Baseball Splits Friday Doubleheader with Fourth-Ranked Florida
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Alabama baseball split its doubleheader with fourth-ranked Florida on Friday inside McKethan Stadium. The Crimson Tide claimed the game-one victory in extra innings and collected a season-high 18 hits on the way to a 12-9 victory. The Gators would claim game two, 8-1, to end the evening with the two teams poised for a Saturday matchup to decide the series.
GAME ONE
Alabama collected a season-high 18 hits that led to 12 total runs for a 12-9, extra-innings victory over fourth-ranked Florida in the series-opening game. The Tide scored 10 runs over the final three frames to lock up the win.
"Our guys continued to compete throughout the night and were able to come away with the win," said Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard. "It was a back and forth game, but I thought our guys showed good resolve in the end to stick with it and have the big 10th inning."
Alabama stranded a season-high 15 runners, but was still able to manage 12 runs on the afternoon. The Tide's scoring was highlighted by a seven-run seventh and a three-run 10th that accounted for 10 of the team's total hits and runs. In the seventh, UA strung together five consecutive one-out base knocks to collect four runs, and then rounded out the scoring with a bases-loaded walk and single to add three more. The Tide sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning and took its first lead of the game, 9-4.
Florida would answer back with three in the bottom of the seventh and then two more to tie the game up in the eighth at 9-9, sending the two teams to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Alabama put a three-run rally together on the strength of four hits. The inning started with Kyle Overstreet recording his team-leading third hit of the game, a single to center field. Overstreet was followed by Chance Vincent, who contributed a double to put two in scoring position with none down. The Gators would intentionally walk Will Haynie to load the bases, and that move would work in the Tide's favor.
With runners on all the bases, J.C. Wilhite slapped a dying liner to center that fell in front of the fielder to plate the go-ahead run. Alabama would add two more before the inning ended, thanks to a fielder's choice at second off the bat of Chandler Avant and then a single to left from Georgie Salem.
Ray Castillo remained in for the bottom half of the 10th and ended game one with a 1-2-3 inning to collect his third win of the year. Castillo contributed 3.2 innings of work, the most by a Crimson Tide reliever this season.
GAME TWO
After forcing the Gators to use eight pitchers in the day's first game, Alabama would fall, 8-1, in a complete-game effort by Florida starter Logan Shore.
The Gators started out the game hot, putting up a five spot in the home half of the first that would prove to be all Florida needed for the win. Alabama would counter with one run in the top of the second thanks to back-to-back doubles from Overstreet and Will Haynie, but that would be all the scoring from the Tide offense in game two. UF would add one run apiece in the third, fourth and fifth innings to close out the night's scoring at 8-1.
Overstreet led the Tide offense in the second game, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. The junior second baseman would finish the twinbill at 5-for-9 with two RBI and three runs scored.
"It was disappointing to come out and not be able to get the series win in game two," Gaspard added. "We got behind 5-0 early, and that makes it tough on a team. We'll move forward now and focus on taking advantage of this opportunity we have to get a series win on the road."
Saturday's finale will decide the series between the Crimson Tide and Gators. Alabama will toss sophomore right-hander Geoffrey Bramblett while Florida will call on sophomore righty Dane Dunning to close out the series.
Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
ALABAMA POSTGAME NOTES
-
Taylor Guilbeau went 3.0 innings in his game one start. That is the fewest innings the senior has gone in a start since March 20, 2013, against Jacksonville State when he went 2.0 innings.
-
Jay Shaw tossed a season-high 3.1 innings in game one. That is the longest relief outing by the senior since last season when he tossed 4.0 in a relief outing at Arkansas on March 21.
-
Ray Castillo tossed 3.2 innings to earn his third win of the season. The 3.2 innings of work were the most by a Tide reliever this season.
-
The three wins for Castillo are a career high for a season. His previous career high was two in 2013.
-
Florida used eight pitchers against the Tide in game one. The eight total pitchers is the most any team has used against Alabama this season. The previous high was six.
-
Will Carter allowed 10 hits in his start in tonight's second contest. The 10 hits are a career high for Carter and mark the first time this season a Tide starter has allowed double-digit hits.
-
Zac Rogers' 2.2 innings of work in game two are a career high for the freshman.
-
Chandler Avant finished the day 4-for-12 with two RBI and a run scored. Over his last 11 games, the freshman is batting .370 (20-54) with two doubles, six RBI, six runs scored and three stolen bases.
-
Avant has also recorded multi-hit games in seven of his last eight contests after recording just two across his first 14 games at Alabama.
-
Kyle Overstreet led the team in hits this evening with five across the two games. Overstreet has now recorded a hit in each of his last five games and is batting .400 (8-20) with two doubles, three RBI, five runs scored and two walks across the five-game hitting streak.
-
Overstreet has reached base safely in his last 14 contests dating back to the March 3 contest vs. Auburn in the Capital City Classic.
-
Chance Vincent finished the day 3-for-9 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Over his last seven games, the junior is batting .321 (9-28) with two doubles, a triple, four RBI, five runs scored and two walks.
-
J.C. Wilhite finished with hits in each of today's games to extend his hitting streak to five games. Over the last five games, the senior is batting .471 (8-17) with a double, three RBI, four runs scored and one HBP.
-
Mikey White finished game one 2-for-6 and has now recorded a hit in all but five contests this season. The junior has recorded multiple hits in 14 games so far.
