Live Updates: Alabama Baseball Opens SEC Play Against Florida

Crimson Tide opens three-game series against Gators, which have won 10 straight in the series.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The rain has passed. The field may be a little soggy and it's a little humid, but otherwise nice conditions for an evening baseball game at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. 

It's partly cloudy, 75 degrees, and should drop down to about 65 before the game is over. 

This is the SEC opener for both teams. The Gators have won the last 10 meetings between the programs. 

Game 1: Florida at Alabama

Ninth Inning

Alabama Athletics

Freshman right-hander Luke Holman in to pitch the ninth for Alabama. 

• Alabama has someone warming up in the bullpen, but Holman retires the Gators on three fly balls. 

• Receiver Ficarrotta in for Florida. Barco gave up just four hits, one run, with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Denton welcomes him with a solid single to center. Seidl hit by a pitch. With two on and no outs, Florida brings in freshman right-hander Blake Purnell. He gets a pop up, but then Alabama rallies. 

Pinch-hitter Will Hodo bounces one for a single to load the bases. Owen Diodati gets an infield single to score one run, and when the second baseman hesitates/bobbles the ball, a second run scores with Seidl beating the throw home. Pinckney is hit by a pitch to re-load the bases with one outs -- he's the potential tying run. Eblin hits a ground ball, but when Florida tries to turn a game-ending double play both runners are safe with the runner scoring. However,Jarvis grounds to short and this time Florida does turn the double play to end the game.

Florida 6, Alabama 4

 

Eighth inning

Alabama Athletics

The hot dog race is FINALLY under way. Mustard is the wiener!

• Leadoff double for Colby Halter. Luke Holman starts warming up in the Alabama bullpen, but Guffey gets out of the inning while leaving the runner on third. 

• Sophomore right-hander Nick Ficarrotta starts warming up for Florida. Alabama finally gets on the board with a solo home run to center by Andrew Pinckney, his second of the year. Barco goes over 100 pitches for the game, but retires the side. Florida 6, Alabama 1. 

Seventh Inning

Alabama Athletics

We're all eagerly awaiting catchup vs. mustard ...  

• Florida has another rally going, with two on and no outs, but Guffey gets Calilao to ground into a 6-3 double play. A run still scores on a fielding error by second baseball Bryce Eblin. Florida 6, Alabama 0

• With one out, Williamson reaches on a fielder error at third. But Foggo fans and Diodati drills one right to the second baseman.  

Sixth Inning

Senior left-hander Brock Guffey in to start the inning. McMillan gave up eight hits and five earned runs. He struck out seven and walked two. He threw 96 pitches. ... Attendance: 2,774

• UF's Josh Rivera welcomes the reliever with a leadoff double to left. Seidl with another strong defensive play, this time on a long fly ball he caught in foul territory near the wall. The runner advanced (umpires reviewed whether he tagged up). On the subsequent fly out to right, the runner stayed put, but Seidl still threw a strike to home plate. Florida loads the bases on a walk and hit batter, but doesn't score on a ground out to third. Still 5-0 Gators. 

• Top of the order for Alabama, and it's ground out, line out and fly out. Barco has thrown 73 pitches. The Crimson Tide has been limited to three hits and hasn't had a baserunner in scoring position yet. The left-hander has been as good as advertised. 

Fifth Inning

Alabama Athletics

Senior Brock Guffey is warming up for Alabama.

• Another nice defensive play by Seidl, who quickly fielded a ball off the wall in the corner and limited Riopelle's drive to a one-out single. Alabama subsequently turned a 4-6-3 double play. 

• Two-out single for Andrew Pinckney, but Bryce Eblin grounds out to first, 3-1 on the play. Still 5-0, Gators. 

Fourth Inning

Alabama has been out-hit so far, 7-1. 

• McMillan looks more in control now. He quickly retires the top of the Florida order, 1-2-3. 

• Seidl slaps a two-out single to right, but Drew Williamson takes strike three for the third out. 

