The 15th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team traveled to the bayou for a Thursday-Saturday three game series this weekend. The Tide led in all three games with the 7th ranked LSU Tigers, but fell in game one and two before bouncing back for a win on Saturday night. LSU won game one 11-6 and game two 4-3 before falling to the Tide 7-4 in the season finale.
Game One-Lost 11-6
Alabama flipped their rotation this week with the short week. Redshirt sophomore right hander Tyler Fay made the second start of his career and gave the Tide a chance. LSU countered with the star left hander Kade Anderson.
The Tide jumped out to an early led when team captain Kade Snell blasted a two out home run in the top of the first inning. Fay allowed a lead off single to freshman star Derek Curiel in the bottom half, but stranded the speedy outfielder at third base with two strikeouts and a pop out to end the inning.
Bama extended their lead in the third inning when catcher Brady Neal, an LSU transfer, hit an opposite field home run in his old ball park for a 2-0 lead. Fay had a perfect second with another strikeout before the Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the third on back to back doubles by Chris Stanfield and Curiel. Fay bounced back to strike out the next two batters to leave the inning with a 2-1 Tide lead.
Alabama went down in order in the fourth and fifth innings as Anderson gained his footing with three strikeouts among the six outs. When Fay walked Daniel Dickinson leading off the fourth inning he was replaced by Matthew Heiberger on the mound. The lanky lefty allowed an infield single but notched two strikeouts and a fly out to keep the Tide in the lead at 2-1.
The Tide had a big sixth inning, and seemed to take control of the game. Bryce Fowler lined a one out single before Justin LeBron flew out deep to left field for out two. Snell followed with his second home run of the game, and seventh of the season, for a 4-1 lead. Richie Bonomolo, Jr, newly minted clean up hitter, followed with a tank of his own to push Bama ahead 5-1.
The Tigers got back in the game in the bottom of the sixth as the Tide started melting down. Heirberger retired the first batters of the inning on a fly out, but when he walked Jake Brown he was pulled in favor of Austin Morris. Tiger coach Jay Johnson pulled some magic out of his hat with back to back pinch hitters. Josh Pearson lined a single and Ashton Larson unloaded a long ball to score three runs and draw LSU to within 5-4.
Bama missed an opportunity to expand the lead in the top of the seventh. Garrett Staton was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Neal put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Staton to second. Brennen Norton hit a long drive to right field that was hauled in at the wall. Fowler walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch, bringing LeBron to the plate with two runners in scoring position. On a 3-2 count LeBron was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Darren Hyman on a pitch that was about three inches off the ground, robbing the Tide of a bases loaded situation with the red hot Snell coming to the plate.
The bottom of the seventh was the undoing for Bama. JT Blackwood took over on the mound and some sloppy defense and the Tiger bats jumped on him for four runs on three hits and a walk with the big blow a three run home run by shortstop Steven Milam. After retiring only one batter Blackwood was replaced by Connor Ball who retired the first two batters he faced to end the uprising with the Tide behind 8-5.
Bama got only a one out single from Bonomolo in the top of the eighth before the Tigers added in the bottom half. Ball allowed a single to Curiel to lead off ahead of Ethan Frey cranking his seventh home run of the season. Ariston Veasey replaced Ball and allowed a walk and a single before LSU’s Jake Brown put down a perfect squeeze bunt to score another run. Heading to the ninth the Tide was down 11-5.
Alabama had a rally in the top of the ninth. With one out Neal was hit by a pitch and Norton walked. Fowler grounded out to advance the runners and LeBron walked to load the bases. Snell drew a bases loaded walk to score a run bringing Bonomolo to the plate. The speedy centerfielder hit a long drive to deep centerfield that was gathered in at the wall to end the game with the Tide on the wrong end of the 11-6 score.
The Tide hit 7-33 in the game with four walks, two hit batters, 13 strikeouts, one double, four home runs, a sac bunt, and left seven men on base. Snell finished 2-4 with two home runs, a walk, four RBI and two runs scored. Bonomolo was 2-5 with his fifth home run. Bama committed three costly errors in the game. Blackwood suffered the loss and fell to 2-1 on the season.
LSU finished 11-38 at the plate with four walks, 11 strikeouts, one double, three home runs, two stolen bases, and left eight men on base. Curiel had three hits and Frey and Dickinson had two each. Casan Evans was the winner and improved to 2-0 and Zac Cowan earned his fifth save of the year.
Bama did a lot of good things to take the early lead, hitting four home runs off of the heralded Anderson and scored five runs off of the lefty in 5.2 innings. However Anderson struck out 10 and walked none during his stint. The undoing was the defensive lapses and late game relief pitching. The game was in front of 11,654 fans.
Game Two- Lost 4-3
Alabama sent their ace, Riley Quick, to the mound to face Anthony Eyanson for LSU in Friday’s game two. Again the Tide jumped out to an early lead. Bryce Fowler led off the game with a single and advanced to third on a double by Justin LeBron. Kade Snell brought in the games first run with a ground out. Bama missed a golden opportunity to add to the lead. Richie Bonomolo, Jr followed Snell with a walk. After a strikeout for the second out, Jason Torres walked to load the bases. Another strikeout ended the inning with the bases loaded and only one run in.
