Bama Central

Live Updates From Alabama's Final Nonconference Series Opener Against North Florida

Score updates and analysis from Sewell-Thomas Stadium as the Crimson Tide opens its series against the Ospreys.
Theodore Fernandez|
Sewell-Thomas Stadium
Sewell-Thomas Stadium | BamaCentral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama baseball begins its final nonconference series of the year against North Florida on Friday. The Crimson Tide took care of business in its two midweeks, hanging on for a 6-5 home win over Jacksonville State on Tuesday, before dominating Alabama State in Montgomery in a 13-4 Wednesday night victory.

Friday marks the first-ever meeting between Alabama and North Florida. The Ospreys sit at 8-6 on the season, with a 14-9 loss to Florida State serving as their only Power Four matchup this year.

North Florida still has not announced any of its starters for the weekend. Alabama's rotation is staying the same, with Tyler Fay taking the mound on Friday, Zane Adams on Saturday and freshman Myles Upchurch on Sunday. Friday's game will begin at 6 p.m. CT. Follow along for live updates and analysis:

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T7

Neal is staying out there for the seventh.

B6 — Alabama 5, North Florida 2

Lemm strikes out swinging, and Neal is thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

Vaughn flies out to center for the first out.

Neal hits a line drive to center for a leadoff single. That's his third hit of the night.

Left-hander Kai Etwaru is taking over on the mound for the Ospreys.

T6 — Alabama 5, North Florida 2

Toberman pops up to Holt to end a 1-2-3 frame. Fay is at 76 pitches, so unsure if we'll see him go for the seventh inning.

Fay gets Barner looking with a slider in the corner. It's his ninth strikeout of the night.

Benjamin lines out to Lebron at short to start the inning.

B5 — Alabama 5, North Florida 2

Lebron hits a ball to the warning track, which Gomez catches in right field. Very impressive play while running into the wall. Steele is stranded at third.

Kroberger pops up for out number two.

Holt strikes out swinging for the first out.

The Ospreys are holding a mound visit for Furey, who's given up two hits in two at-bats.

Steele hits the first triple of Alabama's season. The ball went off the wall in left center field, and he raced around the bases, comfortably sliding into third. Alabama 5, North Florida 2

Osterhouse doubles to left center, bringing Torres to third.

Torres singles through the left side. That's it for Stone, as he's pulled for right-hander Ryan Furey.

T5 — Alabama 3, North Florida 2

Fay strikes out Buchanan looking to end the frame. He's got a season-high eight strikeouts today.

Fay gets another strikeout, but then throws the ball over Vaughn's head at first on a pickoff attempt, sending the walked batter, Ordonez, to second.

Fay walks his first batter of the game.

Fay responds nicely with his sixth strikeout of the game, getting Seth Alford to go down swinging.

Gialdri Gomez hits a bomb over the right field wall. He knew the ball was gone the second it left his bat. Fay gives up his third home run of the season. Alabama 3, North Florida 2

Hosey hits what should be a groundout to Lebron. Right as he's approaching, the ball takes a ridiculous hop, skipping off second base above Lebron's head for a single.

B4 — Alabama 3, North Florida 0

Lemm grounds out to second, stranding Lebron at third.

Vaughn strikes out swinging for the second out.

Lebron does indeed steal second on a 0-1 pitch to Vaughn. The throw goes into the outfield and Lebron advances to third on the erorr.

Neal strikes out looking. There were three throws to first to try and keep Lebron in check. He is champing at the bit to go for second.

Lebron bunts. Catcher Santiago Ordonez fields the ball barehanded and makes an excellent throw to first to nearly beat him, but Lebron is safe.

T4 — Alabama 3, North Florida 0

Jackson Toberman grounds out to Vaughn at first. It's a six-pitch frame for Fay.

Lebron wipes the hit off the board, turning a 6-3 double play.

Benjamin bunts down the third base line for the Ospreys' first hit of the game.

B3 — Alabama 3, North Florida 0

Kroberger gets to a 3-1 count, takes strike two, and then strikes out swinging to strand the bases loaded.

Holt gets plunked, loading the bases.

Steele gets a grounder just past the outstretched glove of the shortstop for a base hit to bring Lemm home. Osterhouse makes it to third. Alabama 3, North Florida 0

Osterhouse steals second. There was no throw with Lemm threatening to come home.

