Live Blog: No. 6 Georgia at No. 23 Alabama Baseball (Doubleheader Game 1)

The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs are set to play two games Friday.

Bryce Fowler (9). / Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The big series this weekend between No. 23 Alabama and No. 6 Georgia in Tuscaloosa was dealt a twist on Friday morning. Due to expected inclement weather, the first two games of the three-game set were combined into a Friday twinbill.

Alabama (37-12, 13-11 SEC) has been in action this week, winning 10-2 at No. 19 Troy on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs (39-11, 15-9 SEC) did not play in a midweek after sweeping unranked Missouri last weekend.

The first game of the doubleheader is set for a 4 p.m. CT start time, with right-handed sophomore Tyler Fay on the hill for Alabama, as has been the case for the last few weeks. Game two is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

Both contests can be live streamed on SEC Network+.

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from game one of Friday's doubleheader between Georgia and Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The most recent updates will appear at the top. Game two will commence approximately half an hour after game one.

Seventh Inning:

• Alabama goes down in order in the seventh inning, ending the ball game. FINAL: Georgia 19, Alabama 3.

• Justin Byrd will be tasked with getting the last three outs of the contest on the mound for Georgia.

• Robertson gets the third out to send the game to the seventh inning stretch. It seems all but a foregone conclusion that Alabama will lose this game by mercy rule, which would be the fourth such outcome of the SEC schedule for the Crimson Tide.

• Alcock is removed from the game after allowing seven runs, even though only two of those were earned. The new Crimson Tide pitcher will be Tate Robertson.

• Ryan Black hits the third Georgia home run of the inning, a solo shot that stretches the Bulldogs' lead to 19-3. This has been Alabama's ugliest game of the season.

• Branch hits his second home run of the game. Neither of the past two RBI hits should have happened, but Garrett Staton made a fielding error to extend the inning. Georgia 18, Alabama 3.

• Phelps singles with runners on the corners to add his sixth RBI of the ball game. He's torching the Crimson Tide pitching staff. Georgia 15, Alabama 3.

• McCarthy gets a base hit but is tagged out trying to stretch it into a double. One more out to go until stretch time.

• Henry Hunter hits Alcock hard with a two-run home run with one out. Outfielders didn't even so much as flinch. Georgia 14, Alabama 3. It's a football score in this baseball contest.

• Alcock retakes the mound to start the seventh inning for Alabama.

Sixth Inning:

• Bryce Fowler strikes out looking on a payoff pitch. Alabama's best chance to stage a rally and get back into the game up to this point has now gone by the boards.

• Georgia is sticking with McLoughlin. The run rule is in play, but it is still a nine-run game, and the Bulldogs can afford to give up a run or two.

• Alabama loads the bases with two out. Will Plattner singled to turn the lineup card over, meaning the Crimson Tide has an opportunity to cut into this deficit, but no margin for error.

• Tyler McLoughlin is now on the mound for the Bulldogs. Georgia's second pitcher of the ball game.

• Branch gets to Alcock early with an RBI single, and this game is entering run-rule territory. Georgia 12, Alabama 3. The Crimson Tide has three losses by way of the run rule in SEC play this season. Tonight's doubleheader opener could well be the fourth. Two out in the top of the sixth.

• Alabama will have another new pitcher. Bobby Alcock appears from the bullpen for the first time this season. Former Sunday starter who has also gotten the ball first on midweeks. He can eat innings, but inherits a runner on second base.

• Morris issues back-to-back walks with two outs and then a base hit to Phelps, who adds two RBIs to his total for the game. Georgia 11, Alabama 3.

Fifth Inning:

• Richie Bonomolo gets rung up on a payoff pitch with two runners on base, bringing a close to the fifth inning with no score for Alabama.

• Morris strikes out both the batters he faces to stop the carnage and bring an end to the top of the fifth. Georgia 9, Alabama 3. The score was 3-1 Crimson Tide entering the frame.

• Austin Morris has been handed the reins on the mound for Alabama. Third pitcher of the inning for the home team.

• Kolby Branch tags Heiberger for a solo home run, to the same spot where Phelps hit his moments ago. Georgia 9, Alabama 3. Still one out in the frame.

• Tre Phelps breaks the game open with a three-run home run on a 3-2 pitch from Heiberger. Georgia 8, Alabama 3. An unmitigated disaster this inning for the Crimson Tide from a pitching standpoint.

