The 8th ranked Crimson Tide hosted the 22nd ranked Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend and lost all three games. The 8th inning told the story in each loss, as Arkansas capitalized late every game.Tide imploded late in games one and two and let a close games get out of hand. Friday’s final was 7-5 and Saturday’s was 15-6. Sunday’s finale was a 3-2 heartbreaker. Bama fell to 26-11 overall and 8-7 in SEC play while the Hogs improved to 24-13 and also 8-7 in conference play.
Game One- Lost 7-5
Alabama right
hander Tyler Fay was matched up with Arkansas lefty Hunter Dietz in Friday’s game one. Fay did his part, allowing only one run on four hits with two walks in six innings of work. Through two innings Fay only blemish on his ledger was a walk. The Tide took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd when freshman Eric Hines blasted a 425 foot home run over the scoreboard in left field.
Fay gave up a two out single in the 3rd and a walk in the 4th before Arkansas finally evened the score in the 5th inning. Christian Turner lined a one out single and advanced on a single by Carter Rutenbar. Camden Kozeal singled to plate Turner but Rutenbar was gunned down at the plate on a strong throw from Justin LeBron to the plate. Bryce Fowler hit LeBron, who whirled a threw a strike to Johnny Lemm at the plate to tag the runner out.
Meanwhile Dietz was mowing down the Tide from the 3rd through 5th innings. Fay tossed a scoreless 6th before Bama retook the lead in the bottom half. Brady Neal blasted a home run to left centerfield, his 7th of the year, for a 2-1 Tide lead. Fay finished his day after six innings, allowing four hits, one run, with two walks and four strikeouts. Dietz exited after six as well, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Matthew Heiberger replaced Fay for the Tide and worked around a lead off walk the recorded a ground out and two strikeouts to hold the lead at 2-1. Bama added to the lead in the bottom half of the seventh. Luke Vaughn led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by Brennan Holt. Fowler rapped into a fielders choice to score Vaughn for a 3-1 lead. Fowler moved to second when Lebron ground out and to third on a passed ball. Neal was intentionally walked, and stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Jason Torres. Torres went down swinging to end the rally.
The dreaded 8th inning was up next. Kozel took an 0-2 pitch from Heiberger over the left field wall for an opposite field home run to start the frame. After a ground ball for out one, Razorback catcher Ryder Helfrick doubled and scored on a single by Zach Stewart, evening the game at three apiece. After a strikeout for out two Kuhio Aloy doubled to put runners on second and third. Hagan Banks was brought in to replace Heiberger. Banks did his job, inducing a ground ball to LeBron at shortstop. LeBron first bobbled the ball, then threw it away, allowing two runs to score for a 5-3 Arkansas lead. TJ Pompey then unloaded a home run to left for two more runs. Banks was replaced by Evan Steckmesser who faced one batter, who grounded out to end the nightmare with the Hogs plating six runs for a 7-3 lead.
In the bottom of the 8th, Lemm was hit by a pitch leading off and moved to second on a single by Hines. With the tying runs on base all the Tide could muster were two weak pop outs and a strikeout to end the hope. Steckmesser stuck out two in a perfect 9th before Bama took their last turn at bat. Alabama did make it interesting. Fowler led off and was hit by a pitch before LeBron hit a pop fly single to right to move Fowler to third. LeBron then took second base and Neal drilled a single to right to score both runners and close the deficit to 7-5. However the Tide could do no more. Torres lined out to CF, Lemm ground out, and Hines struck out swinging to end the game.
Bama hit 7-35 in the game with five walks, two hit batters, two home runs, 12 strikeouts, and 10 men left on base. Hines was 3-5 with a home run, run, and RBI. Neal finished 2-4 with two RBI, a home run, a run, and a walk. Holt was 1-3 with a walk. Heiberger took the loss and fell to 2-1 on the year.
The Razorbacks hit 9-36 with three walks, a hit batter, three doubles, two home runs, nine strikeouts, and left six on base. Gabe Gaeckle was the inning pitcher and improved to 4-3 on the year. Kozeal was 2-5 with a home run and was the only multiple hit Arkansas player in the game.
Game Two- Lost 15-6
Alabama junior left hander Zane Adams drew the start for Alabama against Arkansas sophomore lefty Cole Gibler. Adams had a quick top of the first with two strikeouts. The Tide took the lead in the bottom half, using Justin Lebron’s speed. Bryce Fowler led off with a single and was forced at second base on a fielder’s choice by LeBron. The speedy shortstop then stole second and third on consecutive pitches. Hog catcher Ryder Helfrick threw the ball into left field on the second swipe and LeBron scampered home for the games first run. Brady Neal was then hit by a pitch, but a double play off the bat of Jason Torres ended the inning.
