Alabama advances to take on Tennessee in SEC Baseball Tournament for first time since 1996
The Alabama Crimson Tide are still in the hunt for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, even if their hopes are slim. The Tide entered the 2021 SEC Tournament as the No. 10 seed, and on Tuesday in Hoover, they took on No. 7 seed South Carolina in a single-elimination game.
After there were no runs scored in the first 2 innings, the Tide busted things open in the top of the third with 6 runs, highlighted by a Jackson Tate 3-run home run. Prior to Tate’s home run, Owen Diodati delivered with a 2-run single. Catcher Sam Praytor also had 2 RBI in the game for the Crimson Tide.
They added 2 more runs in the top of the fourth and held a 9-3 lead going into the ninth inning. Thanks to Brock Guffey, that ended up being the final score, as well.
Tyler Ras started the game for Alabama, throwing 6 innings and allowing 3 runs. Then, Guffey came in and closed the door with 3 scoreless innings.
Now, Alabama advances to the double-elimination round, where it will meet No. 2 seed Tennessee for the first time in the SEC Tournament since the 1996 season. That game will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday on the SEC Network.
South Carolina is eliminated from the tournament and will now wait to learn its NCAA Tournament fate.