Alabama Swept in SEC Opener At No. 21 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, KY. — Alabama suffered a series sweep in its SEC opener over the weekend against No. 21 Kentucky, with the Tide’s late-inning rally falling short in game three’s loss to the Wildcats on Saturday.

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Kentucky dominated the first six innings of this game, with the Wildcats holding the Crimson Tide hitless until the seventh inning. Kentucky’s starting pitcher for game three was Nate Harris, who had an incredible outing. The Illinois native recorded six hitless innings, with the only hit allowed coming in the seventh inning, shortly before his day came to an end. The sophomore right-handed pitcher finished the day allowing one hit, two runs, and striking out five batters after throwing a total of 97 pitches.

The Wildcats’ offense took advantage of the Crimson Tide’s hitting drought, scoring game three’s first run in the bottom of the second inning when first baseman Hudson Brown launched a solo home run over right field to make it a 1-0 game going into the third inning.

In the very next inning, Kentucky tacked two more runs onto the scoreboard after second baseman Tyler Bell ripped a single to right-center field, driving home two runners to expand the Wildcats’ lead to three runs going into the fourth inning.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Brown picked up his second RBI of the game with a single to center field. Shortly after, right fielder Ryan Schwartz knocked an RBI single to right field to make it a 5-0 game going into the sixth inning.

Alabama’s Myles Upchurch started today’s game on the mound but had a lackluster performance in his first SEC start. The freshman right-hander scattered three hits (one home run), allowed three earned runs, walked five batters, and recorded two strikeouts over three innings before being pulled in the fourth. After Sunday’s loss, Upchurch’s record is now 3-2 on the season.

Alabama finally found some life on offense in the top of the seventh inning when third baseman Jason Torres recorded the Tide’s first hit of the game, a double to left field. Team captain Will Plattner then picked up an RBI single down the left field line, bringing Torres home from third base. Bryce Fowler followed with a crucial single to left-center field, bringing in Plattner. Plattner’s run was originally called an out, but the call was overturned after Rob Vaughn reviewed it, allowing the Tide to score their third run of the inning and keep the rally alive. Justin Lebron then delivered an RBI single in his very next at-bat, cutting Kentucky’s five-run lead down to just one run going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Unfortunately for Alabama, they weren't able to add another run to the board. Kentucky added an insurance run to its lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when shortstop Luke Lawrence knocked an RBI double to right-center field to make it 6-4, which remained the score for the rest of the game.

Alabama falls to 15-6 on the season and 0-3 in SEC play as they drop their first SEC series of the season. The Crimson Tide will be back in action on Tuesday, March 17, when they face South Alabama in Mobile, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.

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