• Robbie Burnett collects a sacrifice-fly RBI, scoring Hunter with a deep ball to left. Georgia 5, Alabama 3 with one out in the top of the fifth inning.

• Heiberger walks Alford, scoring Obee from third base. Georgia 4, Alabama 3.

• Heiberger will come in and pitch in an absolute pressure cooker of a situation. Bases are full with no outs in the tied first act of a doubleheader. Alford hit a home run off Fay in the first.

• Bulldogs leadoff hitter walks, and they're loaded again. Fay has unraveled. Alford due up.

• Georgia catcher Henry Hunter ties it with a two-run double. Things have turned on Fay this inning. He entered the frame with 53 pitches and has now given up two runs with two more on base. Alabama 3, Georgia 3.

• Fay walks Devin Obee to load the bases. His second walk of the inning. The Crimson Tide has Matthew Heiberger warming in the bullpen. A prime chance for Georgia to take the lead back or tie in a 3-1 game. Still nobody out.

• The first two hitters for Georgia in the fifth reach. First and second, no outs.

Fourth Inning:

• Alabama goes down 1, 2, 3 in the bottom of the fourth, allowing Curley to settle back in. The earlier an opposing offense can get to a pitcher in a doubleheader, the better, and the Crimson Tide has had opportunities to do that but not chased him yet. Four innings down in game one.

• Fay again works a seamless inning, retiring Georgia in order.

Third Inning:

• Will Hodo strikes out with two gone, stranding Snell on second base. Through three innings in game one of the day at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama has a two-run lead.

• Snell sends one over the outfielders' heads to deep right center for a bases-clearing double. Alabama 3, Georgia 1. The captain comes through.

• Lebron hits a grounder to third that could've been a double-play ball, but instead, Alford misplays it and everybody's safe. This has turned into a golden opportunity for Alabama. Bases juiced, one out and the best hitter in the SEC by batting average at the dish.

• Back-to-back walks issued by Brian Curley have Will Plattner and Bryce Fowler on first and second, respectively, with one out. Same situation as last inning for the Crimson Tide, but last time, Alabama failed to capitalize. Justin Lebron at the plate.

• Fay sits the Bulldogs down 1, 2, 3 in the visitors' half of the third. He continues to throw the ball well as a starting pitcher, including in this game minus the one pitch to Alford in the first inning.

Second Inning:

• Alabama just poorly handled a first and second, nobody out situation. Garrett Staton struck out swinging on ball four, Richie Bonomolo Jr. was picked off second base and Coleman Mizell went down swinging on a 2-2. It's early, but a big missed opportunity. Georgia 1, Alabama 0.

• Ryan Black's one-out single is the only offensive output for the visitors in the top half of inning number two. Fay has three strikeouts through his first two frames this afternoon.

First Inning:

• Kade Snell is on the wrong end of a hard-luck lineout to end the first inning. Georgia 1, Alabama 0 as the Crimson Tide is retired in order in the bottom of the first.

• Tre Phelps grounds out, ending the top half of the first. It is helpful to work up a pitch count in a doubleheader, as Georgia has done in the opening frame against Fay with an 11-pitch plate appearance by the first batter.

• Slate Alford mashes a solo home run on the next batter, giving the early lead to the Bulldogs in game one. Georgia 1, Alabama 0.

• Tyler Fay strikes out Nolan McCarthy on an 11-pitch at-bat to start the game. Battle won by the pitcher.

Pregame:

Alabama's lineup:
1. Bryce Fowler, right field
2. Justin Lebron, shortstop
3. Kade Snell, left field
4. Richie Bonomolo Jr., center field
5. Will Hodo, first base
6. Garrett Staton, second base
7. Coleman Mizell, designated hitter
8. Jason Torres, third base
9. Will Plattner, catcher
P: Tyler Fay (RHP)

Georgia's lineup:
1. Nolan McCarthy, left field
2. Slate Alford, third base
3. Robbie Burnett, second base
4. Tre Phelps, first base
5. Kolby Branch, shortstop
6. Ryan Black, designated hitter
7. Cade Brown, right field
8. Devin Obee, center field
9. Henry Hunter, catcher
P: Brian Curley (RHP)

• Former Alabama baseball closer Alton Davis II has returned to his former ballpark. Davis was a standout on the Crimson Tide's 2023 team, which made a super regional, and was also the team's closer as a sophomore during the 2024 season.

• Georgia listed Ryland Zaborowski, who has hit 16 home runs this season, as out on the SEC availability report. Alabama has all players available for the opener, per the report.

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