Roll 'Bama Roll - Stream: RBR's Coverage of Alabama Baseball The Champagne of 'Bama Blogshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49427/RBRlogo-fv.png2020-02-20T08:00:00-06:00http://www.rollbamaroll.com/rss/stream/37324772020-02-20T08:00:00-06:002020-02-20T08:00:00-06:00Baseball routs Alabama State 10-3 to remain perfect on the season
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<figcaption>Coach Brad Bohannon has the Tide at 4-0 early in the season | Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Crimson Tide improve to 4-0 on the season by defeating Alabama State by a score of 10-3 on Wednesday. </p> <p id="ojBRZQ">The Crimson Tide baseball team improved to 4-0 on the young season by defeating Alabama State 10-3 on Wednesday afternoon. The Tide was suppose to have played Troy on Tuesday, but that game was washed out by Mother Nature. </p>
<p id="jm2C2r">The Tide used eight hits, six walks, three hit batters, and solid pitching and defense to defeat the Hornets. Senior William Freeman was scheduled to start against Troy on Tuesday, but after the rainout was given the ball for the Wednesday game. </p>
<p id="4qVSaW">Freeman allowed two base runners in the first on a hit batter in a single, but stranded both runners. The Tide scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first. Brett Auerbach led off with a walk, then stole second base. Drew Williamson then drew a walk, and a double from Tyler Gentry chased both runners home for quick 2-0 lead. Owen Diodati continued his hot hitting with a single, before Gentry scored on a wild pitch, and Diodati came home on an RBI ground out by Zane Denton. </p>
<p id="sb4139">The Hornets touched Freeman for a run in the second after a walk, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and another single. Freeman bounced back to record three strikeouts in the inning. The Tide added two runs in the third when Diodati singled to drive a run in, followed by another RBI from Denton, this time on a sacrifice fly. </p>
<p id="fUKdZA">Freeman was relieved by eventual winning pitcher Dylan Smith in the top of the fourth. Freeman finished with three innings pitched, allowed three hits, walked none, struck out five, and allowed on run (earned). Smith allowed one hit with one walk and two strikeouts in his two scoreless frames. </p>
<p id="fSecUw">The Tide then went four innings without scoring, until an explosion in the bottom of the eighth. Denton led off the eighth with a double, followed by the first hit of Myles Austin’s career, a run scoring double. Jim Jarvis was hit by a pitch, but was forced out at second on what should have been a sacrifice fly for Peyton Wilson. However, the right fielder dropped the ball, and threw Jarvis out at second as Austin scored. Jackson Tate, who had replaced Auerbach in center field in the sixth inning, blasted a long home run for his first career long ball in Crimson, ending the scoring at 10-3 for the home team.</p>
<p id="XtC7yj">Kyle Cameron pitched the 6th and 7th, Landon Green the 8th, and Garret Rukes the ninth to finish the game out for the Tide. A seventh inning two-run homer from AJ Gardner was the only damage against the trio. Denton and Diodati both had two hits for the Tide, while Gentry, Denton, and Tate drove in two runs each. </p>
<p id="tgRRc8">‘Bama finished 8-of-29 on the day with six walks, three strikeouts, and stranded five runners. The Hornets collected six hits, drew three walks, struck out 11 times, and also left five on base. </p>
<p id="4mNMvw">Overall, it was a good midweek win for the Tide. Catcher Sam Praytor and shortstop Kolby Robinson had the day off. Coach Brad Bohannon instead played an interesting mix of upperclassmen and younger guys — five freshman, two seniors, two sophomores, and a junior got the call for the game, and eighteen players saw action.</p>
<p id="kmi35a"><strong>NEXT</strong></p>
<p id="3YR50P">The Tide now travels to Las Vegas to play a three-game series with UNLV this weekend. Game one is Friday at 8:05 p.m CT, followed by a Saturday game at 4:05 p.m CT, and a Sunday 12:05 p.m. CT first pitch. Games are available on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu8-gltl3m2I6ycEiczAiPA">UNLV YouTube channel</a>. The team will be staying at the MGM Grand, the site of Saturday nights Wilder-Fury fight. (I will be staying there as well, and will also attend the fight, my sixth Wilder Championship bout so far.)</p>
<p id="xcjbna">Roll Tide, Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
<p id="qHYChK">Follow @rogerpatmyers on Twitter for live in game updates, and fight reports </p>
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https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2020/2/20/21145042/crimson-tide-baseball-routs-alabama-state-hornets-10-3-to-remain-perfect-on-the-seasonRoger_RBR2019-05-23T10:00:00-05:002019-05-23T10:00:00-05:00Alabama Baseball End of Year Review: What went right? What improved? And what’s next?