Quick allowed a one out single in the bottom half, but a strikeout and a line out back to the mound kept the Tigers off the board. Eyanson struck out the side in the top of the second and Quick followed with two punch outs of LSU in the bottom half. After a scoreless top of the third the Tigers finally got to Quick in their turn at bat. Chris Stanfield led off with an infield single and advanced on an error before scoring on a single by Daniel Dickinson. Jared Jones doubled Dickinson home and the Tigers led 2-1 after three innings.
In the top of the fourth Alabama again squandered a great scoring opportunity. Torres led off with walk and moved to second on a single by Garrett Staton. Brady Neal put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Brennen Norton struck out for the second out before Fowler walked to load the bases. LeBron stuck out to strand the three runners and end the inning.
Quick allowed a double to lead off the bottom of the fourth. After a ground out and a single put two men on Derek Curiel scored both with a base hit, chasing Quick from the game after 80 pitches. Braylon Myers replaced Quick and allowed a single and walk to load the bases, but used a fly out and a strikeout to hold the score to 4-1 in the Tigers favor.
Eyanson and Myers traded zeros over the next two innings as both mowed down opposing batters. In the top of the seventh the Tide finally scratched another run across. Snell blasted a double to right field and scored on a single up the middle by Bonomolo. Myers held the Tigers off the board again the the bottom half and finished his stint with 3.2 innings pitched allowing two hits with two walks, six strikeouts, and no runs allowed. You can’t say enough about how good Myers was to keep the Tide in the game.
Coulson Buchanan pitched the bottom of the eighth for Bama and worked around a bases loaded situation to hold the score at 4-2, leaving the Tide one last chance in the ninth. Fowler led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. With one out Snell lined a ball to left field that was hauled in, allowing Fowler to score on the sacrifice fly. Bonomolo hit a sharp line drive that Steven Milam snared at shortstop to end the game with the Tigers on top 4-3.
Alabama hit 8-33 in the game with five walks, 16 strikeouts, three doubles, a sac bunt, a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, and left 10 men on base. Fowler was 2-4 with a walk and double and two runs scored. Snell was 2-4 with a double and drove in two runs while scoring one time. Quick fell to 5-2 with the loss.
LSU hit 12-36 with four walks, 10 strikeouts, three doubles, two stolen bases, and left 12 men on base. Stanfield was 4-4 with two runs, Dickinson was 3-4 with a walk and Curiel finished 2-5 with two runs driven in. Eyanson improved to 6-1 with the win and Zac Cowan earned his sixth save despite allowing four hits and two runs in three innings pitched.
As close as the score of the game was, it never seemed like the Tide was really in it after the third inning. However Myers and Buchanan’s work out of the bullpen gave Bama a chance, but the offense just couldn’t get enough going to get over the hump. The defense and the lack of just even one clutch hit held the Tide back. Sixteen strikeouts in 27 outs was hard to overcome. The back to back losses set up a must win situation in Saturday’s game three. The game was played in from of 12,600 fans.
Game Three- Won 7-4
Alabama moved their normal game one starter Zane Adams to game three this weekend after two straight tough outings. The moved proved to be just the tonic the sophomore left hander needed, and he was back in form. LSU started a left hander of their own in Conner Ware instead of the previously announced starter, Chase Shores.
The Tide got a first inning single from Kade Snell, and a second inning walk to Will Hodo and single from Garrett Staton, but could not muster a run. Adams allowed Daniel Dickinson a lead off single in the first, but Derek Curiel grounded into a double play turned by shortstop Justin LeBron. A single to Ethan Frey and walk to Jared Jones put the Tigers in position, but Adams induced a ground ball to escape the inning without allowing a run.
LSU stranded two more runners in the second when Adams notched a strikeout and pop up to keep the Tigers off the board. The Tide took the lead in the top of the third. Bryce Fowler led off with a single and Snell drew a one out walk. Richie Bonomolo, Jr then drilled his second home run of the weekend into the bleachers in left field for the 3-0 lead.
The massive Jones slapped a two out solo home run off of Adams in the bottom half, but the Tide held the 3-1 lead. Bama added a run in the top of the fourth. Pinch hitter Coleman Mizell walked with one out, and moved to second on a ball in the dirt. The read by Mizell to move up was crucial as Fowler ripped a two out single up the middle that brought Mizell home for a 4-1 lead.
Adams tossed a perfect fourth inning before the Tide added to the lead in the fifth. Snell reached on an infield single and reached third on a throwing error on the play. Brady Neal haunted his old team with an RBI single to left to score Snell. Adams held the Tigers at bay in the fifth and ended his quality start with five innings pitched, allowing four hits with three walks, three strikeouts, and only one run allowed.
Bama missed a chance to build on their lead in the top of the sixth. With two outs Fowler was hit by pitch and LeBron and Snell both walked to load the bases. Bonomolo grounded out to end the threat and keep the score at 4-1 in the Tides favor. Hagan Banks took over for Adams in the sixth, and should have been out of the inning unscathed. After a strikeout and pop out Josh Pearson hit a ground ball into the shift that second baseman Jon Young, Jr fielded in short right field. Young threw wildly to first to allow Pearson to reach. LSU coach called on Jake Brown to pinch hit and it paid off. Brown launched the first pitch he saw into over the fence for his second home run of the season, cutting the lead to 5-3.
