Alabama Baseball Loses Weekend Series to Columbia after Being Blasted 15-3

The Crimson Tide won the first game of the doubleheader 6-2, but the Lions used an 11-run inning to win the second game and two out of three on the road.

Mason Smith | Mar 11, 2023

Alabama Baseball Loses Weekend Series to Columbia after Being Blasted 15-3 /

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Alabama baseball responded to Friday's lost with a 6-2 victory in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader against Columbia. But Lions used an11-run inning to win the second game 15-3 and win the weekend series against the Tide.

"I really thought Columbia did a great job of doing what we did the first 14 games," Bohannon said after the game. "They were the aggressor, getting leadoff guys on base, fouling off tough pitches. They just took it to us tonight."

In Game 1, Alabama played with much better energy than Friday night's 10-7 loss as hitters were able to get on base early on. Ben Hess also started strong for the Tide, not allowing a hit in the first two innings.

Columbia did score first in the top of the third inning, but Alabama did all the damage it needed in the bottom of the fifth.

Will Portera reached first base on a dropped third strike, and when Colby Shelton stepped up to the plate, he sent the ball over the right field wall to give Alabama a 2-1 lead.

The offense continued to produce until the bases were loaded with one out. Ed Johnson, with one swing of the bat, hit a grand slam over the left field wall to give Alabama a 6-1 lead.

Columbia did manage to score another run, but with strong performances from Riley Quick and Zane Probst, the Lions' offense was stopped and Alabama won 6-2.

In Game 2, the Lions wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three run against Jacob McNairy in the top of the first inning.

The Tide offense managed to get runners on base in the first few innings, but could not turn them into runs as Columbia added another to make the score 4-0 after three innings.

It was already looking rough for Alabama, but it fell completely apart in the fourth inning as Columbia was able to load the bases four times and scored 11 runs. There were no home runs either; all 11 runs came off of three singles, two doubles and one sacrifice fly.

"I can't explain that," Bohannon said. "I think it was seven straight hits all coming in the same place. Some of those come with two strikes and we couldn't put hitters away."

Alabama continued to put together good at-bats and scored a run in three straight innings, but it wasn't nearly enough as the Tide lost 15-3, costing the game and the series.

The Tide's record is now 15-2, and with a four-game road trip coming up, Bohannan said the team will have to leave the series in the past.

"The good thing about baseball is we play often," Bohannon said. "I wish we played tomorrow. We need to get back out and get back on track.

"It's probably good in some ways that we have a day off tomorrow and can reset."

Alabama's next game will be in Mobile against South Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

GAME 2 FINAL - Columbia 15, Alabama 3

Alabama Box Score

Columbia Box Score

Bottom 9

Shelton grounds out to end the game

West flies out to left field. Colby Shelton to bat with two outs

Guardino strikes out. Jaxson West to bat

Ryan Guardino leads of for Alabama

Top 9

Jack Kail pops out to end the inning

Jack Cooper, who pinch-hit for Anton Lazits, strikes out swinging

Kyle Corso, who pinch-hit for Skye Selinsky, reached on an error by Shelton

Wade strikes out swinging

Pat Wade pinch-hits for Griffen Palfrey

Mike Decker, who pinch-hit for Seth Dardar, is walked

A series of defensive changes for Alabama

Caden Rose is now at shortstop
Mason Swinney is at second base
Camden Hayslip is in center field
Ryan Guardino is in left field
Jaxson West is behind the plate

Bottom 8

Hayslip couldn't beat the throw as the groundout ends the inning

Swinney strikes out looking. Camden Hayslip pinch-hits for Ed Johnson

Rose flies out. Mason Swinney is pinch-hitting for Jim Jarvis

Caden Rose will lead off for Alabama

Top 8

Gainey strikes out the batter looking to end the inning

Miles Blackwell pinch-hits for Weston Eberly

San Jule grounds out to third

Andy Blake hits a single to center field. Fellows advances to third as John San Jule pinch-hits for Hayden Schott

Cole Fellows, who pinch-hit for Hage, hits a double to left center

Brayden Gainey is now pitching for the Tide

Bottom 7

Drew Williamson strikes out swinging to end the inning

Williams steals second.

