Bama Central

Live Blog: No. 18 Alabama Baseball at No. 23 Florida (Game 2)

The Crimson Tide aims to even up its last regular-season series of the year ahead of Saturday's finale.
Hunter De|
Apr 25, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama pitcher Riley Quick makes a pitch during the game with Missouri at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Friday night.
Apr 25, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama pitcher Riley Quick makes a pitch during the game with Missouri at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Friday night. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

SEC Tournament action begins next week for the conference's baseball clubs, but first up is the final series of the regular season. No. 18 Alabama has surging No. 23 Florida on its plate in a road series that is instrumental in shaping the postseason future of the winning team.

The Crimson Tide bolstered its hosting chances by a substantial margin with a series win at home against No. 10 Georgia last weekend. But that was somewhat tarnished on Thursday evening as the Gators defeated Alabama 7-6 in Gainesville.

Alabama led 5-0 after three innings, but blew yet another big lead. The Tide also blew a five-run lead in a May 4 loss at Vanderbilt, taking a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth in a tied series. Had the Crimson Tide held on then and on Thursday, it would have 17 wins and been comfortably inside the NCAA Tournament hosting bubble.

The Crimson Tide has not won an SEC road series since the opening weekend of league play in March, when it swept Texas A&M. Alabama (39-15, 15-14 SEC), aims to even up the series against Florida (36-18, 14-14 SEC) in Game 2 on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

Right-hander and potential MLB Draft first-round pick Riley Quick (7-2, 3.53 ERA) gets the ball for the Crimson Tide, while left-hander Pierce Coppola (3-0, 1.15 ERA) is on the mound for the Gators.

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from Game 2 between Alabama baseball and Florida. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

Live Blog:

FINAL: ALABAMA 9, FLORIDA 6

  • Donay fouls out to shallow first base. Ozmer reached 50 pitches for the first time in his Crimson Tide career, but that final pitch earned Alabama its 40th win of the season.
  • Evans singled to right center to add another run. However, Jackson and Vaughn are keeping Ozmer in.
  • Lawson launches one to deep center field but its caught at the warning track which allowed Stripling tag up and run home with two outs.
  • It looked like the mound visit worked as Ozmer struck out Brookins on three pitches. However, Moser quickly doubled down the right field line to bring two runs.
  • Ozmer blew the save against Vanderbilt and he just hit Stripling to load the bases with nobody out. Jackson and the infield went to the mound to meet with Ozmer.
  • Ozmer gives up a walk to start the final half inning of regulation. Wilson then followed it with a single.

Top 9: ALABAMA 9, FLORIDA 2

  • Bonomolo's smack was just a preview as Hodo followed it was solo home run to left field for perhaps the dagger.
  • Bonomolo launched one to right field but it was caught at the wall and Lebron walked to home for another run.
  • Lebron singled to right field and while throwing error while stealing second brought him to third with zero outs.

Bottom 8:

  • And this stout defensive performance for Alabama was capped by an impressive double-play led by Norton. Ozmer only threw 13 pitches in the inning.
  • Florida earns its first base runner since the fifth inning. Donay's single, which popped off the third base bag, was just the Gators' second hit since the second inning.
  • Ozmer, Alabama's single-season saves record holder, has subbed in for Myers.

Top 8:

  • We're now at four straight half innings between both ball clubs that have only seen three batters each time. All three of Alabama's batters grounded out in this frame to third base, the pitcher and first base respectively.

Bottom 7:

  • Myers is now six-up six-down after another short but sweet inning, including two strikeouts. The other out was on the fly to right field as Fowler's had a busy day defensively.

Top 7:

  • Rowland retires the side with ease after two fly-outs and a strikeout to Neal.

Bottom 6:

  • Myers completed a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout. However, the play of the frame without a doubt goes to Norton, who made a diving stop in the shallow outfield during a shift and threw it to first base in time for the third out. Tune in to SportsCenter tonight, decent chance that this could be a top 10 play.
  • Braylon Myers subs in for Quick, who finishes the game with two runs allowed on six hits and two walks while throwing seven strikeouts and 84 pitches in five innings.

Top 6:

  • Florida intentionally walked Snell, who is 1-for-2 this game with an RBI single. Bonomolo called time after an inside slider was called a strike. A couple of pitches later, he was called for a third strike after swinging, but the ball bounced before reaching the catcher's glove. After a review looking for a foul-tip, the umpires stood with the call on the field.
  • Blaine Rowland (0-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his fifth appearance of the season as he fills in for Rodriguez. Lebron, Rodriguez' first batter faced, struck out for the sixth time this series.
  • Rodriguez was taken out of the game after walking Fowler with one out. Fowler's walk in the fifth inning was the start of Alabama's five-run rally.

Bottom 5:

  • Donay smashed one to left field but it went just foul. Quick then struck him and then second baseman Blake Cyr out to end the inning. Quick is up to seven Ks on the night. It's worth noting that in Cyr's at-bat, Neal was shaken up for the second time, this time taking a ball to the groin area, but he walked it off for a few seconds and stayed in.
  • Evans moved the needle just a fraction away from Alabama's momentum as he singled after Lebron couldn't come up with a diving stop that probably would've been a top 10 play on SportsCenter tonight.
  • And although he may have been cramping a bit, Quick fanned Lawson, who logged one of Florida's two runs.
  • Just as the bottom half of the inning was about to start, Vaughn, the infield and the trainer came to the mound concerned for Quick. It looked like the trainer was massaging Quick's forearm and gave him a drink to help with a potential cramp. He stayed in the game.

