Alabama Baseball: Tide Steals First SEC Series vs. No. 20 Kentucky
By Nick Jones
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Alabama Crimson Tide (12–6, 2–1 SEC) stole its first series in SEC play against the No. 20-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (14–6,1–2 SEC) over the weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide needed some late inning heroics to pull off the victory, but Alabama’s typical heroes simply answered the call.
Alabama and Kentucky squared off in game one on Friday night in a game which matched two of the team’s best pitchers.
Tide junior RHP Spencer Turnbull once again got the series-opening start and did not disappoint.
Turnbull (2–1) earned the win after pitching 7.1 innings of scoreless baseball. He was able to limit Kentucky to just four hits and struck out three Wildcat batters.
Freshman catcher Will Haynie led the Tide from the plate with a 2-for–3 night that included two hits, one run and two RBI.
Junior LHP A.J. Reed (3–1) was handed his first loss of the season after surrendering four hits three earned runs and four walks in seven innings of work. Reed also walked four Crimson Tide batters.
Freshman LHP Thomas Burrows (1) earned his first save of the season after pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball and totaling two strikeouts.
Alabama was able to take the first game of the series 3–0.
Kentucky found their bats in game two on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats laid seven runs on a Crimson Tide team that was rolling on the mound coming into the game.
Alabama junior LHP Justin Kamplain (2–2) was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs in five innings of work. Kamplain also surrendered six hits but did notch six strikeouts in the game.
Kentucky junior RHP Chandler Shepherd (4–0) continued his dominate start to the season on Saturday afternoon. Shepherd pitched 7.2 inning and only allowed two earned runs on nine hits. He struck out five Crimson Tide batters.
Junior catcher Michael Thomas couldn’t be stopped at the plate for the Wildcats. Thomas was a perfect 4-for–4 on the day with three RBI and 2 runs scored.
Alabama junior catcher Wade Wass was the only source of offensive production finishing 2-for–4 with an RBI.
No. 20 Kentucky took the second game 7–2.
Saturday’s second game of the double-header and decisive game three of the series brought some exciting plays and a walk-off finish.
Alabama was forced to play from behind for much of the game after Kentucky took a 3–1 lead fifth inning.
Freshman LHP Thomas Burrows (3–0) earned the victory for the Crimson Tide after pitching a scoreless tenth inning to seal the deal for Alabama.
Alabama starter Jon Keller pitched six solid innings, but allowed eight hits, three earned runs and totaled four strikeouts.
Kentucky freshman LHP Logan Salow (1–1) earned the loss after giving up one earned run and striking out one Crimson Tide batter in relief.
Junior RHP Andrew Nelson pitched 8.2 innings as the starter for the Wildcats and gave up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out five.
Sophomore center fielder Georgie Salem would lead the Crimson Tide from the plate in the final game of the series. Salem was 3-for–5 with a run scored.
Sophomore shortstop Mikey White showed why he is one of the best young shortstops in the game after getting Alabama out of a major jam.
White was able to turn Alabama’s first triple play since 1999 with no outs and the bases loaded to save the game for the Crimson Tide.
White’s play was good enough to make No. 8 on the SportsCenter Top Ten countdown.
White would also deliver the game-winning walk-off home run in the tenth inning to seal the series for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama will stay at home for a mid-week series against the Alcorn State Braves (1–20, 1–5 SWAC). The Crimson Tide and the Braves will face off in a two-game set beginning on Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday and 5:05 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
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