Adams worked around a walk and a single in the second to maintain the 1-0 lead. The Razorbacks evened the game in the top of the 3rd inning. Carter Rutenbar slapped a one out double and scored on a single by Helfrick. A force out and pick off ended the inning. Alabama retook the lead in the bottom half. Brennan Holt walked and stole second base. With one out LeBron drilled a single to left to plate Holt. LeBron moved to second on a ground out by Holt, and then stole third base. A ground out by Torres stranded him there.
Adams had a quick top of the 4th, and the Tide added to their lead in the bottom half. Chase Kroeberger reached on a two out bunt single, moved to second on a walk to Luke Vaughn, and scored on a single by Holt. Vaughn and Holt were left on base when Fowler flew out to end the inning. Arkansas used a double, a hit batter, a single, a sacrifice fly, a pair of stolen bases, and a throwing error to take the lead with three runs in the fifth inning. The Tide got a one out double from Neal in the 5th, but a strikeout and ground out left him on base. Adams worked around an error and walk in the 6th to keep the score at 4-3 in Arkansas’s favor.
Alabama tied the game in the sixth. Jason Osterhouse, pinch hitting for Kroeberger, singled with one out. Vaughn reached on an error and Holt drew a walk to load the bases. Fowler lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to even the score before Lebron struck out to end the inning. Sam Mitchell replaced Adams on the mound to begin the 7th inning. Osterhouse misplayed a fly ball in left field to open the inning, allowing TJ Pompey to reach second base on a ball that Pompey was generously awarded a double. Two ground ball outs later Pompey crossed the plate for a 5-4 lead. The Tide got a lead off walk to Neal but another double play and ground out ended the 7th with the Hogs still ahead 5-4.
The came the 8th inning. Camden Kozeal led off with a drive to left field. Osterhouse fielded the ball off the fence and made a perfect throw to second base where Holt applied the tag. Kozeal was called out, but after a review was called safe with a lead off double. Damian Ruiz singled to score Kozeal. Kuhio Aloy followed with a single, bringing Luke Smyers in to replace Mitchell. Reese Robinette bunted for single and Nolan Souza plated a run with a sacrifice fly and the score was 7-4. Austin Morris replaced Smyers and Pompey greeted the new hurler with a long blast for a three run home run. All of a sudden the score was 10-4. Morris recovered to strike out the next two batters. Alabama cut into the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Eric Hines led off with a single, advanced on a Vaughn single, and scored on a ground out by Holt.
Arkansas used three singles, two walks, a hit batters, and two stolen bases off of Morris and Tate Robertson in the top of the 9th to bury the Tide. Alabama did had one run in the bottom of the 9th when Peyton Steele walked as a pinch hitter and scored in the first hit of Caleb Barnett’s career. Barnett was pinch hitting for Torres. The game ended with a 15-6 loss for the home team.
Alabama hit 9-34 in the game with seven walks, a sacrifice fly, one double, four stolen bases, six strikeouts, and left nine on base. Nine Tide players had one hit each with Holt driving two runs and was 1-2 with two walks, a run, and a stolen base. Adams pitched six innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. Mitchell was tagged with the loss and is 0-1 on the season.
Arkansas finished 14-38 with four walks, one home run, four doubles, two sac flys, three stolen bases, six strikeouts, and left five on base. Colin Fisher was the winning pitcher and is 4-3 on the year. Aloy and Pompey had three hits each.
Game Three- Lost 3-2
Alabama freshman right hander Myles Upchurch took his normal game three start for the Tide against right hander Tate McGuire for Arkansas. Upchurch responded with the best SEC start of his career. Alabama coach Rob Vaughn shuffled his lineup for the game, starting four of his heralded freshman class with Eric Hines, Chase Kroeberger, and Andrew Purdy joining their classmate Upchurch in the lineup.
Upchurch retired the side in order in the top of the first, with a strikeout to end the frame. Alabama also went down in order. Upchurch ramped in up in the 2nd, striking out the side, with two coming as the batter watched strike three. Justin LeBron was moved from 2nd to 4th in the batting order in the game and walked to lead off the second. Hines singled to advance LeBron and a single by Purdy plated the Tide shortstop for a 1-0 lead. A strikeout and double play kept Bama from adding to the lead.