Rob Vaughn wins the challenge, so Lemm and Osterhouse are in the corners for Steele with two outs.

Osterhouse bunts down the third base line. He is called out at first, but Alabama is challenging the call. It looks like he will be safe, which would bring Lemm to third.

North Florida is holding a mound visit after two balls to start Osterhouse's at-bat. The Ospreys have somebody warming up in the bullpen.

Torres lays down a sac bunt to score Neal and bring Lemm into scoring position at second. Alabama 2, North Florida 0

Lemm singles through the left side, bringing Neal to third. With one out, Torres just has to get the ball into the outfield to bring him home.

Stone tries to pick Neal off, and the throw sails over the first baseman's head, bringing Neal to second base.

Vaughn flies out just shy of the warning track in left-center field. Neal tagged and began to take off for second before holding up.

Neal notches a base hit to center field to start the frame. He's 2-for-2 on the day.

T3 — Alabama 1, North Florida 0

Nine up, nine down for Fay. He got a groundout and a strikeout to end the frame. Fay has five strikeouts through three.

Fay strikes out his fourth batter, getting Santiago Ordonez swinging.

B2 — Alabama 1, North Florida 0

Lebron grounds out to short on the second pitch of his at-bat to end the inning, stranding Steele.

Freshman Chase Kroberger drives in the first run of his career, with a groundout to second. Osterhouse comes in to score, and Holt moves to third. Alabama 1, North Florida 0

Steele walks. Holt advances him to second and Osterhouse to third with a groundout.

Justin Osterhouse lays down a chopper along the third base line that somehow stays fair for a single.

T2 — Alabama 0, North Florida 0

Fay strikes out the side. He's dialed in early. North Florida only made contact with two pitches in the entire frame.

Fay strikes out the first two batters of the inning, getting both of them to go down swinging.

B1 — Alabama 0, North Florida 0

Torres goes down looking as well. The zone was very big in this first inning.

Lemm goes down looking. Strike three was very close to the edge of the zone.

Luke Vaughn walked on seven pitches to move Neal into scoring position for John Lemm.

Brady Neal bunted down the third base line. Pitcher Dakota Stone slipped trying to field it and Neal is safe at first.

Justin Lebron struck out swinging in his first at-bat.

T1 — Alabama 0, North Florida 0

Osterhouse ends the inning with a nice over-the-shoulder catch in left field. Fay retires the side in nine pitches.

Leadoff batter Tyler Benjamin flew out to Peyton Steele in right field. Matthew Farner then flew out to Justin Osterhouse in left.

First pitch was right on schedule at 7:45 p.m.

Pregame:

First pitch has been announced for 7:45 p.m.

Lightning is still striking as of 6:30 p.m. CT.

As of 6:10 p.m. we are no closer to playing.

It's still pouring as of 5:55 p.m.. The storms are supposed to stop around 6:40.

Bryce Fowler is out of the lineup tonight. Not sure if it is related to the pitch he took to the head on Tuesday against Jacksonville State. Fowler played on Wednesday after exiting that game. We'll get some clarity on that from Rob Vaughn postgame.

The rain has slowed down over the past few minutes, but we still do not have a start time as of 5:25 p.m.

Alabama reliever Kaden Humphrey, who transferred in from North Florida, will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. He is in good spirits today, hanging out with his former teammates ahead of the game.

There is a petting zoo open at the game for fans today.

Probable Starting Pitchers For Alabama vs. North Florida:

  • Friday, March 6 — RHP Tyler Fay (UA) vs. TBA (UNF)
  • Saturday, March 7 — LHP Zane Adams (UA) vs. TBA (UNF)
  • Sunday, March 8 — RHP Myles Upchurch (UA) vs. TBA (UNF)

How to Watch Alabama vs. North Florida:

Who: Alabama (11-3) vs. North Florida (8-6)

When: Friday, March 6 — 6 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 7 — 2 p.m. CT

Sunday, March 8 — 1 p.m. CT

Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

TV: Streaming on SEC Network+

Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network on Tide 100.9 FM in Tuscaloosa, or The Varsity Network online

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Theodore Fernandez
THEODORE FERNANDEZ

Theodore Fernandez is BamaCentral’s baseball beat reporter and a co-host of The Joe Gaither Show. He also works as a weekend sports anchor at WVUA 23 News in Tuscaloosa and serves as one of the station’s lead high school sports reporters. Fernandez is a news media student at The University of Alabama and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management.

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