Alabama Baseball Pitching Staff Needs Consistency Against Wake Forest

The Crimson Tide's pitching corps needs to stay true to itself and limit damage to be competitive in this weekend's Super Regional.

Will Miller | Jun 9, 2023

Alabama Athletics

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— Wake Forest isn't the only team entering the Winston-Salem Super Regional with a quality pitching staff.

Alabama's rotation played a big part in helping the Crimson Tide to a point where the club is two wins from its first College World Series appearance since 1999. The group has been closely guided by interim head coach Jason Jackson, who served as the team's pitching coach before assuming head coaching responsibilities in May.

The starters on the staff are a strong group, including a pair of 2022 MLB Draft picks in Garrett McMillan and Jacob McNairy and a first-year starter in Luke Holman who put the SEC on notice as a sophomore.

The difficulty in facing an opponent the caliber of Wake Forest is well established. For pitchers, it is multifaceted. In addition to the potent batting order of the Demon Deacons, David F. Couch Ballpark can play offensive.

Jackson touched on what his pitching staff needs to do to find success against the Deacs, despite the fact that Alabama's hurlers are effectively dealing with opposition on two different fronts.

"[Attacking] the strike zone is a big thing," Jackson said. "This ballpark's an offensive ballpark. The ball really flies. There's a short porch in straightaway right and left. I think there's going to be some home runs hit."

He said the key is getting ahead in counts and limiting free passes and baserunners.

"Wake, they've played in this ballpark all year, and we've seen their pitching numbers. They do a really good job of attacking, and going right at guys, and limiting free passes. There's probably gonna be a ball that goes out of the ballpark this weekend. You've gotta make them be solo home runs"

Above all, Jackson emphasized his team staying true to its identity as a way to sit down the Wake order and minimize the damage on the scoreboard.

"I want to see the guys go out and not change what we do, continue to do the things that we've done all year," he said. "Strike one, strike one, strike one —and get ahead."

"If we can do those things... I think we'll be in good shape."

Holman gets the ball first in the series. He will deal opposite Demon Deacons ace Rhett Lowder, whose 14-0 record (and ERA that begins with a one) stands out. The game has serious potential to be the second pitchers' duel Holman has been involved in during this tournament. The capable Alabama ace, however, is just one of multiple arms needing to stay consistent and deliver quality innings.

After all, everything is on the line.

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