Alabama Baseball Still Feeling Good Going Into NCAA Tournament

Despite being eliminated from the SEC Tournament, the Alabama baseball team has plenty to feel good about going into the next phase of the postseason.

The night a loss, but the week was a win. 

That was the biggest takeaway for Alabama Crimson Tide baseball after being eliminated from the SEC Tournament on Friday night. Heading home just shy of the semifinals was disappointing, yet the team has plenty to feel good about moving forward.

There wasn’t much to write home about in Alabama baseball’s SEC Tournament exit at the hands of Vanderbilt, apart from the smattering of runs the gold-clad squad riddled the scoreboard with before the Crimson Tide even took its first turn at the plate. The talented Commodores came out on a mission and saw it through with an impressive 9-2 win.

Alabama battled, loading the bases in the very next half-inning (and again in the fourth) and managing a two-run home run in the third, but the right to rematch the Florida Gators belonged to Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide did not get a fifth crack at the top seed this season.

Nevertheless, Alabama likely cemented itself as a regional host in the upcoming NCAA Tournament with its performance and has plenty of reasons to remain optimistic going into the next phase of the postseason.

The Crimson Tide has won 40 games for the first time since 2010. Prior to even taking the field at the Hoover Met earlier this week, Alabama had a winning record in league play for the first time since 2014. Each of the past three trips to Hoover has resulted in multiple wins.

"I think everyone is just trying to have fun," shortstop Jim Jarvis said. "We're playing pretty good baseball, which helps the mood, and I think our regional hosting chances go up. Everyone is kind of dying for postseason. 

"We've still got a long season ahead of us."

A regional being awarded to Sewell-Thomas Stadium would end what has been an even longer wait than any of the aforementioned milestones. The renovated ‘Joe’ opened in 2016, and the last time a regional came through Tuscaloosa was a decade before that, in 2006.

Crimson Tide interim head coach Jason Jackson highlighted his team's RPI, conference leads in multiple pitching categories, run differential and more. He believes there is a good chance his team hosts.

"I think the biggest thing is if you look back through history, you'd see that teams that get 17, 18 wins, the track record of them hosting is pretty good," Jackson said. "We've got history on our side, kind of working in our favor.

"I know it's a tough job, but I feel good about where we're at. I think our guys have done a great job, and they've earned it."

Alabama will learn on Sunday whether or not that wait ends this spring as top 16 seeds are announced. The full field of 64 will be revealed Monday. 

See Also:

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How High Can Alabama Baseball Rise in NCAA Seedings? All Things CW

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