Top 5: ALABAMA 7, FLORIDA 2

  • But there wasn't much need to get upset as Neal followed Torres' strikeout with a double to left center that cleared the bases. But Rodriguez got out of the long frame by striking out Staton. Alabama has blown the game open with a 5-run fifth inning.
  • The runs were unearned, but Rodriguez got a bit flustered as he proceed to hit Hodo to reload the bases. He was then down 3-0 against Torres but then threw three consecutive strikes. The third strike was a bit outside and Torres tossed his bat thinking it was a walk, but then had some words with the umpire after hearing the call.
  • Bonomolo hits a chopper to Moser at shortstop but it hits off his glove and Lebron and Fowler each score.
  • Sullivan then came back out to relieve Barlow and he was replaced by Christian Rodriguez (1-0, 5.85 ERA), who is making his 20th appearance of his redshirt freshman season.
  • Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan came in before the Lebron at-bat, but it didn't seem to work as Barlow also walked Snell. He is now at 12 straight balls and has walked the bases loaded.
  • Although Barlow started strong with a strikeout against his first batter faced in the fourth and next batter faced in the fifth, he gave up a four-pitch walk to Fowler and Lebron.

Bottom 4:

  • No more harm was caused though as Boser grounded into a fielder's choice for the third out. Quick has now completed four innings.
  • Quick shook it off by striking out his next batter, however, Neal took a ball to the throat/upper shoulder area and he needed a minute to compose himself. Thankfully, he was protected by the pads on his catcher equipment and continued the inning.
  • Wilson grounded out to open the frame for Florida's offense but Stripling got on base for the second time, this time being a walk.

Top 4:

  • Billy Barlow (1-3, 5.83 ERA) subbed in and started the same way Coppola did––with a strikeout.
  • Coppola was able to added another K to his total against Neal, but that would be the end of his night. In 3 2/3 innings, Coppola allowed two runs on three hits while also striking out 10 of his 16 batters faced.
  • After Hodo flew out, Torres struck-out swinging, however the ball got away from the catcher and he successfully reached first.

Bottom 3:

  • The Tide is beginning to roll a bit in this one as Quick gets out of a 1-2-3 inning with a his third K of the day. Each of the first two outs were made by Fowler, who took "a combined four steps" on the catches according to the SEC Network+ broadcast.

Top 3: FLORIDA 2, ALABAMA 2

  • Bonomolo wasn't able to continue the rally as he struck out for the second time this evening. Nevertheless, nice job by the Crimson Tide offense to shake off the rough start.
  • Snell continued this newfound momentum with a single to right field to bring in another run and tie the game at two.
  • Norton advanced to second on a passed ball and two batters later, Lebron's fly-out to center field brought Staton home.
  • Alabama finally gets the best of Coppola as designated hitter Garrett Staton singled to left field and second baseman Brennen Norton followed it with another single.

Bottom 2: FLORIDA 2, ALABAMA 0

  • Fortunately, Quick struck out his next batter and Gators right fielder Ty Evans grounded into a double play to shortstop.
  • Quick's rough start continues as following a single and double by Florida first baseman Landon Stripling and designated hitter Blake Brookins respectively, Boser singled to center field to bring in another run.

Top 2:

  • But Coppola kept his no-hit start by striking out Alabama catcher Brady Neal. For those counting, Coppola has struck-out six of his seven batters faced.
  • Torres' nice defensive play in the first helped him out a bit in the second as Florida's third baseman couldn't make a play as Torres reached first on an error.
  • Center fielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. and first baseman Will Hodo became the next two players on Coppola's hit list as he struck out both on a combined 11 pitches.

Bottom 1: FLORIDA 1, ALABAMA 0

  • Quick was a bit rattled as he walked and hit the next two batters respectively to load the bases. Alabama pitching coach Jason Jackson came out of dugout and spoke with Quick as the SEC Network+ broadcast believed it may have been something related to Quick's grip. The meeting worked as Florida left fielder Ashton Wilson grounded out to end the frame.
  • However, Florida catcher Brody Donay singled down centerfield to bring in a run by baserunner Brendan Lawson, who stole second following the strikeout.
  • But things went a bit south from there. Quick walked the next batter in a complicated sequence that had both coaches speaking to the home-plate umpire, but then proceeded to tally his first strikeout.
  • Alabama third baseman Jason Torres snagged a fastball hit by Bobby Boser and threw it to first in time for out No. 1. Nice defensive play to hopefully get some momentum going.

Top 1:

  • Alabama left fielder and captain Kade Snell succumbed to the same fate as Fowler and Lebron with a strikeout. Excellent start for Coppola but rough beginning for the Crimson Tide.
  • Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy on Thursday, struck out looking, giving Coppola his first backwards K of the evening.
  • Alabama leadoff hitter and right fielder Bryce Fowler launches ball deep down the right field line but it goes foul. Despite the big contact, he fanned on one of the next pitches as Florida pitcher Pierce Coppola struck him out swinging.

Starting Lineups:

Alabama Baseball at Florida Game 2 Starting Lineup
Alabama Baseball at Florida Game 2 Starting Lineup | StatBroadcast

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Hunter De Siver
HUNTER DE

Hunter De Siver is the lead basketball writer for BamaCentral and has covered Crimson Tide football since 2024. He previously distributed stories about the NFL and NBA for On SI and was a staff writer for Missouri Tigers On SI and Cowbell Corner. Before that, Hunter generated articles highlighting Crimson Tide products in the NFL and NBA for BamaCentral as an intern in 2022 and 2023. Hunter is a graduate from the University of Alabama, earning a degree in sports media in 2023.

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