Bama Baseball Loses Classic Again

Alabama and Auburn have played the Capital City Classic five times and five times the Tide has come out on the losing end. You might say Montgomery has not been kind to the Tide.

In a sloppy game that saw each team commit three errors, 'Bama's turned out to be more costly. Starting pitcher Taylor Guilbeau lasted four mostly wild innings for the Tide, leaving having allowed one run, and two hits while walking five, being called for a balk and striking out three. Tucker Hawley pitched the fifth inning and was saddled with the loss. Hawley allowed two hits walked one and had the defense commit two errors, giving up three runs, only one of which was earned. Freshmen Keaton Haack was by far the bright spot of the game for Alabama. Coming in to pitch in the sixth inning he threw three perfect innings before a base runner reached in the ninth on an error on a fly ball to right field. After there were two outs Haack intentionally walked Damek Tomscha before giving way to Justin Kamplain. Kamplain promptly walked the first hitter he faced before giving up a two run single to Garrett Cooper to put the game out of reach at 6-3.

Auburn scored first in the fourth only to have 'Bama bounce back with three in the bottom half of the inning. After Brett Booth and Kenny Roberts walked Austen Smith absolutely scorched a ball to right that appeared to be a home run, but bounced off the back fence and fell for a double to score Booth. Kyle Overstreet's ground ball scored Roberts, and he reached as the shortstop booted it. Overstreet later scored on an error by the third baseman. Auburn came back with three of their own on two, two out infield errors by the Tide.

After that the Tide went quietly the rest of the way, having two base runners from the fifth thru the ninth innings. Roberts reached on an error in the fifth, and Booth had another walk in the eighth Georgie Salem's first inning single, Andrew Miller's second inning single and Smith's double were the only hits 'Bama could manage.

A great atmosphere and great crowd lead to an electric setting for this game that was played for such a good cause. Both teams' coaches and most of the players had their head's shaved on the field before the game to help raise cancer awareness.

The Crimson Tide travels to Louisville this weekend for a three-game series against the fourth ranked Cardinals. Game times or as follows: Friday 2 p.m., Saturday noon and Sunday noon. All time are CST.

Roll Tide Y'all Roger