Alabama Splits Doubleheader With Texas A&M, Wins Series [VIDEO]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy72nTmM4iU&feature=youtu.be

Freshman left fielder Hunter Webb delivered a go-ahead ninth-inning RBI double to lift the No. 15 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team to a 6-4 win over the Texas A&M Aggies in the second game of a Southeastern Conference doubleheader from Blue Bell Park on Saturday.

With the game tied at 4-4, Chance Vincent had a single to left field off Texas A&M (19-14, 5-7 SEC) closer and losing pitcher Jason Jester (2-2) to start the two-run ninth-inning rally for the Tide (22-9, 8-4 SEC) and Taylor Poe, who was making his first collegiate start, followed with an infield single. After a meeting on the mound, Webb smacked the first pitch he saw from Jester to the left center field gap to plate the game-winning run, as Vincent scored from second. After Georgie Salem was intentionally walked, Mikey White followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Tide in front 6-4.

Thomas Burrows took over for Ray Castillo in the bottom of the ninth and retired the three batters he faced, with one strikeout, to record his fourth save and secure the road SEC series win for Alabama. Castillo (1-0) earned the win after taking over for UA starter Jon Keller with one out in the sixth inning. Castillo threw 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits with a walk. Keller did not factor into the decision, but went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

For the fourth straight game, Alabama put together 10 hits, as seven players had at least one hit while four recorded multiple hits. The seven through nine hitters in the Tide order were 5-for-12 with three RBI and three runs scored, including the two runs in the ninth inning.

Vincent, who started the ninth inning rally, was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Webb, who delivered the game-winning RBI, was 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored and Taylor Poe was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Georgie Salem had two hits for his team-leading 12^th multiple hit game of the season, White was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored and Kyle Overstreet was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Alabama took a 1-0 lead when Webb scored from third on a ground out by White in the third inning. The Tide extended its lead to 4-1 with a three-run sixth inning, that included an RBI single by Overstreet and a two-run single by Vincent.

With the three-run cushion, the Tide defense committed four errors in the home half of the sixth inning, allowing the Aggies to score three unearned runs and tie the game at 4-4.

After getting the final two outs of the sixth inning, Castillo blanked the Aggies over the next two innings to keep the game even, before handing the ball over to Burrows for the ninth inning. Burrows is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season.

Alabama returns to action on Tuesday night when it hosts the UAB Blazers. First pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.

Filed Under: Texas A&M