Bama Baseball Suffers First Series Loss of Season to Columbia
The Alabama baseball team suffered its first series loss of the season to Columbia on Saturday evening, 15-3.
"First, got to give Columbia credit. They kind of just took it to us the second game and really thought they did a great job of doing what we did the first 14 games. They were the aggressor, they were getting lead off guys on base, they were fouling off tough pitches, they were active on the bases and making good decisions and you know, deep in the count, or putting good swings on us and you know, they just took it to us tonight, so credit to them and [we] get a day tomorrow, a day to kind of catch our breath, and hopefully get back on track next week," said Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon.
Right-handed pitcher Jacob McNairy started on the mound for the Crimson Tide and recorded seven hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.
The bats were hot from the get-go for Columbia as the Lions scored three quick runs in the first inning. The first came off the bat of catcher Weston Eberly, who hit an RBI double, while the second came from an RBI double by first baseman Griffin Palfrey on a ball that dropped just fair into the right field corner.
The Lions added another run on the board in the third inning with a sacrifice fly by Palfrey to extend Columbia's lead to four.
Columbia had a monster fourth inning, scoring 11 runs on eight hits. The first run came from a sacrifice fly by left fielder Cole Hage, followed by a two-RBI double by Eberly, a two-RBI single by Palfrey, a two-RBI single by designated hitter Anton Lazits, an RBI single by second baseman Jack Kail, and a three-RBI double by shortstop Andy Blake to extend the Lions lead to 15.
"I can't explain that second game, the fourth inning. You know, giving up 11 runs in an inning, I think it was seven straight hits all kinda at the same place. You got to execute pitches better, but, you know, some of those were two strikes and we just couldn't put hitters away," said Bohannon.
Left-handed pitcher Alton Davis II came in for relief in the fourth inning, however came out prior to an out being recorded. He recorded three hits, five earned runs, and two walks.
Left-handed pitcher Braylon Myers came in for relief as well in the fourth inning. He pitched 1.2 innings and recorded three hits, three earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Alabama put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning by a sacrifice fly from right fielder Andrew Pinckney to cut Columbia's lead to 14.
Right-handed pitcher Kade Woods came in for relief in the sixth inning. Woods pitched 2.0 innings, recording two hits and three strikeouts.
Colby Shelton hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to bring Hamiter home and cut Columbia's lead to 13.
Another sacrifice fly brought a run home in the sixth inning, this time by left fielder William Hamiter to cut Columbia's lead to 12.
Right-handed pitcher Brayden Gainey came in for relief in the eighth inning to finish off the game. The senior recorded two hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team takes on South Alabama on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 6 p.m. CST. Coverage will be on Tide 100.9 FM and the Tide 100.9 app which is free to download in the App Store.