By: Hunter Zasa
TUSCALOOSA, Ala – Times are tough for Alabama baseball. After winning its first 14 games of the season and looking like a contender in the SEC, the Tide have been under .500 in the conference and title hopes have all but disappeared.
Add to that a gambling scandal that led to coach Brad Bohannon’s firing and a 4-1 loss to Vanderbilt on Friday night, and Alabama (31-16, 10-13 SEC) have come out with just a small window of hope to save their season.
Despite the Tide’s offense exploding against the fifth-ranked Commodores 11-2 in the Tide’s first game since the scandal on Thursday, the same could not be said for the game on Friday, as the Tide’s offense struggled.
The main reason for Alabama’s struggles at the plate? Vanderbilt LHP Hunter Owen, who only allowed one run and two hits in seven innings – four of which were perfect – and did not walk a single batter.
The lone star of the game for Alabama on offense was Caden Rose, who hit a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning, sending the crowd at Sewell-Thomas Stadium into a frenzy. Other than that, the bats laid silent the entire game.
While the offense for Alabama faltered, the Tide had a solid day on the mound. RHP and Tuscaloosa native Garrett McMillan pitched 6 innings against the Commodores. Despite McMillan’s efforts, he gave up four runs – including a solo home run to Parker North in the second inning. On the day he allowed two sac flies, and seven hits total to the SEC East leaders.
However, McMillan was not the only star on the mound for the Tide. The Tide’s bullpen, led by Hagan Banks, only allowed one baserunner for the Commodores (34-12, 17-6 SEC) in the last three innings. However, the offense could not capitalize on the bullpen’s work, as the Tide did not get a single hit since the Rose home run.
Up Next
Despite the loss, the Tide can still get a series-clinching win on Saturday against the Commodores at Sewell-Thomas Stadium and keep their postseason hopes alive. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.
