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re: Official Alabama Baseball Season Thread | 32-26 (15-15)

Posted on 3/6/16 at 3:12 pm to
Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 3:12 pm to
Good win today.Another example of finding a way to win a game late. This seams like an area we have improved on this year.
Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 3:12 pm to
quote:

Team ERA is now 1.48 through 12 games against pretty decent competition
Posted by CapstoneGrad06
Little Rock
Member since Nov 2008
73328 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 3:15 pm to
quote:

This seams like an area we have improved on this year.


I like the unintentional wordplay.
Posted by Gary Busey
Member since Dec 2014
33277 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 4:35 pm to
Pitching has been outstanding so far this year. Bramblett man, if I'm correct, has an ERA of .84 and has only allowed 12 hits in 21 innings.

Offense has to get more consistency though.
This post was edited on 3/6/16 at 4:37 pm
Posted by mrbroker
Sylacauga Alabama
Member since Jul 2011
17764 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 4:40 pm to
Holcomb has apparently worked his way into the full time starter. I think he had 2 of Bama's 6 hits today
Posted by Gary Busey
Member since Dec 2014
33277 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 4:52 pm to
Yeah Holcombe has done well so far, but Avant and Henry are more of our power hitters IMO. Vincet is doing well, but just need to find more consistency to drive runners in.
Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 6:48 pm to
quote:

I like the unintentional wordplay.
My bad. Nice job spotting it.
Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/6/16 at 6:58 pm to
I just posted a link to the stats on the first page. Kinda fun to look through. Holcombe has the best average on the team at .400 followed by Short and Vincent at .330.
Posted by Gary Busey
Member since Dec 2014
33277 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 7:48 am to
So ready for the Oregon game Thursday.
Posted by AHM21
Member since Feb 2008
30841 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 9:56 am to
Strikeouts
1. Alabama 97
2. Vanderbilt 92
3. Missouri 90
4. Georgia 83
Auburn 83
6. Kentucky 75
7. South Carolina 74
8. Arkansas 69
Tennessee 69
10. Texas A&M 64
Ole Miss 64
12. Mississippi State 63
13. Florida 58
14. LSU 46

This has to change. The pitching is lights out, but the offense will have to show life this week before heading to Baton Rouge.
Posted by AHM21
Member since Feb 2008
30841 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 9:58 am to
LINK

23rd in the Baseball America top 25. Oregon is 11th and Houston is 21st.
This post was edited on 3/7/16 at 9:59 am
Posted by Gary Busey
Member since Dec 2014
33277 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 10:14 am to
Yeah, I realize we've faced some good pitchers, but a .269 batting average isn't going to cut it durng conference play. 68 hits so far on the year, and .383 slugging%.
Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 11:47 am to
For anyone who did't get to follow the games this weekend here is a recap from rollbamaroll

quote:

The Crimson Tide improved their record to 10-2 with three wins over the weekend in The Irish Classic in Cary, North Carolina. The Tide defeated Notre Dame 4-0 on Friday and Niagara 8-4 on Saturday before losing to NC State by a 2-1 margin on Saturday afternoon. 'Bama bounced back to defeat Brown 2-0 on Sunday. The Tide used their early season mantra of outstanding pitching and just enough offense to get by, combined with stellar defense this weekend.

Game One: Win over Notre Dame 4-0

The story of the Friday night game was right handed junior pitcher Geoffrey Bramblett, who was spot on in his eight inning, 108 pitch performance. The Hoover native allowed five hits, all singles, with six strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Matt Foster cleaned up, pitching the ninth, allowing a hit and a walk, but no runs, finishing off the shutout.

The Tide got all the runs they needed in the first inning, after Keith Holcombe led off the game with a walk, followed by a single from Cobie Vance and another walk to Chandler Taylor. Cody Henry then smoked a double down the line, clearing the bases and staking 'Bama to a 3-0 lead.