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<p>The Tide is showing slow and steady improvement. Where do they go from here?</p> <p id="HFPYbG"><strong>Incremental Improvement:</strong></p>
<p id="1EstC8">The Crimson Tide baseball team has made incremental improvements under coach Brad Bohannon. </p>
<p id="JxJ840">The second-year manager took over prior to the 2018 season, after one disastrous year of in-over-his-head coach Greg Goff. The Tide went from 19-34-1 under Goff, to 27-29, and then 30-26 under Bohannon. In SEC play, the last three years are the worst over that span in Alabama history: 5-24-1, 8-22, and 7-23. </p>
<p id="fn6IRe">In garnering the 30 wins this season, the Tide was 20-13 at home, 9-13 on the road, and 1-0 in neutral site games. Midweek games, all against in-state teams, brought a 13-1 mark. And in all out-of-conference games, the team was 23-3, both of which were big improvements. </p>
<p id="gk9AyT">There was improvement in the RPI over the last three years, from 175 under Goff in 2017, 85 in 2018, and up to 40 in 2019. This season’s strength of schedule, a byproduct of the ridiculously good SEC, was eighth in the nation. </p>
<p id="RkGNf7"><strong>Offense:</strong></p>
<p id="UbpJfG">The team batting average improved from .256 to .263, while hitting 48 home runs compared to 44 last season. The 2018 squad had more doubles over last year, 104 to 87. The team’s stolen bases saw a nice jump from 34-51 in 2018, up to 60-81 in 2019. Defensively, the Tide improved from a .969 fielding percentage to .978, cutting errors from 65 down to 41. And, Alabama went from last in the league in fielding, to fourth this season. The on-base percentage was .372, while the slugging mark was .393. In 2017 under Goff, the team hit .263 with 46 home runs.</p>
<p id="HBOY2S">Individually, the team boasted two .300-plus hitters in 2019 after not having anyone hit over .295 last season. Tyler Gentry led offensively in virtually every category: .310 average, 13 home runs, 42 RBI, 116 total bases, .552 slugging percentage, and 12 doubles. Morgan McCullough was just behind at .309 and tied for the team lead with 12 doubles. Freshman Drew Williamson had a nice season at .290 and a team leading 40 walks. Kolby Robinson checked in at .280, with Joe Breaux at .273 and Brett Auerbach at .270. Breaux, Auerbach, and Keith Holcombe (.263) also tied for the team lead with 12 two baggers. Freshman outfielder T.J. Reeves was second on the team with nine home runs, and hit .255 with 25 runs driven in. </p>
<p id="oe0K2Z"><strong>Pitching:</strong></p>
<p id="cKUBAi">On the mound, senior Sam Finnerty led in wins with his 6-8 record and a 4.50 ERA. Finnerty had the most innings pitched with 74, and only walked 12 batters all season. RS Junior, Brock Love, was second in the win total with his 5-5 record with a 4.65 ERA, and led the team with 66 batters struck out. Redshirt sophomore Garret Rukes led the team with a 2.64 ERA, followed by RS freshman Chase Lee at 2.67, and sophomore Brock Guffey at 2.92. Grad transfer Jeremy Randolph was the save leader with nine and struck out 50 batters in 38 innings pitched. </p>
<p id="V1QgA1">The team had a 4.27 ERA, a tick up over last season’s 4.10. Strikeouts jumped to 469 from 370, while walks went down to 185 from 195. Batting average allowed went down from .267 to .255. The 2019 staff had 36 wild pitches, with five passed balls. In 2018, there were 39 wild pitches with six passed balls. In 2017 under Goff, the team ERA was 4.83 with a .276 batting average allowed with 421 strikeouts and 260 walks, with 88 wild pitches and 21 passed balls.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was a good run, boys<a href="https://t.co/dLfCJIuDfe">https://t.co/dLfCJIuDfe</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RollTide?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RollTide</a> <a href="https://t.co/dDLtJZVPpP">pic.twitter.com/dDLtJZVPpP</a></p>— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlabamaBSB/status/1129869529977380864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2019</a>
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<p id="qYueUI"><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p>
<p id="mcoxuv">To the uninformed, the improvements don't look that dramatic. To the people that were there day-to-day, including many in the media, opposing coaches, and professional scouts, the product on the field has improved more than it appears by the results. </p>
<p id="oSoJTE">The SEC has more great teams, and more very good teams, than at any point in memory. Eleven different teams have been ranked in the top 20 for most of the season. Four teams, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Georgia are national seeds, and have a very good chance to reach Omaha and take home the title. Throw LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, and Texas A&M in the mix and you have a true gauntlet to face. Those eight, as well as Auburn and South Carolina were the 10 SEC series the Tide faced this season. </p>
<p id="hrq8Li"><strong>WHAT’S NEXT?</strong></p>
<p id="hll1px">Wait on the MLB Draft in early June, and see how much damage it does to the incoming recruiting class, presently ranked 10th ranked nationally.The Tide signed C.J. Abrams, a 6’2’, 180-pound shortstop out of Alpharetta, GA in the early signing period. However Abrams is considered by many to be the best player in the draft, and will almost assuredly be one of the top five overall picks. Another shortstop from the Peach State, Myles Austin, 6’3’ 185 out of Smyrna, is another possible first round talent. The chance of either making it to campus are somewhere between slim and none. </p>
<p id="GVkxKf">Other incoming players including LHP Connor Prielipp from Tomah, WI, and junior college pitcher Britt Sparks, from Shelton State are also possible draft casualties. As far as current players that are draft eligible, pitchers Deacon Medders, Wil Freeman, and Casey Cobb are all looking for their names to be called. Davis Vainer is draft eligible, but as already announced as a grad transfer to Arizona if he is not. Infielder Morgan McCullough, and C-INF Brett Auerbach could also be picked. </p>
<p id="RSfedD"><strong>RETURNING</strong></p>
<p id="W5hgoe">Who is back? A good nucleus comes back in 2020 with the return of catcher Sam Praytor. Praytor was set to be the Tide’s cleanup hitter and everyday catcher, but was lost for the season after just six games. With Gentry, Reeves, and Williamson back for sure, they form a nice core. Starting shortstop Kolby Robinson also will be back for his senior season. If McCullough and Auerbach return, that is the beginning of a solid lineup. </p>
<p id="lFb70B">Pitching-wise, the four freshman that the team is so high on — Tyler Ras, Connor Shamblin, Jacob McNairy, and Dylan Smith — should all take a step forward. Rukes, Guffey, Lee, and possibly Freeman and Cobb, are nice pieces to start with. With only three left-handed pitchers on this season’s staff, it is a priority to add more southpaws. Fortunately, the incoming class has four, including late addition Antoine Jean from Canada. </p>