Banks was back out in the seventh, but after allowing one out single to Dickinson, was lifted in favor of sophomore left hander Matthew Heiberger. It took all of two pitches for Heiberger to induce a ground ball to LeBron that turned into a double play when Young made the turn and throw to first to end the inning.
Alabama had another chance to break the game open in the eighth, but again stranded the bases loaded. A long fly out to the base of the center field wall by Bonomolo with two outs was hauled in to keep the Tide scoreless in the frame.
With the 5-3 lead Alabama coach Rob Vaughn called on his closer Carson Ozmer. Ozmer struck out the heart of the LSU order on just 11 pitches, punching out Ethan Frey, Jones, and Steven Milam. Bama finally got some insurance in the top of the ninth, scoring twice with the benefit of only one hit. Neal and Jason Torres both walked to open the inning. Will Hodo singled to load the bases. After a strikeout for out one, pinch hitter Brennen Norton smoked a line drive to right field that turned into a sacrifice fly to score Neal. Fowler walked to reload the bases and LeBron worked a 3-2 walk to drive in Torres with the Tides seventh run of the game.
Armed with a four run lead Ozmer walked the lead off man in the bottom of the ninth then gave up an RBI triple to Brown. Ozmer then settled in and struck out two before a pop up behind the plate was hauled in by Neal to secure the much need 7-4 Tide victory.
Alabama hit 9-35 in the game, drew 10 walks, had two hit batters, struck out nine times, had one error, hit one home run and had one sacrifice fly. Snell was 2-3 with three walks and scored two runs. Fowler was 2-4 with a walk, a run scored, and one driven in. Bonomolo drove in three with his sixth home run of the season. Adams improved to 5-2 with the victory and Ozmer garnered his 13th save of the year. Ozmer, the Penn grad transfer, is now one save away from tying Ben Short for the single season Alabama save record. Overall Bama hit 24-101 on the weekend for a .237 average with 19 walks, four hit batters, 38 strikeouts, 31 men left on base, hit five home runs, four doubles, put down three sac bunts, had two sacrifice flys, stole a pair of bases, and committed six errors.
LSU hit 7-34 with four walks, nine strikeouts, two home runs, one triple, one error, and left six on base. Brown entered the game late and was 2-2 with a home run, a triple, and three runs driven in. Dickinson had two hits of his own. Ware was the loser and fell to 4-1 on the year. The Tigers finished 32-108 for a .296 series average with 12 walks, 30 strikeouts, four stolen bases, four doubles, a triple, five home runs, and left 26 men on base.
A huge must win game for the Tide. Adams bounced back to show what he can really do. Fowler, Snell, and Bonomolo led the offensive charge all weekend, and were very instrumental in the big victory that evened Bama’s conference record at 9-9. The game was played in front of 11, 700 fans.
Who Did What ?
*Kade Snell 7-11, two home runs, double, five RBI, four runs, sac fly, four walks
*Bryce Fowler 5-12, double, three runs, three walks, hit by pitch,
*Richie Bonomolo, Jr 4-13, two home runs, five RBI, two walks, two runs
*Brady Neal 3-8, home run, two RBI, three runs, hit by pitch, three sac bunts
*Zane Adams W (5-2) 5 IP 4 hits 3 walks 3 strikeouts, one run allowed
*Carson Ozmer S (13) 2 IP, one hit, one run, one walk, five strikeouts
*Braylon Myers 3.2 IP two hits, two walks, six strikeouts, no runs allowed
This was a series that was probably destined for the Tide to only pull one win, but you feel like it was one they could have won. Bama is now 3-6 in their last three SEC series, losing two game to one to Auburn, Mississippi State, and LSU. At 9-9 in conference the teams goals are still in front of them. With four SEC series left, home with Missouri, on the road at Vanderbilt, home with Georgia, and on the road at Florida, there is an opportunity for some victories for the Tide. With Tyler Fay now in the rotation, Zane Adams back in form, and Riley Quick’s ability, the team will match up well with the rest of their schedule. Offensively Justin LeBron, Will Hodo, and Jason Torres need to bounce back to earlier form. Kade Snell, Bryce Fowler, and Richie Bonomolo have been carrying the load the last several games. The injury bug has hampered several players, notably Garrett Staton, Will Plattner, and Coleman Mizell, and getting a healthy squad for the stretch run is paramount.
Next up is a road trip to Homewood to take on the Samford Bulldogs- weather permitting. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. and will be on SEC Network Plus. The Missouri Tigers come to Tuscaloosa for another Thursday-Saturday match up. The Tigers are 0-18 in conference play and the Tide does not want to be the team that allows Mizzu their first SEC victory of the year. The games are at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday (SEC Network), 6 p.m. Friday (SEC Network Plus), and 1 p.m. Saturday, also on SEC Network Plus.
Roll Tide
Bama Baseball Fever, Catch it!