Bramblett was only threatened a couple of times, in the second when an error put a runner on third and in the sixth when he stranded the bases loaded. The Tide added some insurance in the fourth when Chandler Avant singled and later scored on a single by Chance Vincent. The teams tied in hits with six each for the game, but the Tide benefited in walks with eight to only one for the Irish. The game was the third outstanding effort by Bramblett, but only his first win, pushing his record to 1-0 on the year.

Game Two: Win over Niagara 8-4

Coach Mitch Gaspard chose to give several reserve players a starting shot in Saturday's first game with Niagara. Gene Wood, Ryan Blanchard, Sam Finnerty, Daniel Cucjen and Hunter Webb were all inserted into the lineup and several made an impact on the game. Building depth for the long season is important for any baseball team, and 'Bama is deeper than they have been in several years.

Mike Oczypok got the start on the mound, his first since then 2013 season, and was the winning pitcher. The RS junior threw five innings, allowing three hits with one walk, six strikeouts, and one run allowed. Jake Hubbard, Zac Rogers and Finnerty finished the game off, allowing five hits and three unearned runs.

The Tide started fast, scoring four runs over the first two innings with the benefit of only one hit. Wood led off with a walk and advanced to second when Chandler Avant was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on a fly ball. Wood and Avant pulled off a double steal for the first run. In the second inning four walks, an error and one single provided three more runs. Tanner Devinny and Daniel Cucjen walked, and with two outs Wood struck out, but reached first when the catcher couldn't handle the ball. Cobie Vance drew his first walk of the season to drive in one run and a Avant single plated two more, for a 4-0 lead.

'Bama tacked four more on the board in the fourth on five hits and one walk. Vance singled and scored on a double by Avant. Finnerty doubled for a run. After DeVinny walked and Cucjen singled, Webb laced a two run single for a 8-1 lead. The Purple Eagles cut into the lead in the sixth on two hits, a walk, a hit batter and an error, but Tide pitchers were able to shut them out the rest of the way to secure the victory.

The Tide had 11 hits, drew seven walks and had two hit batters. Avant had three hits and three RBI's and was helped by two hits from Cucjen and two hits and two driven in by Webb. Finnerty's first career hit and RBI came on a double in the fourth.

Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 11:48 am to
quote:

Game Three: Loss vs NC State 2-1

In a good old-fashioned pitching duel NC State pushed one run across in the sixth and one in the eighth to trump the Tide's single run scored in the fourth. Jake Walters started for the Tide and went six innings, allowing only four hits with six strikeouts, four walks, and one run. Dylan Durate, left-handed freshman out of Texas, followed and was the losing pitcher in the game. Durate went 1.1 innings, allow one hit and one run. Thomas Burrows followed for the final 1.2 innings, allowing his first base runners of the season, on two hits (one questionable) and two walks.

'Bama took the lead in the fourth when Keith Holcombe led off with a single, promptly stole second, and scored on a Cody Henry single. The Tide threatened to blow the game open in the fifth, but stranded runners on second and third with one out. Chandler Avant walked and was sacrificed to second by Chance Vincent. Conner Short singled and advanced to second on the throw in that held Avant at third. A strikeout and ground out ended the threat with both runners stranded.

NC State tied things up in the sixth when Preston Palmeiro doubled and scored on a single by Andrew Knizner. Palmeiro is the son of former Mississippi State and MLB star Rafael. Palmeiro was once again a thorn in the Tide's side, doubling with one out in the eighth. Burrows relieved Durate at that point. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly brought Palmeiro in with what proved to be the winning run.

The Wolfpack out hit the Tide 7-5 in the game and also reached on six walks, to only two free passes for 'Bama. The men in Crimson struck out 11 times in the game.

Game Four: Win vs Brown 2-0

An early Sunday morning game with Brown out of the Ivy League was the final game of the weekend. 'Bama was able to pull off a 2-0 victory by scoring twice in the top of the ninth inning in a game where they only recorded five hits, and reached on two walks and one hit batter. Tide pitchers held the Bears to four hits and walked five batters.