<p id="Oc1rv0">The roster will begin to take shape in the first week of June after the draft. Drafted players will have into July to either sign with a MLB team or enroll/return to Bama. </p>
<p id="TVu4ES"><strong>THE FUTURE</strong></p>
<p id="G5kime">Some fans are getting restless after three straight seasons of missing the SEC Tournament (the top 12 teams in the league make it), and five straight years of not making an NCAA Regional. However, patience is needed, and I would look for next season to be the start of something big. Obviously making the SEC field each year is a valid expectation. Reaching a regional year after year isn't an unrealistic expectation either. With an improvement of 11 wins in two years, Bohannon seems to be on the right track. Known for his recruiting prowess, the soon-to-be third-year head coach will get the players here. </p>
<p id="SbZxzN">Finishing ahead of Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri, and even Auburn next year are not out of the question. If that happens, a regional would be a lock. The next step after that is to get to host status, first for Regionals, then eventually for Super Regionals. Given the landscape of the SEC, and with the severe adversity of the scholarship limits without the of a state lottery, it will be a tall order, but one I feel Bohannon and staff are up to. </p>
<p id="V3M38G">The future is bright, but rebuilding this program will be a marathon, not a spring.</p>
<p id="ZxsN02">Roll Tide</p>
<p id="JrTyXY">Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
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https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2019/5/23/18636551/alabama-crimson-tide-baseball-where-to-next-have-they-improved-bohannonRoger_RBR2019-05-13T07:00:00-05:002019-05-13T07:00:00-05:00Tide Baseball outplays A&M over the weekend, but drops two heartbreakers
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<p>The Crimson Tide baseball team won one out of three from 18th ranked Texas A&M this weekend.</p> <p id="wczYoS">In a close, hard fought series that could have gone either way, the Crimson Tide baseball team lost a series to Texas A&M this weekend in Tuscaloosa. All three games could have gone either way, with Bama losing 3-2 on Friday, winning 2-1 on Saturday, and losing 6-5 in Sunday’s rubber match. The Tide is now 29-23 on the year, 7-20 in the SEC. The Aggies improved to 34-18-1, 14-12-1 in the conference. With Saturday’s win, Bama bested last years win total of 28.</p>
<p id="Qnott0"><strong>Game One: Lost 3-2</strong></p>
<p id="EG2yRF">With regular Friday night starter Sam Finnerty unavailable after an injury last week in the Auburn series, coach Brad Bohannon went to a “bullpen” approach to the opening game. Junior Wil Freeman got the start, opposite Aggie star John Doxakis. </p>
<p id="XSaXBF">The Tide got on the board first by scoring a run in the bottom of the first, but wasted an opportunity by stranding the bases loaded. T.J. Reeves reached on an error and eventually scored on a Drew Williamson single. TAM bounced back in the top of the second off of Freeman. A lead off walk, followed by two one out singles plated the first run. With two runners on, Davis Vainer relieved Freeman. A sacrifice fly pushed the second run across. </p>
<p id="8gKwFT">Bama tied things up in the third when Reeves reached on a fielders choice, advanced on singles by Morgan McCullough and Tyler Gentry, then scampered home on a wild pitch. The Tide had loaded the bases with no outs, but could only score the one run. The Aggies were the recipients of some good fortune in the top of the fourth. The lead off batter hit a dribbler that Vainer pounced on, but threw high to first for an error. Braden Shewmake hit what looked to be a sure double play ball toward McCullough at second base. However the second base umpire screened McCullough and did not get out of way in time, causing the second sacker to not be able to see the ball, and boot it, putting runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly from Bryce Blaum scored the run, while proved to be the last tallied in the game. </p>
<p id="i7l55v">Vainer, Brock Guffey, Chase Lee, and Deacon Medders pitched the final 7.2 innings, allowing only two hits with four walks, eight strikeouts, and the loan (unearned) run. Bama had a chance to tie the game in the ninth after Joe Breaux led off with a single, and advanced to second on a Kolby Robinson sacrifice bunt. A strikeout and pop up stranded the tying run at second, and the Tide lost 3-2.</p>
<p id="JxEdbm">Alabama had six hits, four walks, 11 strikeouts, and stranded eight runners. The Aggies had five hits, walked six times, had two hit batters, struck out eight times, and stranded 11 runners. McCullough had three of the teams six hits on the night. Reeves scored both runs. The pitching strategy employed by the Bama staff worked as well as could be expected, but the offense was unable to give them enough help to snatch the victory.</p>
<p id="stuT4L"><strong>Game Two: Won 2-1</strong></p>
<p id="gHrKj1">On senior day at The Joe on Saturday, two young freshman, and a redshirt junior stole the show. Fourth year junior Brock Love took his normal Saturday turn in the rotation, and turned in a career high seven innings, while throwing another career high, of 106 pitches.</p>
<p id="H5cXMO">Freshman T.J. Reeves gave the Tide an early lead in the bottom of the first by hammering his ninth home run of the season over the scoreboard in left field. Love looked to make that lead hold up, mowing down the Aggie hitters inning after inning. </p>
<p id="cFGt1F">In the fourth, DH Tyler Ras, one of four freshman in the starting lineup, yanked a no doubt home run over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead. Love marched along and began the seventh inning with a 2-0 lead. Cam Blake hit a leadoff triple, and then scored on a ground ball to shortstop. Love then got a strikeout for out two before allowing a single. Catcher Brett Auerbach gunned down the baserunner trying to steal to end the inning. </p>
<p id="OFvQ8k">Aggie starter, Asa Lacy, walked Reeves with one out in the fifth, and strongly disagreed with home plate umpire Ryan Broussard. Lacy had been chirping at the umpiring crew all game about their ball-strike calls, and went to far this time. Broussard sent the sophomore lefty to the showers, trailing 2-1. Chandler Jozwiak replaced Lacy, and picked two Tide runners off of first base to end the inning. </p>
<p id="tvAMua">Casey Cobb came on for Love to begin the eighth and had a perfect inning. The Tide had a chance for an insurance run in the eighth, but Tyler Gentry was thrown out at the plate when trying to score on a passed ball. </p>
<p id="K6Xrxw">Cobb got the first hitter in the ninth, before giving up a single. A fielders choice for out two brought closer Jeremy Randolph in to secure the victory. Randolph threw two pitches, both for strikes, and on the second one Cam Blake attempted to steal second base. Brett Auerbach gunned him out on a perfect throw to Morgan McCullough at second base. The Aggies challenged the play, and after a five minute review, the call was upheld, and the Tide had the 2-1 victory. </p>
