Alabama Baseball Starting LHP Hunter Furtado in SEC Tournament Against Kentucky

The Crimson Tide will go with the junior left-hander on the mound in a win-or-go-home contest against the Wildcats on Tuesday.

Austin Hannon | May 22, 2023

HOOVER, Ala. — Alabama baseball interim head coach Jason Jackson had a big decision to make — and it's been made.

The ninth-seeded Crimson Tide (38-17, 16-14 SEC) is playing in the opening round of the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament against No. 8 seed Kentucky on Tuesday.

Tuesday's round is single-elimination — meaning it's win or go home for Alabama.

The Crimson Tide just finished its series against Ole Miss on Saturday night so it's regular starters aren't fully rested yet.

Alabama will go with LHP Hunter Furtado on the mound against the Wildcats (36-17, 16-14 SEC). Furtado is 0-1 on the season with a 5.40 ERA in 15 appearances. He's thrown 28.1 innings — surrendering 17 earned runs on 28 hits. He's struck out 32 and walked 12.

Furtado, a relief pitcher, won't be expected to go too far into the game — meaning it will be a bullpen game for the Crimson Tide. Should Alabama beat Kentucky and reach the double-elimination round, it's regular starting pitchers may become available.

First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Wildcats at the Hoover Met is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

Austin Hannon joined the BamaCentral team in December 2022. He graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in sports media and brings a ton of journalism experience. Hannon is the former sports editor of The Crimson White, the University's school newspaper. Hannon's coverage focuses primarily on Alabama football, men's basketball and baseball. Contact: cahannon01@gmail.com

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