Tuscaloosa, Ala – The Alabama Crimson Tide defeats 14th ranked LSU in game one of the three-game weekend series, with a score of 6-1 improving to 26-17 on the season.
Alabama’s Friday night starting pitcher Sam Finnerty was credited with the win, he is now 6-5 on the season.
Finnerty dialed in and did not disappoint Tide fans, as he threw for six scoreless innings. Through six he allowed five hits, one walk, and zero earned runs while recording six strikeouts.
Redshirt Freshman pitcher Chase Lee came into relieve Finnerty in the top of the seventh, allowing one hit, zero walks and zero earned runs.
After pitching a full seventh inning and two outs in the eighth, Sophomore Brock Guffey came into relieve Lee to finish out the game. During his outing, Guffey allowed two hits, zero walks and one earned run to close out the game for the Crimson Tide.
LSU starting pitcher, Zack Hess, is credited with the loss. Hess pitched four innings and one out in the 5th, struggling a great deal against Alabama’s explosive offense. Aaron George came into relieve Hess and pitch the final two outs of the fifth inning, allowing one hit, zero walks and zero earned runs. Entering the sixth inning, Ma’Khail Hilliard came into relieve George and to finish out the last 3 innings for the Tigers.
The Crimson Tide bats were on fire, as the Tide got out front 2-0 early in the first inning, with a pair of solo home runs from Freshman T.J. Reeves and Sophomore Tyler Gentry. Alabama then extended its lead to 6-0 throughout the second, third, fifth and seventh innings. While making solid contact at the plate, Alabama recorded 10 hits during game one of the weekend series.
While Alabama had great success at the plate, LSU couldn’t get things going offensively remaining scoreless through eight innings. The Tigers were finally able to get on the board late in the ninth with an RBI-double, but during the next at-bat, a flyout to right ended the game with a final of 6-1 allowing the Tide to pick up its fifth conference win.
Alabama will face LSU for game two of the weekend series Saturday at 2 PM CST at Sewell Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
(Photo Courtesy The Crimson White)