<p id="KrA202">The Tide had six hits, walked six times, struck out 11 times, and stranded eight runners on base. The Aggies had seven hits, walked once, struck out three times, and stranded four runners. Tyler Gentry had two hits, including a double, while Reeves and Ras drove in and scored one run apiece with their solo home runs. Love improved to 5-4 on the season and Randolph earned his ninth save of the year. </p>
<p id="cKh25d"><strong>Game Three: Lost 6-5</strong></p>
<p id="4ibypd">Game three was like a three act play: a bad opening for the Tide, a great second act, and a disappointing finale. Bama outplayed the Aggies through out most of the game, but ended up on the wrong end of the 6-5 score. </p>
<p id="14WDYt">Regular Friday night starter Sam Finnerty was pushed back to Sunday after suffering a first inning injury in his start against Auburn last week. Finnerty has been the work horse of the staff this year, and the Tide felt good about their chances for the series victory with him on the hill on Sunday. </p>
<p id="E2woam">The first pitch of the game was lifted to deep left field by Braden Shewmake where T. J. Reeves seemed to have it in his sights. Reeves got turned around and was unable to make the play, resulting in a three base error. A single scored Shewmake, followed by a hit batter and a sacrifice bunt. A two run single, and a two run home run to right put the Tide in an early 5-0 hole after the top of the first inning. </p>
<p id="f9myel">Aggie starter Christian Roa, struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the first before running into trouble. Morgan McCullough blasted a triple to deep center field. Tyler Gentry laced a single to score McCullough, followed by a double from Drew Williamson. As has been the case all season, the runners were stranded at second and third after the third strikeout of the inning.</p>
<p id="Z2PFSq">Finnerty settled down and retired 14 of the next 16 batters to get through five innings. Meanwhile the Tide was trying to scratch their way back into the game. Bama added one run in the fourth, despite four players reaching base in the inning, on an RBI single by Kolby Robinson. Tyler Gentry singled in Reeves, who had singled and stolen second base, in the fifth to shrink the margin to 5-3. McCullough led off the seventh with a single, and came all the way around on a Williamson single, and an error by the A&M centerfielder. With the Aggie infield drawn in Tyler Ras hit what looked like a game tying single up the middle, but Shewmake dove, made the stop, held the runner at third, and threw out Ras at first. A ground out to the mound ended the threat with the score now 5-4.</p>
<p id="jXIbhN">Texas A&M got a much needed insurance run in the eighth after a walk, a ground out to advance the runner, and a bloop single to right where the runner just beat the throw to the plate, giving TAM a 6-4 lead. Deacon Medders stranded two Aggie runners in the ninth, setting up a possible dramatic bottom of the ninth for the Tide. </p>
<p id="MxTt6f">Reeves led off the Bama ninth with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a fly out to deep center field by McCullough, Gentry very nearly tied the game. His double, high off the center field wall, scored Reeves, cutting the lead to 6-5. Williamson drew a walk, putting the winning run on base. With Ras at the plate with a 1-2 count the bottom fell out, facilitating a 45 minute rain delay, hence act three.</p>
<p id="Y1xjd3">After the rain stopped the Tide players, coaches, and grounds crew worked diligently to get the field in playing shape, while the Aggies were able to hang out in their dugout and watch. No less than 100 bags of field dry where hauled out and spread on the field by the Bama team. </p>
<p id="7UiZ1r">Aggie closer Kasey Kalich remained in the game after the delay, and needed just one pitch to dispatch of Ras with a strikeout, and five more to strike out Breaux and end the game with the tying and winning runs on base. The Tide had 13 hits, walked four times, struck out 11 times, and stranded 11 runners. TAM had eight hits, walked three times, struck out five times, and stranded seven runners on base. Finnerty suffered the loss, following to 6-7 on the year. Gentry had three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs. Williamson had three hits with a double as well. Reeves, McCullough, and Robinson added two hits each. </p>
<p id="TLGunR"><strong>Overview and outlook</strong></p>
<p id="hhInxA">The Tide outplayed the Aggies across the three game series, but couldn't come up with the big plays when the needed to. As has been the problem all year, situational hitting cost the team runs. Often just needing almost any type of contact, the team was unable to advance or score runners. In 52 games the team has left 474 runners on base. On the bright side of things, the Tide has improved their win total by one with at least four games left to play. </p>
<p id="4Ym8n1">If the season ended today the team would be in the SEC Tournament as the 12th seed. Currently the Tide has an RPI of 38 and a strength of schedule of 22. Alabama, South Carolina, and Kentucky, are all 7-20 in conference play right now. However with a road trip to Georgia next week, things could change. Kentucky host Vanderbilt, and South Carolina goes to Mississippi State. It appears Bama will need to win at least one, with Kentucky getting swept by Vanderbilt, and South Carolina winning no more than one game in Starkville. </p>
<p id="PjwTD6"><strong>Who Did What?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="2d67q8">The Tide hit .252 over the weekend, 25-99, while the Aggies hit only .206, 20-97.</li>
<li id="wInDjE">Morgan McCullough 6-12, triple, BB, two runs</li>
<li id="jv0kbL">Tyler Gentry 6-11, two doubles, three RBI, two BB, Run</li>
<li id="8Nznhv">Drew Williamson 4-11, double, BB, RBI</li>
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<p id="iHeE28"><strong>What’s Next?</strong></p>
<p id="gqXquO">The final home game, Tuesday night vs Samford, and a road trip to UGA to end the regular season, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, games are all at 6 p.m. and Saturday is a 1 p.m. first pitch. The Friday night game will be on the SEC Network, and the other three can be seen on the SEC Network Plus. </p>
<p id="mowVpD">RTR </p>
<p id="PtHFKM">Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
<p id="nG8jM3">Follow @rogerpatmyers on Twitter for live, in game updates</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last home game of the season tomorrow for <a href="https://twitter.com/AlabamaBSB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlabamaBSB</a> and it's $2 Tuesday ⚾️<br><br> : <a href="https://t.co/d8QLjmSpPV">https://t.co/d8QLjmSpPV</a> <a href="https://t.co/m4fBO0sO47">pic.twitter.com/m4fBO0sO47</a></p>— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/UA_Athletics/status/1127981832233000960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2019</a>
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https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2019/5/13/18617182/tide-baseball-outplays-a-m-over-the-weekend-but-drops-two-heartbreakersRoger_RBR2019-04-23T08:06:00-05:002019-04-23T08:06:00-05:00EDITORIAL: The NCAA screws College Baseball. Again.