Upchurch worked around some shoddy defense in the 3rd that put runners on first and third with no outs. Reese Robinette popped up a bunt attempt that Upchurch snared for out one. A fly out and ground out stranded both runners and the Tide maintained the 1-0 lead. Alabama added to the lead in the bottom of the third. Kroeberger reached on an error. With one out Brennan Holt walked before Brady Neal flew out to right field. LeBron lined a double down the left field line to score Kroeberger. Hines popped out to strand Holt and LeBron.
Upchurch cruised through the 4th and 5th, allowing only one hit with two more strikeouts. The Tide squandered a great opportunity in the bottom of the fifth. Holt beat out a one out bunt for a hit, and moved to second when Arkansas pitcher Parker Coil threw the ball away. The Razorbacks elected to intentionally walk LeBron. Holt and LeBron pulled off a double steal. With the count 2-0 to Hines, Arkansas elected to intentionally walk him as well. With the bases loaded and two outs, Coil induced Purdy to ground out to end the threat.
Arkansas finally got to Upchurch for a run in the top of the sixth. With one out Tyler Helfrick tripled off the right centerfield fence and scored on a sacrifice fly by Maika Niu, cutting the margin to a 2-1 Tide lead. Alabama got singles from Justin Osterhouse and Bryce Fowler in the 6th but could not push them across the plate.
The Tide sent Upchurch back out for the 7th inning. After a lead off double and walk, Upchurch was replaced by Ashton Crowther. A single by Nolan Sousa brought in the tying run with still no one out. Crowther struck out the next man and Lebron turned a double play on a ground ball by pinch hitter Alexander Peck to keep the game tied at 2-2.
Alabama’s inability to get a big hit roared its head in the bottom of the seventh. Neal lead off with a single, and when LeBron riffled another double in the left field corner, the Tide had something cooking with runners on second and third and no outs. Arkansas pitcher Gabe Gaeckle recovered to strike out Hines and pinch hitter Luke Vaughn. Jason Torres worked a full count walk to load the bases. Justin Osterhouse hit a shallow fly ball to left field that Ruiz reeled in to end the inning.
Again the 8th inning proved to be the Tides undoing. Crowther walked Helfrick with one out. With Helfrick on the move, Crowther made a pick off throw to Vaughn at first base. With a catch and a throw to second base, Helfrick would have been out by 20 feet. Vaughn was unable to catch the ball and Helfrick arrived safely. Camden Kozeal blasted a ball past Vaughn at first, into the right field corner, for a double to score the go ahead run. After a hit batter, Crowther notched out three on a ground out. With a 3-2 lead the Hogs called on Ethan McElvain to shut the door. And that he did, striking out the side in the eighth and using two ground outs and a fly out to end the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Alabama hit 9-36 in the game with five walks, two stolen bases, two doubles, eight strikeouts, and 12 men left on base. LeBron led the way with a 2-3 game with two doubles, two walks, one run, one RBI, and a stolen base. Purdy drove in the other run with his 1-3 game. Torres was 1-3 with a walk, and Holt was 1-4 with a walk. Crowther was the losing pitcher and fell to 2-2. Upchurch pitched 6+ innings, allowing four hits, two runs, one walk, and struck out six. Just an outstanding outing by the young freshman. In the series the Tide was 25-105 for a .238 average with 17 walks, two hit batters, six stolen bases, two home runs, four doubles, six stolen bases, and 31 men left on base.
Arkansas finished 6-32 with three walks, a hit batter, eight strikeouts, two doubles, a triple, and left seven men on base. Helfrick was 1-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Gaeckle was the winner and improved to 5-3. McElvin earned the save. The Razorbacks hit 29-106 for a .273 average with 10 walks, two hit batters, three home runs, nine doubles, one triple, 23 strikeouts, and left 18 on base.
Who Did What?
*Brady Neal 4-11, Home run (7), double, 2 RBI, 2 walks, HBP, 2 runs
*Justin LeBron 4-13, 3 runs, 4 stolen bases, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs
*Eric Hines 5-13, home run (3), 2 runs, walk, RBI
*Brennan Holt 3-9, 4 walks, 2 stolen bases, run
*Tyler Fay 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1 run
*Myles Upchurch 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 2 runs
A very disappointing weekend for the Tide. After reaching 8th in the country after last week’s series win over Oklahoma, Bama was riding high, being in the conversation for a high National seed. That talk will not be going on this week. A road trip to Austin to play a highly ranked Texas team is next in the docket. The Longhorns lost twice to Texas A&M this weekend, and Sunday’s game was wiped out by rain. Alabama’s starting pitching was outstanding, the starters combined for 18 innings and allowed only 13 hits with five walks, 14 strikeouts, and six earned runs. The offense and defense didn’t do their part, leading to the sweep by a good opponent.
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