Crimson Tide Returns to The Joe to Host South Alabama on Tuesday
3/28/2022 3:05:00 PM | Baseball
The Crimson Tide and Jaguars will meet for the 110th time in series history on Tuesday evening
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball hosts South Alabama on Tuesday to begin a quick five-game homestand at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Jaguars is set for 6 p.m. CT with the game airing live on SEC Network+.
The Tuesday matchup with South Alabama will continue the Crimson Tide's '$2 Tuesday' promotion sponsored by Zeigler Meats. The deal is one of Alabama's season-long promotions at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Tuesday's contest will feature $2 reserved tickets for all fans. Once inside The Joe, those in attendance can take advantage of $2 hot dogs at all concession stands. The first 500 fans through the gates on Tuesday will also receive an Alabama bucket hat.
Follow the Tide
Fans can follow the midweek game via the below outlets:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: 100.9 FM / CTSN / The Varsity App
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
Live Stats: RollTide.com
Probable Starting Pitching Matchup
TUESDAY: UA – Ben Hess (Fr., RHP) vs. USA – Tyler Lehrmann (R-Jr., LHP)
Leading Off
- Alabama and South Alabama will meet for the 110th time in series history when the two teams square off Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide holds the all-time series advantage, 61-48, including a 40-18 lead in games played in Tuscaloosa.
- The Crimson Tide and Jaguars met on March 9 of last season for a midweek pairing at The Joe. Alabama came away with an 11-8 win to extend the Tide's winning streak to five straight over USA.
- Alabama will look to Ben Hess for the Tuesday start. The freshman right-hander is appearing for his fourth time this season, all coming in the starting role.
- South Alabama counters with redshirt junior Tyler Lehrmann. The right-hander will be making his seventh appearance overall and fourth start of the season on Tuesday night.
About Alabama
- Alabama finished the week at 1-3, first falling at UAB before winning the Sunday matchup at Mississippi State.
- The Crimson Tide battled down to the final out in all three games at State and was afforded the opportunity thanks to strong outings from each of the three weekend starters.
- UA's trio of Garrett McMillan, Jacob McNairy and Grayson Hitt combined for a 2.20 ERA (4 ER/16.1 IP) and 18 strikeouts against the Bulldogs. McMillan contributed 6.0 innings of one-run baseball on Friday while McNairy posted 5.0 frames and allowed just two runs on Saturday. Hitt tossed 6.0 innings in which he gave up just one run on Sunday to send the Tide home with a win.
- Alabama fell, 5-4, to UAB in a back-and-forth contest on Wednesday night at Regions Field. UAB was first to strike with two runs in the first, but the Crimson Tide came right back to take the lead with a three-spot in the top of the third. • The Blazers evened things up in the bottom of the fourth with one run to make it a 3-3 game after four full. Alabama regained the advantage in the sixth with one more run but single tallies from UAB in the seventh and eighth put the Blazers in front for the eventual 5-4 win.
- Alabama suffered a 7-6 loss to Mississippi State in the 10th inning of Friday's game at Dudy Noble Field.
- State scored one in the second before Alabama took the lead with a three-run fourth. The Tide added two more in the top of the seventh, but MSU was able to counter with three in the bottom of the frame to make it a one-run ballgame.
- Alabama added one in the ninth but a two-run home run in the home half sent the game to extras. The Bulldogs secured the win with a solo homer in the 10th.
- McMillan provided the Crimson Tide with a solid start on Friday. The junior tossed 5.1 innings of one-run baseball, allowing six hits and issuing two walks with six strikeouts.
- Alabama traded blows with State all Saturday, with the Bulldogs coming out on top late, 8-7.
- MSU gained the advantage with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Alabama came right back with a three-run sixth to take the lead. State would score one in the home half to make it a 3-3 affair before UA moved out front once again, this time with one in the seventh. The Bulldogs matched with one in the bottom of the eighth to send things to the ninth. The ninth saw Alabama score three to take the lead before State walked it off with a four-run home half.
- McNairy was impressive in his first weekend start of the season. The senior allowed two runs on six hits and no walks with a career-high tying seven strikeouts in his 5.0 innings of work.
- The Tide secured a 6-2 win on Sunday in Starkville. Alabama led 2-1 after five full and maintained a lead from thereon out. UA added one in the sixth with State countering for a run of their own in the seventh to make it a one-run affair.
- Alabama was not content with a one-run advantage, widening the gap with a three-spot in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach. The Tide used two walks followed by three straight RBI-singles with two outs to earn the 6-2 win.
- Hitt posted a quality start for the Crimson Tide to earn his second win of the season. The sophomore allowed one run on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts across his career-high 6.0 innings and 102 pitches. Hitt turned the ball over to junior Antoine Jean. The Tide lefty tossed the final 3.0 frames, allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk with one punchout for his first career save.
- The Alabama offense was highlighted by Drew Williamson. The senior finished 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk to go with a team-high two RBI and two runs scored.
About South Alabama
- Mark Calvi is now in his 11th season as head coach at South Alabama and entered the new campaign with a 313-233 career record, all coming at USA. A graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Calvi is assisted by Alan Luckie, Nick Magnifico and Brad Phillips.
- South Alabama finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 36-22, including a 15-9 mark in conference play. The Jaguars won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Gainesville Regional where USA won three games before falling to USF in the Regional final.
- The Jaguars were selected to win the Sun Belt Conference in the league's preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches.
On Deck
Alabama continues the current homestand with a three-game series against Texas A&M this weekend. The Crimson Tide and Aggies are scheduled for a 6 p.m. start in the opener followed by a 4 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Sunday's matchup is slated for 1 p.m. Fans can catch the bookend games live on SEC Network+ with the Saturday game being broadcast to a national audience on SEC Network.
