Pitching Struggles Lead to Disappointing Week for ‘Bama Baseball

Coming off the high of the series win over Tennessee; the Crimson Tide were looking to stay on a roll against Alabama State and Georgia. However, pitching struggles blighted the Crimson Tide, leading to a poor 1-3 record in the week, dropping Alabama five spots in D1Baseball's Top 25  to No. 16.

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The Crimson Tide started the week with a bang, demolishing the Alabama State Hornets 15-7. Center fielder TJ McCants led the way with a historic three-homer, six-RBI performance. Starter Zane Adams allowed one run over three innings to earn the win for the Crimson Tide.

However, the series in Athens would be a different story.

Due to weather issues on Friday, game one was rescheduled as the first part of a double-header on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide battled back from a quick 1-4 deficit in game one. Ian Petrutz knocked one run home for the Tide in the third, and a Gage Miller two-RBI triple tied the game up in the fourth. Miller's single would be followed up by a TJ McCants RBI single to take a 5-4 lead.

Georgia superstar Charlie Condon hit a homer to center field in the fourth to tie the game at five apiece.

The two SEC rivals would be deadlocked at 5-5 until Alabma's Aidan Moza loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, setting up a walk-off grand slam for Kolby Branch to end game one, 9-5 in the Bulldogs favor.

Game two would also be a dogfight. The Crimson Tide jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead thanks to two home runs by Gage Miller and one from Justin Lebron.

However, the Bulldogs would rally back in the third off the back of a Charlie Condon two-run homer and a solo shot by Slate Alford.

Kade Snell continued the home run derby, responding with a solo shot in the seventh. However, UGA's Charlie Condon threw another punch back at the Tide in the seventh, smacking a two-run shot into the stands to make it a 5-4 game.

Clayton Chadwick would send home one more in the eight to add a run to the Bulldog lead.

Alabama would score one run in the ninth but couldn't add any more, ending the game 5-6 to clinch the series loss for the Tide.

Game three would be another offensive onslaught from Georgia, sending a barrage series of home runs, sac-flys, and extra-base hits against the Tide pitching staff, totaling ten runs on the day.

Alabama's offense would be productive, too, adding five runs of their own. However, it wouldn't be enough to keep up with the Bulldogs' offensive attack, sending Alabama home with a sweep.

The Crimson Tide will look to redeem themselves this week with a midweek matchup against Belmont on Tuesday and a series against No. 18 South Carolina this weekend.