By: Joe Schatz
COLUMBIA, SC. – Offense was hard to come by in Friday night’s game as Alabama (25-19, 9-
11) fell to South Carolina (21-20, 8-12) 2-1, losing the second game of the series.
Right hander Jacob McNairy started the game on the mount for the Tide, going seven strong
innings, giving up one run and five hits, to go along with seven strikeouts and two walks.
McNairy also threw 112 pitches, setting a new career high in total pitches, and the seven innings
matched his career long start. The South Carolina run came on a solo home run in the third, but
McNairy was able to settle down a get through it.
Alabama’s lone run came in the top of the eighth inning, when, trailing 1-0, Dominic Tamez hit a
single into right field to score Jim Jarvis and tie the game 1-1. Alabama then gave the lead up in
the bottom of the inning when, after a walk, a throwing error by Tamez allowed the South
Carolina runner to advance to third. A sacrifice fly scored the runner and put the Gamecocks up
2-1 heading into the ninth. Dylan Ray (1-2) got saddled with the loss, his second of the season.
“It’s the same story – we’re doing a lot of really good things, put together some really good
pieces, but we make a critical mistake that the other team takes advantage of,” said Head Coach
Brad Bohannon, “If you walk the leadoff batter in a tie game in the eighth, it’s going to come
back and get you.”
Alabama could not push a run across in the ninth and fell by the final of 2-1. South Carolina’s
win means that they will take the weekend series in Columbia. The loss puts Alabama at 25-19
on the year, while falling to 9-11 in SEC play. South Carolina’s win improves their record to 21-
20 and 8-12 in the SEC.
The series will wrap up tomorrow at 11 am.
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