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<figcaption>Bama Baseball Signs Eleven In Early Signing Period | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It’s not just football that Big 10 and the Big 12 are trying to ruin. </p> <p id="Fv6lWR">Most everyone knows my passion for baseball, particularly Alabama baseball and college baseball in general. With the many restrictions the sport faces, they lost a chance to take a big step forward last week. The SEC, with the backing of The American Baseball Coaches Association, had a proposal brought forward to allow a third paid assistant coach for baseball. After a year or so of due diligence the proposition was amended to add another softball coach as well. </p>
<p id="MB6aZw">First a little background. </p>
<p id="gAG4iJ">NCAA Division One baseball allows 35 players on a team, with 27 of them allowed to have some scholarship assistance. The problem is the 27 have to divide 11.7 scholarships, with the minimum allowed to give being 25%. Softball is allowed up to 25 players, but most teams have 15-19 players to divide 12 total scholarships. Each team is allowed three paid coaches — usually a head coach, a hitting coach, a pitching coach, and one unpaid volunteer assistant. By contrast, because of football, Title IX- rowing has 20 full scholarships, women's basketball was 15 full, (men’s teams have 13), Soccer has 14 full rides that they can use or divide among their 29 players. </p>
<p id="LNihXa">The volunteer coach is not allowed to receive a salary or benefits, and at bigger schools the volunteer survives on money earned at winter and summer baseball camps. At schools like Alabama, as is the case with most SEC teams, that can be a pretty fair amount of money. However, insurance and retirement pay can not be included. At smaller schools, the volunteer most likely is doing private lessons or working some other job in their “free” time.- Baseball is a very time intensive sport, and the staff has very little free time. </p>
<p id="BTRvor">The volunteer is not allowed to engage in off-campus recruiting. I am not really sure why this is a thing. As Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn pointed out in having to hire new coaches it is important to have good recruiters. If the volunteers haven't had the opportunity to go out and prove their chops, it makes it harder to get a job. With only the head coach and two paid assistants able to go out and recruit, the team is often times left shorthanded during practice and some midweek games. The life blood of any program is the recruiting, so the coaches find themselves out often during the preseason practice and midweek games. This leaves less time to spend with the players to help develop them. If the NCAA is really about the “well being” of their student athletes, this is a strange way of showing it. </p>
<p id="8K9flX">Back to the proposal. </p>
<p id="Bp32rj">In the fall of 2015, the SEC came up with the idea of adding a third paid assistant, as well as keeping the volunteer position. The coach-to-player ratio for baseball is one of the worst in the NCAA at 12 players-per-coach. At some point the measure was considered doomed to fail without a women's waiver added to it. Therefore the third coach for softball was added to the equation. The plan evolved again to eliminate the volunteer, and make it a paid position. That is good for the volunteers who get promoted, but it also eliminates a position that gave young coaches a foot in the door to begin their career. The main thing the sitting coaches wanted was the right to send one more coach out on the recruiting trail to spread the work load.</p>
<p id="YFazTM">The coaches in all the conferences supported the measure, but the vote went to the Athletic Directors. Up until the last minute everyone seemed to be on board, but inexcusably the Big 10 and Big 12 changed their votes at the last minute and the rule failed. The 14 SEC schools all voted yes, in the Big 12 it is known for sure that Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and West Virginia all voted no. The Pac 12 did vote yes, but the AD at Oregon State voted no. OSU won the College World Series last year, a truly shocking vote. </p>
<p id="2M5mux">The full list of nays has not been released yet, but these big schools with huge budgets should be ashamed. Most did not want to include the softball assistant. The sad thing is that it would be the choice of each school whether they wanted to, or could afford to, add the third paid job. Pass the legislation and then decided as a school to use it to your advantage or not. There is no reason to punish the other schools and young coaches with a negative vote. Van Horn mentioned that he is hesitant to hire a volunteer coach that has a family because of the hardships involved with no insurance or other benefits and the lack of a steady and predictable amount of income. </p>
<p id="VT0dWl">There were a few things that did get passed, with the most important being a tweak to the recruiting calendar. More dead periods were built in to try and allow the coaches some times with their families. One was added for after the conference tournaments, from May 27 to June third, as well as the first weekend of the College World Series-which correlates with Fathers Day. A three dead period around the fourth of July holiday was included, as well as some time in late October to early November. That is a good thing, but having another body that could go out would have allowed for the same thing, by dividing the trips among four instead of three men. </p>
<p id="Ow7HQZ">With this important piece shot down, the coaches and Athletic Directors should take aim on trying to remedy the low scholarship numbers. Simply stating that it is about student-athlete safety should open some eyes, and some worries about possible lawsuits. Another issue is the lack of African American players in the sport overall. Baseball has been dying in the black community for some time now: black players comprise just 8% of MLB, for instance. Baseball is an expensive sport as a youth now days because of the phenomenon of travel ball. Bats, gloves, shoes, and weekly travel adds up in a hurry. And the professionalization of developing younger players has had real-world ramifications. Among other things, there has been a direct and immediate decline in black players. The minority players that do play are more likely to sign professional contracts out of high school rather than playing college ball. </p>
<p id="t3Pevw">And this doesn’t even address the scholarship disparity among lottery states. </p>
<p id="z9Ng9b">People that love baseball need to make their voices heard. The disrespect that the sport faced among athletic directors is ridiculous. A commonsense proposal that had garnered near-unanimous support among the nation’s coaches, one that equally and positively affected both baseball and softball, was shot down by a few cowards in the Big 12 and Big 10. And they need to answer for their no votes.</p>
<p id="8zePLS">College Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
<p id="boxyjQ">Roger</p>
<p id="JJu2sD"></p>
<p id="78OdAO"></p>
https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2019/4/23/18511937/editorial-the-ncaa-screws-college-baseball-againRoger_RBR2019-04-10T08:02:10-05:002019-04-10T08:02:10-05:00‘Bama Blasts Bulldogs, 21-2, and sets records along the way.
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<figcaption>Mariah Garza</figcaption>
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<p>The Crimson Tide baseball team used 19 hits, including nine home runs, to blast the Samford Bulldogs</p> <p id="cUsOxN"><strong>Summary:</strong></p>
