Missouri Evens Series With Alabama Baseball

Despite recording more hits than the opposition,Alabama fell into an early hole and could not recover as the Crimson Tide fell to the Missouri Tigers, 7-3, Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the loss,Alabama drops to 30-22 overall and 12-13 in the SEC. Missouri’s win improves their record to 16-29 overall and 8-18 in conference action.

“We fought from behind the entire ball game,” UA head coach Mitch Gaspard said. “Offensively, I think were swinging the bat very well. We didn’t do a good job when we had some opportunities to string some hits together. Two of the three runs were solo homers, but I still like where we are offensively.”

Alabama scattered 12 hits over their nine innings to out-hit Missouri, 12-11. Alabama got a pair of solo home runs in the, but could only manage one run on its 10 other hits. Saturday’s game also marked the first time this season that two Alabama freshmen have homered in the same game. Mikey White carded a big game, stroking a solo homer in the fifth, the second of his career, an RBI double and a single, marking a new career high in total bases with seven. Georgie Salem finished with a first inning solo shot, the first home run of his career, as well as a single and was 2-for-5.

Ben Moore registered his team-leading 21^st multi-hit game with a pair of singles. On Senior Day, senior Kenny Roberts recorded a duo of singles, and senior Brett Booth reached base for a career-high 12^th straight game, posting a single and a run scored. Austen Smith drew a trio of walks.

Spencer Turnbull (4-3) took the loss, after allowing four runs on four hits and a walk in 3.1 innings pitched. The second-year pitcher faced a total of 17 batters, striking out two, and used a total of 57 pitches. Jay Shaw dealt three scoreless frames in relief, allowing five hits with one punch out. With Saturday’s effort, the Pinson,Ala., native has only allowed one run in the past 12 innings.

“For the second week in a row we’re struggling on the mound a little bit,” Gaspard said. “Our command has left us a little bit, and were not getting in good counts and not making a lot of quality pitches. We have to get a better start for one and the bullpen has to come out with that strong mentality and attack mode where we are pounding that strike zone. Right now, there are just entirely way too many balls being thrown.”

Missouri’s Keaton Steele (5-3) earned the win in his relief appearance. The righty threw the final 4.1 innings for the Tigers, surrendering one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Steele also was a major contributor at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Dillon Everett with 2-for 4 with three runs scored and Josh Lester and Dane Opel added two hits each for the Tigers.

The Alabama Crimson Tide finishes up their final home series of the 2013 campaign Sunday against the Missouri Tigers at 12:35 p.m. CT from Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama will start sophomore south paw Justin Kamplain (1-0, 4.68), and the Tigers will deploy junior lefty Rob Zastryzny (2-9, 3.93).

The game can be heard on the flagship station for Alabama baseball, 95.3 WFFN-FM, The Bear.