a two-RBI single by Tigers second baseman Caden Green to give Auburn a 4-0 lead.
Auburn added to its lead in the top of the eighth with an RBI-single by first baseman Cooper McMurray, then again in the top of the ninth when a throwing error by Alabama shortstop Jim Jarvis and a two-run home run by Auburn shortstop Cole Foster blew the game wide open.
In the bottom of the ninth and trailing 8-0, Alabama conducted a rally that scored four runs and gave left fielder William Hamiter an opportunity to the tie the game with bases loaded and two outs. However, Hamiter flied out to shallow left, and Auburn took Game 1 of the series by a final score of 8-4.
With the loss, Alabama moves to 24-11 on the season and is now 4-9 in SEC play. Auburn improves to 20-13-1 on the season and is now 5-8 in the conference. The two teams will face each other once again in Saturday’s Game 2 (6 p.m. CT, SEC Network+).
How It Happened:
Alabama Starting Lineup
1. Jim Jarvis (SS)
2. Tommy Seidl (RF)
3. Drew Williamson (1B)
4. Ed Johnson (2B)
5. William Hamiter (LF)
6. Dominic Tamez (C)
7. Colby Shelton (3B)
8. Andrew Pinckney (CF)
9. Will Hodo (DH)
Starting Pitcher: Luke Holman (2-0, RHP)
Auburn Starting Lineup
1. Cole Foster (SS)
2. Bobby Peirce (RF)
3. Ike Irish (DH)
4. Bryson Ware (3B)
5. Cooper McMurray (1B)
6. Kason Howell (CF)
7. Chris Stanfield (LF)
8. Nate LaRue (C)
9. Caden Green (2B)
Starting Pitcher: Tommy Vail (2-1, LHP)
See Also:
Disco Inferno: Alabama Baseball's Groovy New Celebration
Brad Bohannon's Message to Alabama Baseball: 'You Just Gotta Take It'
Brad Bohannon and Two Other Alabama Baseball Coaches Sued By Former Player
