Alabama (19-16) is coming off a series with the Georgia Bulldogs in which the Crimson Tide took two of three games and a 5-1 win Tuesday over in-state rival UAB.
“I think when you look, not only last weekend, but going back, for us it always starts on the mound,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said. “I think when you look at Sunday’s game [Geoffrey] Bramblett, really attacked the strike zone and threw a lot of strikes. That does a lot of for us as a group. The last two games we have really commanded the strike zone and played good defense.”
Despite the team’s success the past week, Alabama will make a change to its pitching rotation. Freshman right-hander Jake Walters will start Saturday against the Tigers instead of Alabama’s normal Saturday starter, Will Carter. Walters pitched in nine games (four midweek starts) for Alabama and has a 1.75 ERA. He will replace Will Carter (1-5, 5.40 ERA).
“Obviously, as a freshman, it will be his first start in the SEC,” Gaspard said. “He has pitched really well on Tuesdays. He came into a big spot last Sunday and pitched well. We feel like that is a spot where he can give us some energy.”
In the last week, Alabama was helped offensively by the emergence of freshman first baseman Cody Henry. The Cantonment, Florida, native was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday after going 10-for-14 last week. He contributed five RBIs while scoring four runs.
“I got used to seeing balls low in the zone and them throwing it high, trying to get you to chase,” he said. “I’ve got used to kind of seeing the ball better, that is about it.”