<p id="j7pOcd">The Alabama Crimson Tide improved to 23-11 on the season with a demolition of the Samford Bulldogs in Homewood on Tuesday night, 21-2. Eleven players had hits, and thirteen guys scored runs. Coach Brad Bohannon used every available position player and five pitchers in the win. The Tide blasted nine home runs in the game, giving the team 32 long balls on the year. Samford fell to 22-11.</p>
<p id="23dNT7"><strong>Record-Setting Recap:</strong></p>
<p id="CY31R3">Left-hander Garret Rukes was the starting pitcher, and had a 1-0 lead when he took the mound for the first time. Keith Holcombe, recently moved to the top of the order, led things off with a single and then scored on a single by Drew Williamson. </p>
<p id="yUkDFV">In the third, the Tide had a historic inning, sending 17 players to the plate — 10 straight reaching base at one point— and scored 13 runs. In the third, Alabama hit five home runs, three doubles, and a triple. Freshman T.J. Reeves had two absolute no-doubt round-trippers in the inning and a double, tying an NCAA record from 2011 and setting an Alabama and SEC school record. Holcombe lead off the explosive 3rd with a long opposite-field shot to the warning track in left field. Reeves followed with a blast over the centerfield fence, and the next two batters, Morgan McCullough and Tyler Gentry, both hit long home runs. Reeves came back around and smashed a three-run shot over the wall. At that point Reeves was the 10th straight Tide player to reach base. Four batters later, Brett Auerbach smacked his first home run of his Tide career, a three-run job. </p>
<p id="VIQmd1">Rukes finished his night with three innings pitched, allowing only one hit, with one walk and one strikeout. Jacob McNairy followed with two scoreless, one hit, innings with one strikeout. Dylan Smith, Conner Shamblin, and Dylan Oliver finished off the night for the Tide. </p>
<p id="Eg4WIJ">‘Bama added to the lead in the fifth with three runs, highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Gentry and Williamson. Williamson’s ball was hit so hard and so far the rightfielder never moved as it rocketed over everything in right field. The Tide’s longball production still wasn’t finished on the night. In the sixth Alabama added two more, including the first home run of Tyler Ras’ career, a two-run shot, and another two-run homer from catcher Johnny Hawk, giving the Tide nine home runs in the game. </p>
<p id="nBZAQz">Samford finally dented the scoreboard with one run in the sixth and one run in the ninth. Alabama finished with 19 hits, 13 for extra bases, with seven walks, two hit batters, 10 strikeouts, and eight runners left on base. The Bulldogs had seven hits, walked four times, struck out seven times, and stranded eight runners on base. </p>
<p id="ZG4Z08"><strong>Who Did What?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="cnYWM5">T.J. Reeves- tied an NCAA record with two home runs in an inning. 2-4, two home runs, four RBI, two runs</li>
<li id="c4Oq0g">Tyler Gentry 3-4, two home runs, double, two RBI, three runs</li>
<li id="voTw7W">Drew Williamson 3-3, walk, triple, home run, three runs, two RBI</li>
<li id="oDiUgF">Brett Auerbach 2-5, home run, four RBI, </li>
<li id="NVeoS0">Keith Holcombe 2-3, two runs, BB, two runs</li>
<li id="q6dtdL">Garret Rukes W 2-0, 3 IP 1 H 1 BB 1 K</li>
<li id="5dqlzi">Conner Shamblin 2 IP 1 H 1 BB 4 K</li>
</ul>
<p id="UyvbAB"><strong>Takeaways:</strong></p>
<p id="B0pjvz"><a href="https://rolltide.com/news/2019/4/9/record-setting-offensive-night-powers-baseball-to-21-2-win-at-samford.aspx">It was, all-around, a night of records:</a></p>
<p id="RlsMJf">The 11 hits in an inning set a new Alabama record for an inning. So too were the Tide’s five home runs in the frame. The Reeves-McCullough-Gentry back-to-back-to-back homers was the first Alabama had done so in over a decade (Auburn, 2008).</p>
<p id="fMpZvw">The nine straight hits set record for consecutive hits in an inning. The 13-run inning were the most by the Tide in 20 years (La. Tech, 1999.) Alabama’s 31 total bases in a game was a new program record, and the most in 20 years, easily shattering the 23 Alabama tallied against Niagara in 1999. The 21 runs scored by the Tide was the most since a 25-1 win over Ilinois-Chicage in 2010.</p>
<p id="Jy2rrV">The Bulldogs are not a bad team at all. In fact, their skipper, Casey Dunn, alongside ECU’s Cliff Godwin, was on the shortlist for the Tide vacancy back in 2016. Samford has had a good season, and they do have a good chance to win the conference. Perhaps more importantly, the Tide improved to 9-1 in midweek games, and 9-1 versus teams from the state. In a rugged SEC, with a rebuilding program down its best position player, picking up these midweek wins may prove to make the difference in whether the Tide make regional play in Coach Bo’s second season.</p>
<p id="2oVCuS"><strong>What’s Next?</strong></p>
<p id="HtWEte">A road trip to Starkville to take on the nation’s No. 2 team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. The first two games will be on SEC Network Plus, and the Sunday game is a SEC Network game. Sam Finnerty and Brock Love will pitch on Friday and Saturday, respectively, and the Sunday starter will be announced later. </p>
<p id="fTvc7b">Roll Tide</p>
<p id="JMzR1t">Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
<p id="amYtU0">Follow @rogerpatmyers for live updates</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Weren't at Samford last night? You missed a show - here's a look at all 9⃣ home runs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RollTide?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RollTide</a> <a href="https://t.co/uD6ySLhizI">pic.twitter.com/uD6ySLhizI</a></p>— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlabamaBSB/status/1116067481997774849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2019</a>
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https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2019/4/10/18304101/bama-blasts-bulldogs-21-2-and-sets-records-along-the-wayRoger_RBR2019-02-28T07:03:00-06:002019-02-28T07:03:00-06:00Baseball takes two from North Alabama, runs record to 7-2
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<figcaption>Tyler Gentry.</figcaption>
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<p>‘Bama took Wednesday’s doubleheader 8-0, 4-1.</p> <p id="MUbhnw"><strong>Bottom Line</strong></p>
<p id="ytrg2Y">Coach Brad Bohannon played with his lineups in this mid-week series with North Alabama, giving several players their first starts. The UNA Lions from Florence are in their first year of Division One play, and, though game, can't match up with the Tide talent-wise.<br>‘Bama once again pitched very well, stretching their scoreless streak to 23 innings over three games. UNA plated a run in the fifth inning of game two to break the streak. The Tide won game one 8-0 and took game two 4-1.</p>
<p id="IfNXR3"><strong>Game One: Won 8-0</strong></p>
<p id="whMnXJ">Junior Will Freeman got the starting nod, and the victory, pitching four innings while allowing only one hit, no walks, and scattering four strikeouts. The Tide scored six times in the third inning to put the game on ice. The red-hot Keith Holcombe led off with a double and scored in front of a towering home run off the bat of Tyler Gentry. The long ball tied Gentry for the team lead with two. Justin King, T.J. Reeves, and Gene Wood followed with singles. A balk scored Reeves and Brett Auerbach pushed a run across with a sacrifice fly.</p>
