Following Friday night's 9-0 loss to Ole Miss, Alabama baseball heads into the final game of the regular season with a lot riding on the outcome.
The Crimson Tide put themselves in position to earn a double-bye in the SEC Tournament after reeling off seven consecutive conference wins, including a 5-4 decision to open this series against the Rebels. Now, it needs one more to ensure it.
A win over Ole Miss on Saturday, and Alabama will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament, ensuring a double-bye into the quarterfinals.
In the biggest game of the season, Rob Vaughn will turn to freshman Myles Upchurch, putting him into the most pressure-packed spot of his young career.
Rob Vaughn is confident in Myles Upchurch's ability to deliver for Alabama baseball
"Just go toe it up to be Myles Upchurch, like that's the beautiful thing," Vaughn said. "And it's what he's done all year. I don't think he's let a moment get too big for him all year, and it seems like the bigger the spot, the better he's throwing."
Upchurch has had an impressive freshman season in Tuscaloosa, producing a 3.43 ERA and holding opponents on average below the Mendoza line at .197.
Upchurch is coming off one of his better starts in SEC play this season last weekend at South Carolina. He threw six innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out six in a win for Alabama that secured the series sweep.
The Tide will need that kind of effort again.
They'll also need the bats to wake back up after getting completely shut down by Taylor Rabe on Friday night. In the 9-0 loss, Alabama managed just two hits and struck out 16 times.
A win on Saturday might not just secure a double-bye for the Tide, it could also put Alabama in position to host not just a Regional, but a Super Regional. The advanced metrics love Vaughn's club, and finishing the regular season by winning eight of their last nine in SEC play and finishing in the top four of the best conference in college baseball would give Alabama a heck of an argument for a home path to the College World Series.
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