Alabama Baseball Suffers Second Straight Late-Inning Loss to South Carolina

A pitcher’s duel between Alabama and South Carolina completed in favor of the Gamecocks, 2-1, on Saturday evening at Founders Park. The Crimson Tide is now 25-19 on the season and 9/11 in Southeastern Convention play.

“It’s the identical story – we’re doing lots of actually good issues, put collectively some actually good items, however we make a crucial mistake that the opposite staff takes benefit of,” mentioned Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. “They discovered a method to put a ball in play with a runner at third and fewer than two outs, and we haven’t been doing that. In the event you stroll the leadoff batter in a tie recreation within the eighth, it’s going to come back again and get you.”

Jacob McNairy was masterful on Friday, tossing a career-high 112 pitches throughout 7.0 innings to match his career-long begin. The senior allowed only one run on 5 hits and issued two walks whereas placing out seven to tie his career-best complete. He stored the ball down all evening, recording 9 groundball outs, together with a double play, along with his lone mistake approaching a solo house run within the third.

The Tide was in a position to reply with one run within the high of the eighth, because of an RBI-single from Dominic Tamez. South Carolina got here proper again to regain the lead within the house half with a sacrifice fly proving the distinction.

South Carolina starter Noah Corridor matched McNairy with a formidable outing, working 7.0 scoreless with eight punchouts. Matthew Becker (2-3) picked up the win in aid for SC, whereas Dylan Ray (1-3) suffered the loss.

How It Occurred

• B3 | Kevin Madden led off the inning with a house run. (1-0, South Carolina)
• T8 | Jim Jarvis singled to begin the rally earlier than advancing to second on a wild pitch. A stroll to Andrew Pinckney got here on a ball-four wild pitch, placing runners on the corners. One out later, Dominic Tamez delivered with an RBI-single by the precise facet to tie issues up. (1-1)
• B8 | The leadoff man walked and stole second with an errant throw permitting him to maneuver to 3rd. A sacrifice fly in that very same at-bat resulted within the go-ahead run for the Gamecocks. (2-1, South Carolina)

Postgame Notes

• Jacob McNairy tossed a career-high 112 pitches in his begin. His earlier excessive for pitches was 89 in his final outing towards Georgia on April 23.
• McNairy logged 7.0 innings to match his career-long begin. The senior additionally tossed 7.0 innings on March 2 towards Troy.
• The seven strikeouts from McNairy matched his career-high complete. He additionally had seven strikeouts on two earlier events, most not too long ago at Mississippi State on March 26.
• Drew Williamson’s hitting streak got here to an finish at 9 video games. Over that streak, the senior batted .378 (14-37) with two doubles, one triple, two house runs, seven RBI, 5 runs scored and three walks.
• Williamson’s reached base streak ended at 19 straight video games. The streak dated again to March 27.

The Crimson Tide and Gamecocks will meet at 11 a.m. CT within the collection finale. Alabama will look to sophomore left-hander Grayson Hitt for the beginning whereas South Carolina calls on righty Will Sanders, additionally a sophomore. Saturday’s matchup will probably be broadcast nationally on SEC Community.