Live Updates: Alabama Baseball Aims to Even Series with Florida

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — We're back at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, where Alabama fans are still buzzing about the Crimson Tide's comeback effort in Game 1 Friday night.

Weather-wise, it's pretty gorgeous, although the temperature is going to drop a little after a the sun sets. It's sunny at 63 degrees for warmups. The humidity is only 39 percent.

Something to watch, though, is the wind. It's WNW 10 mph according to the airport, but flag here shows it definitely going out and/or toward left.

Game 2: Florida at Alabama

Ninth inning

Freshman Braylon Myers in to pitch for the Crimson Tide. Freshman Will Portera in to catch. Attendance announced at 3,745.

• Three up, three down for the Gators.

• Florida brings in reliever Blake Purnell, who also threw Friday night. He doesn't give up anything.

Final score: Florida 13, Alabama 6

Eighth Inning

• Florida adds to its lead with two more runs. Armstrong doubled in Rivera, and later scored on a Deric Fabian single through the right side. Florida 13, Alabama 6

• Alabama leaves two on base.

Seventh Inning

For those of you who relish this, Mustard is the wiener in the hot dog race.

• Leadoff single for Florida, but the runner is left on base.

Stretch

• Owen Diodati hits a two-out solo home run to right, giving one of the few fans still out there a souvenir. His fourth of the season. Florida 11, Alabama 6

Sixth Inning

• Florida is putting this one out of reach. With one out, Langford singles, steals second, and scores on a Riopelle hit. Kendrick Calilao subsequently delivers a two-run home run to left. The Gators aren't done yet, though, as Kris Armstrong hits a solo shot of his own with two outs. Junior left-hander Jake Leger comes out of the bullpen. Florida 11, Alabama 5

• Tamez singled, but was left on base.

Fifth Inning

The temperature has dropped to 58 degrees. Might go down another five degrees before this one's over.

• Florida retakes the lead when Wyatt Landford crushes the first pitch he sees over the bullpen. The Gators threaten to break open the game by loading the bases with one out. Furtado fans Deric Fabian, but walks Colby Halter, before retiring the side. Florida 7, Alabama 5

• Alabama gets a runner on base, but can't advance him.

Fourth Inning

Alabama gets the bullpen going ... sophomore left-hander Hunter Furtado warming up.

• Florida comes right back with another rally, when with one out the bottom three batters in the order get three straight hits. Deric Fabian's shot to the left-center wall nearly resulted in a play at the plate when Josh Rivera scored -- but the cut-off man double clutched for some reason. Jean pulled for Furtado, who got out of the inning after giving up a walk to load the bases. Florida 5, Alabama 3

• Leadoff single for Eric Foggo. Florida doesn't mess around and pulls Sproat, who threw 77 pitches. Freshman right-hander Ryan Slater in for the Gators. Bryce Eblin hits a bloop single to left to bring up the top of the order with two on and two outs. Jim Jarvis catches Florida by surprise and drops down a bunt-single to load the bags. Tamez grounds into a fielder's choice, they get the runner at second, but Foggo scores. A towering fly ball to left by Denton brings in Eblin and we're all tied up. Florida 5, Alabama 5

Third Inning

The shadow is no longer a factor in the stadium. Sunset is at 7:01 CT.

• Florida adds to its lead after having two on and no outs, with a run scoring on a Langford groundout. Florida 4, Alabama 1

• Denton draws a nine-pitch leadoff walk, causing Florida to get the bullpen going with freshman right-hander Ryan Slater. Tommy Seidl hit by pitch. Alabama then gets a break, Williamson lines one that goes off the pitcher and into center field for a base hit, scoring Denton and sending Seidl to third. Diodati grounds into a double play, but the run scores. Florida 4, Alabama 3

Second Inning

The shadow is almost completely over the infield, although it might be tricky for the guys on the left side this inning.

• Bottom three in the order for UF, and the Gators go three-up, three-down.

• Owen Diodati drilled a one-out double to right-center, and with two outs Eric Foggo slaps down a little infield single on the third-base to advance the runner (looked better than a bunt). With a full count, Bryce Eblin takes an outside pitch to load the bases. Jarvis takes ball four as well, to bring in Diodati before Florida finally gets out of the inning. Florida 3, Alabama 1

First Inning

Florida made no changes to its batting order. Brad Bohannon is going with the same starters, but moved Owen Diodati and Andrew Pinckney up to 6th and 7th in the batting order. First pitch: 6:02 p.m.

• Antoine Jean was one pitch away from getting out of the inning when Wyatt Langford roped a full-count pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run home run. What really stung was Jean had been ahead in the count 1-2. BT Riopelle subsequently drilled an 0-1 ball over the right field wall. He's having a huge series so far. ... Florida 3, Alabama 0

• With one out, Dominic Tamez doubled off the wall in the left-field corner. Alabama didn't have a runner in scoring position during Game 1 until Andrew Pinckney's home run in the eighth. Tamez is left stranded, though.

Starting Lineups

Florida

2B Colby Halter (.382)
CF Jud Fanian (.311)
Sterlin Thompson (.347)
LF Wyatt Langford (.369)
C BT Riopelle (.347)
1B Kendrick Calilao (.278)
SS Josh Rivera (.232)
DH Kris Armstrong (.239)
3B Deric Fabian (.276)

Alabama

SS Jim Jarvis (.319)
C Dominic Tamez (.309)
3B Zane Denton (.315)
RF Tommy Seidl (.418)
1B Drew Williamson (.278)
LF Owen Diodati (.268)
Andrew Pickney (.288)
DH Eric Foggo (.269)
2B Bryce Eblin (.211)

Umpires

HP Ray Gregson
1B Michael Phillips
2B Jordan Ferrell
3B Mark Chapman

Starting Pitchers

Florida

Sophomore right-hander Brandon Sproat (3-1, 2.11 ERA)

SO 26

BB 6

Opposing batting average: .205

Alabama

Junior left-hander Antoine Jean ( 1-1, 2.60)

SO 12

BB 9

Opposing batting average .190

The Details

• Who: No. 9 Florida (14-4) at Alabama (12-7)

• Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium

• When: Saturday 6 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.

• TV: SEC Network+ (Play-By-Play: Josh Caray, Color: Lance Cormier)

• Radio: Crimson Tide Spots Network (Play-By-Play: Roger Hoover, Color: Lee Tracey)

• Series: Gators lead 65-57

• Last meeting: Florida took the series opener, 6-4. Previously, the teams last played May 27, 2021, in Hoover as part of the 2021 SEC Tournament. Florida won 7-2. The last weekend series was March 29-31, 2019, in Gainesville, with UF earning a series sweep.

Of Note ...

• The Right Field Terrace at Sewell-Thomas Stadium will be open to all fans for the entire weekend. With the university on spring break, the same rules apply. Coolers and dogs are allowed through Game 6.

• Saturday was Alabama’s ‘Alumni Game’ as the program recognized the 25-year anniversary of the 1996 and 1997 teams that reached the College World Series. Former players on both rosters were honored during a pregame ceremony.