The University of Alabama baseball team’s hopes in the SEC Baseball Tournament ended tonight with a 7-1 loss to Kentucky in Hoover Al. The Wildcats advance to tomorrow to face top seeded Florida in the double elimination format. The Tide will await their destination for the NCAA Baseball Regionals. The Tide’s record drops to 34-22 for the season.
Starting pitchers on the mound: LHP A.J Reed (11-2, ERA 2.11) vs RHP Nick Eicholtz (3-3, ERA 3.00)
Win: A.J. Reed
Loss: Nick Eicholtz
Save: Andrew Nelson
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the first, getting Max Juhn and A.J. Reed on board from back to back one out walks but a double play from Mikey White and Kyle Overstreet ended the frame. Georgie Salem gave Alabama a one out base runner of their own in the bottom half. A fielder’s choice from Ben Moore and a strikeout from Wade Wass ended the first with no score. Kentucky jumped out to the early lead in the top of the 2nd. Eicholtz(1 IP, 4BB, 1HB) loaded the bases with no outs, forcing Coach Mitch Gaspard to go to the pen for Jay Shaw . Matt Reida’s sacrifice fly scored one and the Wildcats plated one more with the fielder’s choice from Austin Cousino to make the score 2-0. The Tide couldn’t push the runners through with the bases loaded in their half of the second with one out. Austen Smith drew a full count walk followed by a single from Casey Hughston. Chance Vincent reached on a fielder’s choice but the threat ended on a fly out to right field from Daniel Cucjen and Vincent being out at second on the inning ending fielder’s choice from White. The Kentucky side was retired in order in the top of the 3rd. Alabama got on the board in the bottom half after an RBI double to left center from Wass that scored Salem after his lead off single to right field.
Kentucky increased their lead to 3 runs in the 4th. Two singles from Matt Reida and Storm Wilson gave the Wildcats 2 base runners with one out. A bloop single from Cousino scored them both, giving Kentucky the 4-1 lead. Back to back one out singles were the only thing going for the Tide in their half of the inning but Kentucky turned the 4-6-3 double play to end what Bama had cooking. After three innings out of the pen, Shaw (4H, 2R, 0BB, 2K) was replaced on the mound by Ray Castillo. Reed led off the 5th with a double off the center field wall. The Wildcats added a base runner after Thomas Bernal was hit by a pitch. They ended up stranded as Bama would record the 2nd out on a fielder’s choice from Wilson and Castillo struck out Michael Thomas to send the game to bottom half. Alabama went quietly in the home half as they were retired in order. Mitch Greer came in to pitch for Castillo (1.0 IP, 2 H, I R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) after a walk and a lead off single gave Kentucky 2 base runners in the 6th. Cousino reached on a charged error to Greer to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch and an RBI from Kuhn gave the Wildcats the 6-1 lead. Reed’s ( 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K ) day was done in the bottom of the frame as Coach Gary Anderson went to the bullpen for Andrew Nelson. Vincent singled with 2 outs in the Bama half but nothing else for the Tide.
Alabama made another pitching change heading into the 7th, sending in Tucker Hawley for Greer. Thomas doubled for Kentucky in the frame but Reida grounded out to strand him at 2nd. The home 7th saw the Tide go quietly. JaVon Shelby led off the Kentucky frame with a single to left field. Cousino drew a full count walk and the Tide intentionally walked Reed with one away. Ka’ai Tom’s fielder’s choice plated Shelby to make the score 7-1. Wilson and Thomas both reached base for Kentucky in the 9th but a double play would send the game to the bottom of the 9th. Alabama was retired in order with 3 consecutive ground outs that ended the game.
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