With two outs, Max Williams is walked

Colby Shelton will lead off for Alabama

Derek Yoo is now pitching for Columbia

Top 7

Lazits grounds out to end the inning

After getting the first two outs, Selinsky hits a single to left field

Seth Dardar will lead off for Columbia

Bottom 6

Guscette grounds out to end the inning

Hamiter hits a sacrifice fly, driving in Williamson. The score is 15-3 Columbia with Mac Guscette to bat

Johnson hits a single to left field. Hamiter will bat with the bases loaded

The left fielder makes a sliding catch on Jarvis. Ed Johnson will bat with one out

Rose is hit by a pitch. Jim Jarvis will bat with two runners on and no outs

Williamson singles to left field. Caden Rose takes his at-bat

Drew Williamson will lead off for Alabama

Top 6

Woods ends the inning with only one hit and two strikeouts

Hage strikes out looking

Cole Hage will lead off for Columbia

Kade Woods is the new pitcher for Alabama. Williams will play right first

Bottom 5

Williams strikes out swinging to end the inning

Hodo hits a sacrifice fly, driving in Hamiter. Max Williams will pinch-hit for Andrew Pinckney

Shelton hits the ball over the leaping shortstop for a single. Will Hodo will bat with the bases loaded

Guscette is walked. Colby Shelton will bat with two on and one out

Hamiter hits a single through the left side. Mac Guscette to bat

Johnson grounds out. Hamiter to bat

Ed Johnson will lead off for Alabama

Top 5

Rose slipped but was still able to close in and make the catch to end the inning

Anton Lazits is walked. Two runners are one for Jack Kail

Selinsky pops out

After Dardar struck out swinging, Palfrey was walked

Seth Dardar will lead off for Columbia

Bottom 4

Jarvis pops out in foul territory to end the inning

Rose hits a double. Williamson reaches third base as Jim Jarvis is at the plate

Williamson hits a single. Caden Rose will bat

Pinckney hits a sacrifice fly to drive in Shelton. Drew Williamson will bat with two outs and the score 15-1 Columbia

Will Hodo grounds out to first base, Shelton advances to second with Andrew Pinckney to hit

Colby Shelton hits a double to start the inning for Alabama

Top 4

Schott strikes out and Eberly flies out to end the inning

Andy Blake hits a bases-clearing double to make the score 15-0 Columbia

Cole Hage is hit by a pitch to load the bases a fourth time in the inning.

Jack Kail hits an RBI-single to make the score 12-0 Columbia

Anton Lazitz, in his second at-bat of the inning, hit a two-run single to left field to make the score 11-0 Columbia

Skye Selinsky is walked to once again load the bases.

Palfrey hits a two-run single to make the score 9-0 Columbia

Seth Dardar is walked to reload the bases with Griffen Palfrey walking to the plate

Eberly hits a two-run double to make the score 7-0 Columbia

Hayden Schott hits a single to deep left field. The bases are loaded for Weston Eberly with one out

After Andy Blake hits a single, Alton Davis comes in to pitch for Alabama

Hage hits a sacrifice fly, driving in Lazits. Score is 5-0 Columbia

Lazits steals third base

Kail is walked. Cole Hage will bat with two on and no outs

Lazits steals second base as Jack Kail is at the plate

Lazits hits a single to center field

Anton Lazits will lead off for Columbia

Bottom 3

Guscette couldn't beat the throw as he grounds out to end the inning

Hamiter flies out to center. Mac Guscette to bat with two outs

Johnson pops out to second. William Hamiter will bat

Ed Johnson will lead off for Alabama

Top 3

Skye Selinsky flies out to end the inning

Palfrey hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Eberly, score is 4-0 Columbia

Eberly advanced to third on a wild pitch

Dardar grounded out and Eberly advanced to second. Griffen Palfrey will bat

Eberly singles to center field

Weston Eberly will lead off for Columbia

Bottom 2

Jarvis grounds out to end the inning

Rose was caught stealing

Williamson was throw out on the fielder's choice. One on and one out for Jim Jarvis

Williamson is walked with Caden Rose to bat

Drew Williamson leads off for Alabama

Top 2

Schott grounds out to end the inning

Andy Blake grounded out but both runners advanced. There are two runners in scoring position for Hayden Schott

Aftter Jack Kail grounded out, Cole Hage was walked

Lazits hits a single to start the inning

Anton Lazits will lead off for Columbia

Bottom 1 (Alabama Hitting)

Pinckney grounds into an inning-ending double play

Hodo singles to right field, bringing up Andrew Pinckney for his first at-bat

Shelton strikes out swinging. Will Hodo will bat

Colby Shelton will lead off, this game as the third baseman instead of the DH

Top 1 (Columbia Hitting)

McNairy strikes out Skye Selinsky to end the inning

Palfrey advances to third base on a passed ball

Griffen Palfrey hits a two-run double. Columbia's lead is now 3-0

McNairy strikes out Seth Dardar for the second out

Weston Eberly hits an RBI-double, driving in Blake. Columbia takes an early 1-0 lead with both runners in scoring position

Hayden Schott hits a single to center field

After striking out the first batter, McNairy walks Andy Blake

Jacob McNairy throws the first pitch and the game is underway

Pregame

First pitch is scheduled for 4:32 p.m. CT

🐘 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/xdlvmgeIBc
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) March 11, 2023

GAME 1 FINAL - Alabama 6, Columbia 2