Alabama Baseball to Appear on National Television 10 Times in 2016

The Southeastern Conference announced its 2016 baseball television schedule on Thursday afternoon, with the Crimson Tide appearing nationally on the SEC Network nine times and once on ESPNU. Included in the 10 national broadcasts is the Bases Loaded special airing on the SEC Network on Friday, March 18, the opening night of conference play, an event that will feature a live compilation of seven games – all 14 teams – taking place across the league.

The SEC Network enters its second season after a successful first year in 2015. The network will once again be the main hub for Southeastern Conference baseball, with 75 games airing live throughout the season. A total of 15 more games will air on the ESPN family of networks, setting the conference’s national broadcast total at 90 games in 2016.

Alabama’s first national broadcast of the season will come on Friday, March 18, as part of the Bases Loaded special broadcast on the SEC Network. The Crimson Tide will travel to Baton Rouge to face off with LSU for a 7 p.m. CT contest. In addition to airing live on the SEC Network, the game will also be available in its entirety on SEC Network+.

The Crimson Tide’s first home conference series will have its final two games featured on SEC Network as Alabama will host Tennessee. The Tide and Vols are scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT contest on Saturday, March 26 before closing out the weekend with a 3 p.m. CT first pitch on the same channel.

The annual MAX Capital City Classic at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala., will be featured on the SEC Network. Alabama and Auburn are set for a 7 p.m. CT start in the non-conference matchup. Two days later, the Crimson Tide will travel to Athens for a three-game set with the Georgia Bulldogs from Thursday, March 31 to Saturday, April 2. The first two games of the series are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT start with the finale set to begin at 11 a.m. CT.

Alabama will be at home for its final three nationally televised contests with the Crimson Tide first hosting Mississippi State on Thursday, April 28 for a 6:30 p.m. CT matchup on ESPNU. The regular season television schedule will close out with Auburn on the SEC Network. The two in-state rivals will meet at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 7, before the series finale is featured at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 8.

From May 24-29, the television schedule closes out with SEC Network airing the entirety of the SEC Baseball Tournament, outside of the Championship game on ESPN2.

Alabama will also have the opportunity to be featured as part of the five wildcard selections which will allow networks the opportunity to determine the best television matchup at a later date. The wildcard games are scheduled for April 29, May 6, May 13, and May 19 on the SEC Network, with ESPNU also holding a wildcard option for a second game on Thursday, May 19.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online at RollTide.com/Tickets or by calling 1-877-TIDETIX (843-3849). Fans can also purchase tickets in advance at the Alabama Ticket Office, located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum.

DATE                   LOCATION        TIME                    NETWORK       

March 18            at LSU                  7 p.m.                    SEC Network (Bases Loaded)

March 26            Tennessee           8 p.m.                    SEC Network

March 27            Tennessee           3 p.m.                    SEC Network

March 29            vs. Auburn            7 p.m.                    SEC Network

March 31            at Georgia            6 p.m.                    SEC Network

April 1                  at Georgia           6 p.m.                    SEC Network

April 2                  at Georgia           11 a.m.                   SEC Network

April 28               Mississippi St.      6:30 p.m.                ESPNU

May 7                   Auburn                6 p.m.                    SEC Network

May 8                   Auburn                3 p.m.                    SEC Network