Third Inning

USA Today

• Florida adds to its lead with a solo home run to right by BT Riopelle before the first out is recorded. The Gator also got a walk, but the runner was left stranded. Florida 5, Alabama 0. 

• Again, three up, three down for Alabama. Barco has retired nine straight since giving up the leadoff single in the first. 

Second Inning

Alabama Athletics

The crowd may not be that big tonight as spring break is still ongoing, but it's vocal. They're into it ... 

• Leadoff single to left for Kendrick Calilao, and he advanced on a slow gaper on the left side just beyond Jarvis' reach by Josh Rivera. The runners advance on a 3-4 sac-bunt. Deric Fabian knocks the first pitch he sees into right-center for a two-run single. Tommy Seidl robs Colby Halter of a two-run home run to right for the second out. He can't get the one Jud Fabian puts in the bullpen, though, for a two run home run. It's his seventh of the season. Florida 4, Alabama 0

• Three up, three down for the Crimson Tide. 

 

First Inning

Alabama Athletics

Umpires: HP Mark Chapman; 1B Ray Gregson; 2B Michael Phillips; 3B Jordan Ferrell. First pitch: 6:02 p.m. 

• Garrett McMillan comes out throwing as if he has something to prove, but he walks the second batter after falling behind in the count. Wyatt Langford strokes a two-out single to left, but McMillan notched his second strikeout to get out of the inning. He threw 21 pitches. 

• Jim Jarvis leads off with an infield singe to first that he beat out (sliding headfirst into the bag). He didn't advance, though. No score. 

Starting Pitchers

Florida

LHP Hunter Barco (3-1), 1.93 ERA

BB: 2

SO: 34

Opposing batting average: .159

Alabama 

RHP Garrett McMillan (2-0), 1.80 ERA

BB: 4

SO: 22

Opposing batting average: .141

Lineups

Alabama Athletics

Florida

1. 2b Colby Halter (.391)
2. CF Jud Fanian (.310)
3. Sterlin Thompson (.358)
4. LF Ryat Langford (.377)
5. C BT Riopelle (.318)
6. 1B Kendrick Calilao (.286)
7. SS Josh Rivera (.216)
8. DH Kris Armstrong (.227)
9. 3B Deric Fabian (.278)

Alabama

1. SS Jim Jarvis (.328)
2. C Dominic Tamez (.328)
3. 3B Zane Denton (.319)
4. RF Tommy Seidl (.422)
5. 1B Drew Williams (.294)
6. DH Eric Foggo (.304)
7. LF Owen Diodati (.269)
8. Andrew Pickney (.268)
9. 2B Bryce Eblin (.267)

The Details

• Who: No. 9 Florida (12-6) at Alabama (13-4)

• Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium

• When: Friday 6 p.m. (weather permitting), Saturday 6 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.

• TV: SEC Network+ (Play-By-Play: Josh Caray, Color: Lance Cormier)

• Radio: Crimson Tide Spots Network (Play-By-Play: Roger Hoover, Color: Lee Tracey)

• Series: Gators lead 64-57

• Last meeting: The teams last played May 27, 2021, in Hoover as part of the 2021 SEC Tournament. Florida won 7-2. The last weekend series was March 29-31, 2019, in Gainesville, with UF earning a series sweep.

Of Note ...

• The Right Field Terrace at Sewell-Thomas Stadium will be open to all fans.

With the university on spring break, the same rules apply as with students. Coolers and dogs are allowed through Game 6.

• Saturday will be Alabama’s ‘Alumni Game’ as the program recognizes the 25-year anniversary of the 1996 and 1997 teams that reached the College World Series.

Former players on both rosters will be honored with a pregame ceremony.

The Saturday game will also feature a commemorative hat giveaway to the first 250 fans through the gates, featuring a retro logo recognizing the ‘96 and ‘97 College World Series.

This story will be continually updated during the game