A year ago, Rob Vaughn and Alabama baseball didn't lose their first game until the 17th contest of the season. A 16-0 start sparked World Series dreams, though the Crimson Tide fell short in the NCAA Regional.
Alabama came into this season flying under the radar despite last season's 41-16 mark and the return of star shortstop Justin Lebron. After one game, any optimism Tide fans had seems to already have been erased after a disappointing start.
In Friday's opener of a three-game home set against Washington State, a team projected to finish eighth out of nine teams in the Mountain West and coming off an 18-36 record a year ago, defeated Alabama 8-4 at the Joe.
Familiar struggles on the mound - which plagued Alabama a year ago - reared their ugly head against the Cougars. Tyler Fay got the start and got roughed up quickly. In 3.2 innings, Fay allowed five hits and five earned runs. He allowed two runs in the first inning, which had Alabama playing from behind immediately.
A Washington State home run in the 5th inning stretched the lead all the way to 7-1, making a comeback attempt near impossible. Trailing 8-2 in the 9th, LeBron hit a towering two-run homer, but it wasn't enough to spark a rally.
Too early to panic about Alabama baseball despite disheartening defeat
It's just one game. And it's baseball. These types of games happen in baseball. Is it disheartening to lose the season opener at home? Of course it is. But it's way too early to hit the panic button, even if the loss felt all too familiar.
No. 13 Florida dropped its season opener to UAB on Friday night at home, a team that finished 24-30 a year ago. It happens. Alabama just needs to respond on Saturday.
"Obviously not the way you want to start things out, but I said it from the jump, I think we're going to learn a lot about this team after our first loss, but I didn't want that to be night one. It's not how we want to start," Vaughn said. ..."But we'll show up tomorrow and see how tough this group is. They're ready. They're prepared. They need to just make sure they show up in themselves. And I like our chances."
Zane Adams will take the mound on Saturday as Alabama looks to bounce back. Sunday will bring the debut of impressive freshman Myles Upchurch.