BOL Round Table

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama dropped the middle game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series to the Tennessee Volunteers, 4-2, on Sunday from Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Due to a weather delay on Saturday, the game was suspended and completed on today.

Alabama (9-18, 1-7 SEC) had opportunities to put runs on the board in each of the three innings on Sunday, but could not get a big hit to even the score. Alabama left a runner on second in the seventh, runners on the corners in the eighth and had runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth. UA collected 12 hits, but could only produce two runs. The Tide left 14 runners on base in the game, getting just one hit in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Drew Steckenrider kept the Tide off the scoreboard for 3.2 innings to get the win for Tennessee (17-10, 4-4 SEC) and improved to 3-0 on the season. Steckenrider allowed three hits with a walk and four strikeouts, before giving way to Nick Blount for the ninth. Blount allowed two singles to start the ninth, but retired the next three hitters to record his second save of the series and fifth of the season.

Justin Kamplain (1-2) took the loss for Alabama, after allowing all four runs to the Vols in the fourth inning. Kamplain gave up seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Josh Rosecrans threw the final 2.2 innings for UA, allowing no runs on one hit with a walk, a strikeout and two hit batters.

The Crimson Tide and Volunteers will play a seven-inning game to complete the series this afternoon. Tennessee also won the opening game by a 10-8 score on Friday night.

Alabama took a 1-0 lead when Brett Booth hit his second home run of the season to lead off the third inning. The Crimson Tide added another run later in the inning, when Jared Reaves scored on a groundout by Austen Smith.

Tennessee scored all four of its runs in the fourth inning. An RBI double by Davis Morgan drove in Zach Luther from first, then a two-RBI single by Chris Fritts gave Tennessee a 3-2 lead. The fourth run of the inning came across on a sac fly by Zach Osborne for a 4-2 Vols lead.