<p id="LZXmNS">Holcombe added a run driven in by being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth. Wood singled in his second run of the game in the sixth to close out the scoring. Kyle Cameron followed Freeman on the mound and pitched two innings, allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts. Brock Guffey struck out two and allowed one hit in his one inning of work. Deacon Medders took the eighth inning and after walking the lead off man, struck out the next three batters. Jeremy Randolph pitched the ninth and allowed his first base runner of the season on a lead off walk. Like Medders before him, he then blew the next three batters away, fanning them all. Randolph has faced 11 batters in three appearances this year and has struck out nine, walked one, and retired one on a fly ball.</p>
<p id="tjo7u4">Holcombe finished 2-2 with a double, and RBI, a run scored, a walk, and was hit by a pitch. Wood was 2-3 with two runs driven in, two walks, and two runs scored. King was 2-2 in his second start of the year. </p>
<p id="tyjzKy">The Tide had 11 hits, drew eight walks, reached twice by way of HBP, struck out seven times, and stranded 12 runners on base. The Lions had two hits, drew three walks, struck out 15 times, and stranded seven runners.</p>
<p id="RNb6m8"><strong>Game Two: Won 4-1</strong></p>
<p id="W5SKFO">Bohannon adjusted the lineup again in game two, giving shortstop Kolby Robinson his first day off of the year, inserting McCullough at short and playing John Trousdale at second base. Johnny Hawk received his first start of the year at catcher. Brock Love got the starting nod on the mound and pitched just the first inning, allowing one hit and striking out three. Five pitchers followed Love, allowing only a combined one run on six hits.</p>
<p id="M5SUEY">The Tide scored first with one run in the third. Three walks and one single by Trousdale led to the run. McCullough drove the score in with a bases loaded walk. North Alabama tied the game in the top of the fifth off of third Tide pitcher Garrett Rukes. Tyler Ras had relieved Rukes and stranded two runners on base.</p>
<p id="96yTUx">Bama answered in the bottom of the fifth, scoring twice. Trousdale led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a Jeaux Breaux double. Auerbach hit a deep fly to right for a sacrifice fly and run driven in. McCullough followed with a single to plate the other run in the frame. </p>
<p id="KctKGn">Winning pitcher Chase Lee entered in the top of the sixth with two on and one out and got a ground ball and a strikeout to stymie the rally. McCullough walked to start the Bama seventh and advanced on a Holcombe single and a Walker McCleney sacrifice bunt. A walk to Gentry loaded the bases, and another free pass to Drew Williamson drove in the games final run. Lee pitched 1.2 innings with two strikeouts to gain the first victory of his Alabama career. Jacob McNairy pitched the final two innings to earn the first save of his career. </p>
<p id="OPLhix">The Tide finished with seven hits, drew eight walks, struck out five times, and stranded 11 runners on base. The Lions collected seven hits, drew two walks, struck out 12 times, and left eight runners on base. Holcombe and Trousdale were both 2-4 on the night. Holcombe's average actually <em>went down</em> to .519 despite a two-hit game. McCullough drove in two runs with one hit and two walks. </p>
<p id="TRzFqb"><strong>Takeaways</strong></p>
<p id="pIexQ0">Alabama did what they needed to do, defeating an inferior opponent in a mid week series. Over the last few years, troubles winning midweeks games has haunted the program, possibly costing UA a couple of NCAA Tournament bids. Bohannon has done a good job of immersing his new players into major college baseball. With several junior college and high school players new to the team, it is paramount that they all receive some game experience early so they will be ready when called upon throughout the season. </p>
<p id="rJmg6d"><strong>Statistical Leaders:</strong></p>
<p id="OA8yvJ">Batting Average:<br>Keith Holcombe .519, Kolby Robinson .480, Morgan McCullough.345, Jeaux Breaux .310</p>
<p id="6h8IwR">Hits:<br>Holcombe 14, Robinson 12, McCullough 10</p>
<p id="rVcFVG">Runs:<br>McCullough, Breaux 8, Brett Auerbach 7 </p>
<p id="6dOFJg">RBI:<br>Holcombe 15, Tyler Gentry 8</p>
<p id="SlL8RZ">Doubles:<br>Breaux 5, Holcombe 4</p>
<p id="iBjfJ0">Home Runs:<br>Holcombe, Gentry, Sam Praytor 2 </p>
<p id="s35CdI"><strong>Pitch of the Series</strong></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s the last pitch, the movement on the ball is crazy. <a href="https://t.co/MqeBIihirT">pic.twitter.com/MqeBIihirT</a></p>— Griffin Smith (@GriffinTSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/GriffinTSmith/status/1100915079954993152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2019</a>
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<p id="U9dtpE"><strong>Whats next?</strong> </p>
<p id="55i1BX">A trip to Mobile for a three-game series with South Alabama. Game one on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m., Saturday first pitch is 2 p.m., and game three will be Sunday at 1 p.m. The games can be seen on <a href="http://JagNationTV.com">JagNationTV.com</a>, at a charge. </p>
<p id="qbqGcY">Roll Tide, ‘Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
<p id="oJG72a">Follow @rogerpatmyers on Twitter for live updates</p>
https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2019/2/28/18243935/crimson-tide-baseball-takes-two-from-north-alabamaRoger_RBR2019-02-19T06:46:19-06:002019-02-19T06:46:19-06:00Holcombe, Gentry blast Tide Baseball past Jax State, 13-2
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<figcaption>Keith Holcombe paced the Tide on an explosive night for ‘Bama baseball | Mariah Garza</figcaption>
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<p>Alabama scored early and often to defeat Jacksonville State. ‘Bama improved to 3-1 on the season.</p> <p id="yyuJF4"><strong>What Happened?</strong></p>
<p id="fM1Ite">With a Noah’s Ark-deluge predicted for the rest of the week, the <a href="https://www.rollbamaroll.com/">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> baseball team and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks moved their scheduled Tuesday game to Monday. The Tide scored early and often, and steamrolled the visitors 13-2. Alabama improved to 3-1 and JSU fell to 2-2 on the year.</p>
<p id="rHsHIt">None of the pitchers threw more than two innings, and the third hurler on the night, Kyle Cameron, was awarded the victory. Cameron pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts. Will Freeman started and was followed by Brock Guffey, Cameron, Davis Vainer, Dylan Smith, and Dylan Oliver. Coach Brad Bohannon utilized 19 position players and six pitchers in the lopsided win. Four games into the season, every player on the roster, save <span>Tyrell Shavers</span>, has seen action. Shavers has not been seen in the dugout for any of the early season games.</p>
<p id="2Ho1CM">Freeman surrendered a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first to give the ‘Cocks their only lead of the game. Shortstop Kolby Robinson made a spectacular diving play to record out number three and save a run to end the inning. It didn't take the Tide long to tie the game, as leadoff hitter Jeaux Breaux lined the first pitch he saw into the right field plaza for his first home run of the season. Morgan McCullough singled with one out and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by <span>Keith Holcombe</span>. </p>
<p id="h1B2MX">The Tide broke the game wide open in the bottom of the second, scoring seven times on four hits, three walks, a hit batter, and a sac bunt. McCullough singled in two runs and Holcombe doubled to score two more. Tyler Gentry added a two run single, and Brett Auerbach brought in a run with a bases loaded walk. T J Reeves got hit by a pitch and scored on a double play in the third, and the Tide piled two more runs on in the fourth. Sam Praytor walked and advanced to third on Holcombe’s second double of the night. Gentry singled Praytor in, and Holcombe scored on the back end of a double steal. </p>
