It looked bleak for Alabama baseball, losers of seven straight games, with a top 10 SEC opponent coming to Tuscaloosa.
A series against the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats turns out to be just what the Crimson Tide needed, as it took two out of three games. Alabama improved to 18-11 (3-6 SEC) for the year.
“It’s the first time we’ve won a series against a ranked opponent,” said head coach Brad Bohannon. “That’s certainly progress. There are plenty of areas we need to and can improve on if we want to keep beating ranked teams.”
After a pair of victories on Friday and Saturday, Alabama was in the driver’s seat to sweep the series against Kentucky.
Chandler Taylor gave Alabama an early lead, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning on a ball few thought was leaving the park.
“I thought it miss-hit it a little bit, Taylor said. “I guess a little bit of wind gave it some help. Kind of a little Easter Bunny present.”
Alabama’s offense could not mount much after that first inning, collecting only three more hits the rest of the game.
Bohannon felt his club may have been complacent after having already won the series.
“I thought we came out and played a little satisfied after winning the first two days,” Bohannon said. “I don’t think we played with as much energy as we played the first two days.”
Starter Garret Rukes only lasted one inning, giving up a solo home run and walking two hitters.
Kyle Cameron came on in relief and gave Alabama 4.1 innings of work, allowing just one run on six hits. The 78 pitches Sunday were a season high for Cameron.
“That was a bright spot of the day,” Bohannon said. “Kyle was outstanding. He’s been really good for us. Been very consistent and dependable.”
On Friday night, Alabama ended its seven-game losing streak and collected its first win over a top 10 opponent on the season.
Behind a strong pitching performance from Sam Finnerty and hits in key situations, Alabama defeated Kentucky 4-2.
“Good win for us,” Bohannon said. “Certainly wasn’t perfect, but we haven’t swung the bats great the week and a half. We strung together a lot of tough quality at-bats tonight.”
The Crimson Tide scored all four runs against Sean Hjelle, who came in with a 2.97 ERA and was the SEC pitcher of the year last season.
A key hit in the game was an eighth inning RBI single by Cobie Vance to give Alabama pitchers a little insurance heading into the final inning.
“We haven’t been getting that big hit,” Vance said. “Past couple of games we have been feeling it out and letting them come to us instead of going and getting it. Today we came out and brought it to them.”
Finnerty threw 5.2 innings for Alabama on Friday. He struck out three and walked three. Only one of the two runs he allowed were earned.
“They’re a really good hitting team,” Finnerty said. “They don’t chase much and they put really good swings on really good pitches. It’s big to slow things down and take a deep breath and take it one pitch at a time.
Alabama could only muster two hits on Saturday afternoon and both were vastly different types.
One was an infield single in the bottom of the seventh that broke up a no-hitter. The other was a game-winning grand slam off the bat of Hunter Alexander, to give Alabama a 4-2 victory over the Wildcats.
“Great team win for us,” Bohannon said. “Their starter, [Zach] Haake, was amazing. The kids did a great job of keeping their poise and scratching and clawing.”
Walker McCleney led off the Alabama eighth inning with a walk. After two outs, Chandler Avant and Taylor each walked to load the bases. It ran the walk total up to nine for Haake, who was at 113 pitches.
The 115th pitch ended the night for Haake, as Alexander deposited a 0-1 slider over the left field wall, into the playground, to give Alabama a late 4-1 lead.
“I was really just trying to get a hit,” Alexander said. “He had thrown me a bunch of sliders my previous at bat. I believe it was five-in-a-row. I was sitting on it, I wasn’t swinging at a fastball. He threw the fastball first pitch, I knew he wasn’t going to throw it again. I just tried put a good swing on it.”
Jake Walters was solid in 7.1 innings of work for Alabama. He allowed just one earned run on seven hits, struck out seven and walked one.
Pitching against a guy throwing a no-hitter on the other side did not faze Walters.
“Usually in the SEC you’re going to go against great arms,” Walters said. “I’m just trying to match them and keeping us in contention.”
Deacon Medders closed out both victories for Alabama on Friday and Saturday. He has four saves on the season.
Alabama returns to action on Tuesday night against Jacksonville State at 6 p.m. before heading to Missouri for a three game series this weekend.
