Alabama Baseball Wins First SEC Series Over Auburn

For the Alabama baseball team, Sunday’s series-clinching game against rival Auburn was one of the biggest of the year. The Crimson Tide responded, picking up the series victory and another all-important conference win. 

The first three innings of the game were scoreless, with Crimson Tide starter Jacob McNairy taking the bump on short rest after injuries forced an adjustment to the weekend rotation. He went 3.2 innings and only gave up one run, a good start by all accounts on short notice, but the star on the mound Sunday was freshman reliever Riley Quick.

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Quick relieved McNairy with two outs in the fourth inning and pitched 3.2 scoreless frames- good enough to pick up the win- while only surrendering a pair of hits. He threw 55 pitches. It was one of the most pivotal outings by a member of the Crimson Tide bullpen this season.

“I’m always pretty comfortable out there with the guys I’ve got behind me,” Quick said. “I just pound the zone and get outs.”

Alton Davis II came in for Quick in the eighth and finished the game. It was a rarity that this happened, since Alabama coach Brad Bohannon had not pitched a reliever on consecutive days until he did it with Davis on Sunday. Davis delivered, locking down the 6-1 win with a two-strikeout performance.

“It was a big weekend,” Bohannon said. “Our guys did what they’ve done all year. They just kept playing. The kids deserve all the credit. “

Alabama scored three runs in the fifth, which turned out to be enough. Tommy Seidl, who was walked four times, got a free pass with the bases full, and then first baseman Drew Williamson hit a single to drive in two more runs. The Crimson Tide added one more in the seventh on a double steal which featured Jarvis taking home, and then plated two more in the eighth for insurance.

“I kind of forgot what the timing was supposed to look like,” Jarvis said. “I didn’t know if I was supposed to start it, or Drew was supposed to start it, but it worked out.”

Alabama will go on the road on Tuesday night for its next game. The Crimson Tide won’t be far, taking on UAB in Birmingham. The unbeaten midweek record will go on the line again, but with the first conference series win of the campaign, momentum is strong for Alabama right now.