From the Press Box — No-Hit, Triple Play, Walk-Off Edition of Alabama Baseball

The final Saturday of the men's basketball regular season was also the final one of the non-conference schedule for Alabama baseball. Both games took place at the same time.

I wish I could have been two places at once.

While Trevor Releford was putting on a 24-point performance in leading the Tide to a 25-point route of Arkansas, Justin Kamplain, Jay Shaw, and Geoffrey Bramblett combined for the first nine-inning no-hitter for Alabama since 1942. I had the privilege of broadcasting Releford's farewell, but had to miss the No-No.

When days like that occur, you think it will be a long time before something can match it.

Or exceed it.

I'm not sure if the events of Friday and Saturday eclipse what happened a week ago, but they were equally as rare - and every bit as enjoyable.

Friday night's SEC opener between Alabama and Kentucky was a fantastic college baseball game. The Tide's Spencer Turnbull and the Cats' AJ Reed, will both likely be in the Majors one day. The duo managed to shut down down opposing hitters throughout the night, even though neither had their best stuff.

Every pitch mattered. Every run would be at a premium.

That's why the top of the 6th was so big.

With Alabama clinging to a 1-0 lead, Kentucky loaded the bases with no outs, and Reed - the top HR hitter in college baseball right now - coming to the plate, the stage was set for something really bad to happen to the Tide.

Or something that had not happened since 1999.

Reed hit a rocket, but right at shortstop Mikey White. He caught the line drive, flipped to Kyle Overstreet for out number two, and then Overstreet made the relay to Chance Vincent at third to complete the triple play.

Bama would go on to win 3-0, but there is no doubt that was the key moment in a game that also featured two additional double-plays by the Tide and a home run-robbing catch (of another Reed blast) by Ben Moore in right.

Then came Saturday.

Despite having a major portion of the its roster battling a stomach bug/food poisoning, Kentucky came out swinging and never was really challenged in a 7-2 win in the opener of a twin bill.

Frankly, in game two, Alabama didn't put up much of a fight, either.

Until...

Two outs. Two runs down. Runner on first. A 3-1 Kentucky lead in the bottom of the 9th, and Austen Smith at the plate.

For whatever reason, throughout his career, this guy has been cash money on Saturday afternoons at Sewell-Thomas when the game is on the line.

He delivered again with a game-tying blast that was still climbing when it hit the top of the trees in left.

One inning later, Mikey White matched it. His two-out, two-run shot gave Alabama an improbable 5-3 walk off victory, as well as a series win against the Cats.

As exciting as the weekend was, it's only the beginning for Bama Baseball.

Every weekend in the SEC brings this type of pressure. This type of drama.

That's why baseball is the toughest sport, in the toughest conference in America.