Senior right hander Ray Castillo got the start on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing only one hit with three walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Brock Love followed with two more shutout innings, allowing two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Love also picked a runner off of first base. Another freshman, Kyle Cameron, was the winning pitcher, going the final three inning allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out three. The victory was the first of Cameron's career.

'Bama threatened only once before the ninth when they stranded the bases loaded in the third. Chandler Taylor reached on a walk, and advanced on a bunt single by Keith Holcombe. When the ball was thrown away, both runners advanced, putting players on second and third with one out. Taylor tried to score on a ground ball by Chandler Avant, but was cut down at the plate for out two. Cobie Vance walked, but all three were then stranded on a strikeout.

The Tide's winning rally began with Vance being hit by a pitch leading off the ninth. Cody Henry was then called on to sacrifice bunt, but after two failed attempts was allowed to swing away. Henry redeemed himself with a long double, putting runners on second and third. Hunter Webb replaced Henry as a pinch runner. Chance Vincent hit a long fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly, scoring Vance. Connor Short lined a RBI single to center to push Webb across with an insurance run, and a 2-0 victory.

The Bears didn't go quietly in the ninth, getting a walk and an infield single to put the tying runs on base, and the winning run at the plate with two outs. Cameron coaxed a fly ball to Taylor in right to end the game. The Tide outhit the Bears 5-4 and also reached base on two walks and one hit batter. Tanner DeVinny threw out one runner trying to steal, and picked one runner off of first base to help the pitchers out.

Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 11:48 am to
quote:

Overview

'Bama pitching continues to be outstanding, but the hitting is going to have to give them more help at some point soon. Vincent is off to the best start of his career and Holcombe has been a shot in the arm at the top of the order. Avant and Henry are driving in runs and Vance, although cooling off some, continues to contribute. Taylor has cooled considerably since his fast start, but the swing and the attitude are there for him to bounce back. Short has been a spark as well. Salem has a track record of bouncing back from a slow start. The catching duo of Haynie and DeVinny need to contribute more.

Up Next

A strange quirk in the schedule has the Tide playing Thursday-Sunday this week, with no midweek games. The #9 Oregon Ducks come to town for a single game on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and the #21 Houston Cougars will be in for a three game set over the weekend: 6:30 on Friday, 2:00 on Saturday and 1:00 on Sunday (all CT). The teams early season tough schedule continues, which should steel them for SEC play when it begins on March 18th.

This post was edited on 3/7/16 at 11:49 am
Posted by UAinAU
Member since Apr 2015
406 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 1:55 pm to
We are ranked 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 24th by Collegiate Baseball .
Posted by AHM21
Member since Feb 2008
30841 posts
Posted on 3/7/16 at 3:25 pm to
If we go 3-1 or better this week, we'll be top 20 heading into SEC play. That's asking a lot, but the opportunity being there is enough to get me excited about baseball.
Posted by Lordofwrath88
Tuscaloosa
Member since Oct 2012
7031 posts
Posted on 3/8/16 at 5:36 pm to
Welcoming the rest of Bama Nation to the baseball party!


Remember guys, these balls aren't oval shaped....


they're spherical

Posted by bigpapamac
Mobile, AL
Member since Oct 2007
22572 posts
Posted on 3/9/16 at 8:00 am to
Anybody know why the Oregon game is on Thursday? That's quite an odd scheduling quirk. Certainly going to test the depth of our pitching staff playing four straight days against top 25 competition, and doing so without Eicholtz.
Posted by AHM21
Member since Feb 2008
30841 posts
Posted on 3/9/16 at 8:12 am to
Probably has something to do with travel. Oregon plays three in Starkville this weekend.

I like it. Post season baseball is all about depth and being able to play four or more games in four days. Back to back weekends of it before conference play is a nice test to get them ready.
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