The Alabama baseball team dropped the series opener to Georgia on Thursday, 8-4. After failing to qualify for the SEC tournament, the three-game series with the Bulldogs will round out the season for the Crimson Tide.
The Georgia bats caught fire in the second inning when the team hit four singles in a row to score the game’s first run. Kyle Farmer, the sixth batter of the inning, drove in three more runners with a triple.
The early scoring drive by the Bulldogs left The Tide grappling for run opportunities throughout the game.
“We gave up a big lead to them early on,” catcher Brett Booth said. “It’s hard to come back from an early beginning like that.”
Alabama’s first opportunity came in the bottom of the second when James Tullidge hit the second triple of his career. This allowed Brett Booth to score the Tide’s first run of the game, but a pop fly by Andrew Miller ended the inning stranding Tullidge on base.
Georgia starting pitcher Alex Wood threw eight strike outs through seven innings allowing Alabama five hits and one run. Wood was replaced by Blake Dieterich who allowed one hit in the eight innings to left fielder Andrew Miller. Miller advanced two bases on a ground out by AJ Cole and a pass ball by Wood. He scored on a pop fly by Taylor Dugas.
The Bulldogs led another scoring drive in the ninth inning to bring the score to 8-2. With one out, Levi Hyams hit a double and was able to score on a single by Jared Walsh. A single by Colby May allowed Peter Verdin to make it home. Pinch runner, Nelson Ward and Colby May pulled off a double steal and Ward made it home on a wild pitch. The Tide made it out of the inning, leaving two runners on base.
Josh Rosecrans sent home Ben Moore by hitting a double. Andrew Miller received an RBI with a single that sent catcher, Brett Booth, home. Pinch hitter, Cameron Carlisle grounded out to end the inning for Alabama.
Reliever Justin Kamplain came into the game in the fourth inning and was able to take the Tide into the ninth inning allowing four hits and no runs. He struck out six batters before giving up three runs in the top of the ninth inning.
“Kamplain did a really good job coming in in the middle part of the game and took us into the ninth,” head coach Mitch Gaspard said. “He gave us a shot to make a run.”
Spencer Turnbull recorded the loss for the Tide bringing his record to 1-4 on the season. Alabama falls to 19-34 on the season and 7-21 in SEC play.
The Tide and the Bulldogs will battle again Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm in Sewell Thomas Stadium.