<p id="V8H8c7">After the fourth inning, the Tide did not collect another hit, and only scored once more, pushing an unearned run across in the eighth. Bohannon emptied his bench, replacing every position player starting in the top of the fifth. </p>
<p id="7cwWov">Freshman Dylan Smith saw the first action of his career, pitching 1.2 sharp innings with one hit allowed and one strikeout. Junior college transfer Dylan Oliver made his Tide debut and struck out the last batter of the game. </p>
<p id="iS6iXC">‘Bama collected 10 hits, walked nine times, got hit by two pitches, committed no errors, and left nine men on base. JSU had six hits, walked twice, struck out eight times and left six men on base, and committed three costly errors</p>
<p id="jgqrO9"><strong>Who Did What?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="ktKYEz">
<span>Keith Holcombe</span> 2-3, two doubles, three RBI, two runs, stolen base</li>
<li id="Vzd3qp">Tyler Gentry 2-3, three RBI, stolen base</li>
<li id="ZfBnKk">Morgan McCullough 2-3, two RBI, two runs</li>
<li id="x13lwS">Jeaux Breaux 1-3, Home run, RBI, two runs. BB,</li>
<li id="424Wnl">T.J. Reeves 1-2, two runs, HBP</li>
<li id="5ZqJiZ">Kyle Cameron Win, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K</li>
</ul>
<p id="QDPNtB"><strong>What’s Next?</strong></p>
<p id="nyZTW4">Four more home games. </p>
<p id="Md8IcQ">A scheduled game for Wednesday at 3 p.m. vs Alabama State, weather permitting, and a three-game series with Ball State. Game times are 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All four games are available on the SEC Network Plus. </p>
<p id="nDgJbU">Roll Tide Roll, ‘Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It</p>
<p id="tCdkAn">Follow @rogerpatmyers on Twitter for live, in game updates. </p>
https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2019/2/19/18230598/holcombe-gentry-blast-tide-baseball-past-jax-state-13-2Roger_RBR2018-04-19T05:11:50-05:002018-04-19T05:11:50-05:00#BanMidweekBaseball: Baseball takes a wobbly 3-0 win over the Braves, snapping its four-game skid
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<figcaption><p zoompage-fontsize="15">Wrong sport, Jalen! | <p zoompage-fontsize="15">UA Athletics</p></figcaption>
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<p>It was a midweek game, so naturally the Tide struggled in its win over a very bad Alcorn State club.</p> <p id="sM2hmS">The Crimson Tide slogged its way to a 3-0 win over Alcorn State on Wednesday to break a four-game losing skid. The Tide improved to 22-17, while Alcorn fell to 8-28 on the season.</p>
<p id="CuZKps">In a Wednesday night game against SWAC cellar dwellers, Alcorn State, the Alabama baseball team probably expected to cruise to an easy win. After all, the Brave’s entered the game with a record of 8-27, while hitting only .247 as a team and posting a putrid team ERA of 8.63. </p>
<p id="41lh9e">ASU had different ideas, though, and made the Tide work for its lethargic 3-0 victory. Five Tide pitchers combined on the two-hit shutout, while the ‘Bama “offense” scored their three runs by collecting only three hits on the night. (This is somewhat of a theme the past week: On Tuesday night, the Tide was held to two hits while being shutout 6-0 by visiting Samford.)</p>
<p id="rTLx2d">Dylan Duarte started on the mound for the first time since the 2016 season, having been used out of the bullpen all of last year and so far this season. Duarte went the first two innings before being replaced by Brady Greene. Duarte didn't allow a hit and walked one. Greene pitched a career high 2.1 innings, allowing one hit and walking two. Tyler Adams was next up and also pitched a career high in innings, 3.2. Adams also threw a career high 42 pitches while allowing one hit with one walk and a career high tying three strikeouts. Connor Stutts was the final hurler for the Tide, coming in from left field to pitch the ninth and earn his first career save with a nine-pitch perfect inning and one strikeout.</p>
<p id="I4jvES">‘Bama got all the runs they would need in the fourth inning when Chandler Avant led off with a walk and scored on a long double by Hunter Alexander. Chandler Taylor flied to deep center, moving Alexander to third, where he scored on a sacrifice fly by Sam Praytor. Alexander was responsible for the last run of the game in the sixth after lining a one-out single. Alexander advanced to second on a wild pitch, then stole third base and continued home when the ball was thrown into left field. </p>
<p id="Z3ayFX"><strong>Who Did What</strong></p>
<p id="ZHxbm2">Greene earned the victory with Stutts claiming the save. Alexander had a double, single, RBI, two runs and a stolen base. Praytor had the only other hit for the team, and added a sac fly RBI and a walk. Cobie Vance had a walk and his fifth stolen base of the season.</p>
<p id="1DXsKY"><strong>Bottom Line</strong></p>
<p id="oOy8G7">The Tide really was unimpressive in claiming the victory, just 24 hours after being two-hit in a shutout loss to Samford. Alcorn really is a team that is used for padding stats and confidence-building...neither of which happened. A win is a win is a win, but they aren't all created equally. </p>
<p id="ACk2Tq"><a href="http://www.cw.ua.edu/article/2018/04/s-baseball-uses-four-pitchers-to-shutout-alcorn-state">Coach Bohannon summed it up perfectly:</a> “I’m glad we won. Three hits, four walks, two HBPs and a bad infield error, I’m just glad we won.”</p>
<p id="sjQ48B"><strong>Looking Ahead to Auburn</strong></p>
<p id="k3SvLw">Struggling against the Braves, when the team is two days away from hosting the Auburn Tigers, is not ideal. </p>
<p id="CtS6dH">Auburn started off the season great, but has struggled recently. However, AU does have the nation’s number one pitcher in junior Casey Mize. Mize has a very good chance of being the first player taken in this summers MLB draft. The Springville AL native leads the NCAA in WHIP ( walks and hits per innings pitched) with a ridiculously-low 0.64. Mize has pitched 63 innings, allowing 37 hits, walking only FOUR and striking out 86. </p>
<p id="4OEzDQ">Auburn is 26-12 overall and 6-9 in the SEC after taking two-of-three from Mississippi State last weekend. The Tigers enter the weekend with a team average of .270 and ERA of 3.96. In the SEC those numbers are much worse, with a .199 team batting average and a 4.25 ERA. The Tide is hitting .261 overall all with a 3.03 ERA. In conference play only the average drops to .232 and the ERA goes up to only 3.09. </p>
<p id="xFPSkK">The Tide will need to continue to get great pitching and will need to play flawless defense to take the series. The bats need to wake up too, but Mize is on a different level than anyone the team has seen this year. Daniel Davis and Tanner Burns are likely the game two and three starters for the Tigers. The Tide will continue with Sam Finnerty, Jake Walters, and Garret Rukes. </p>
<p id="Mv0jwl">The Friday game is scheduled for 6 p.m. on SEC Network Plus, while Saturday nights 7 p.m tilt will be on the SEC Network. The finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m and once again will be on SEC Network Plus.</p>
<p id="zCBiQv">‘Bama Baseball Fever, Catch it</p>
<p id="Dr641V">Follow @rogerpatmyers on Twitter for live updates</p>
https://www.rollbamaroll.com/2018/4/19/17255574/banmidweekbaseball-baseball-takes-a-wobbly-3-0-win-over-the-braves-snapping-its-four-game-skidRoger_RBR