Late Rally Not Enough as Baseball Falls, 10-7, to Columbia on Friday

Friday, March 10

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m.

Alabama

14-1

Columbia

3-5

Columbia

Alabama

Late Rally Not Enough as Baseball Falls, 10-7, to Columbia on Friday

3/10/2023 10:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Highlights Postgame Press Conference

The Tide pulled to within three and had the winning run at the plate but would get no closer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball fought until the final out but came up short in a 10-7 loss to Columbia on Friday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The 18^th-ranked Crimson Tide move to 14-1 on the season.

Despite trailing from the second inning on, Alabama never stopped battling. The Crimson Tide traded runs with the Lions all night and headed to the ninth down four. Alabama was able to plate one in the final frame and had the bases loaded with two down, but a difficult over the shoulder catch on the run by the Columbia shortstop went for the last out and the 10-7 final.

Alabama's offense recorded multiple home runs in the game, this time from Will Hodo and Caden Rose. Hodo finished with a team-high three hits and four RBI to go with a run scored, while Rose added an RBI, two runs and a walk to his line.

Columbia starter Andy Leon (2-1) got the win, allowing two runs on six hits across 5.0 innings pitched. Justin Tucker picked up the save for the Lions, working the final 0.2 of an inning. Alabama starter Grayson Hitt (2-1) suffered the loss.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

"For as well as we played the first 14 games of the year, we were every bit as bad tonight. It was a really poor effort from our club. Give Columbia credit – we made mistakes and they did a really good job of making us pay for them. They got some big hits when they needed and executed some things offensively, made some nice defensive plays, and that's the story of the game."

How It Happened

T2 | A walk followed by a triple brought in the game's first run. A wild pitch in the next at-bat then allowed the man from third to score. (2-0, Columbia)
B3 | Tommy Seidl singled and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. He would come across to score one out later on an RBI-single from Will Hodo (2-1, Columbia)
T4 | The Lions walked and singled to put two aboard, with a double then scoring one and putting a pair in scoring position. A 4-3 groundout in the next at-bat plated one more and moved a man to third. After a second out was recorded, the Lions doubled to bring across another run in the frame. (5-1, Columbia)
B4 | Caden Rose lined a ball off the scoreboard in left for a solo home run. (5-2, Columbia)
T5 | A pair of walks put two on before a double steal resulted in a UA throwing error that allowed a runner to score and moved the other runner to third. After a walk, a 6-3 groundout helped the man from third cross. (7-2, Columbia)
T7 | The Lions added to their lead, scoring twice on a wild pitch and an RBI-single in the frame. (9-2, Columbia)
B7 | Ed Johnson led off with a walk before a Colby Shelton double put two aboard. Hodo cleared the bases in the next at-bat with a three-run home run to cut into the CU advantage. (9-5, Columbia)
T8 | Hayden Schott recorded a solo home run to widen the gap. (10-5, Columbia)
B8 | With a runner at second and two down, Johnson tripled off the wall in left to add a run. (10-6, Columbia)
B9 | Shelton led off the inning with a walk before advancing to third on a 4-1 groundout and a wild pitch. A walk to Andrew Pinckney put two on for Drew Williamson, with the senior singling over the first baseman to score one. (10-7, Columbia)

Postgame Notes

Alabama's 14-game winning streak came to an end. It ties for the second-longest winning streak to start a season in program history, matching the 2020 team. The all-time record for wins to start a season is 15 by the 1997 roster.
The 14-game streak also ties for the fifth-longest winning streak at any point in a season. The 14-game streak has occurred only once, coming by way of that 2020 team.
Grayson Hitt matched his career-high for strikeouts with eight in tonight's start. He struck out eight on two previous occasions including this season's opener against Richmond on Feb. 17.
The Crimson Tide totaled 12 hits and has posted double-digit hit totals in 13 of 15 contests.
Alabama has homered in all 15 games of the 2023 campaign while producing multiple home runs in 11 contests.
Will Hodo homered in tonight's game after hitting a home run on Tuesday at Samford. It marked the first time the sophomore has hit a homer in back-to-back games during his career.
Hodo has reached base safely in last 13 games played.
Caden Rose has reached base safely in his last 32 consecutive games dating back to April 25.
Drew Williamson has gotten aboard in all 15 contests to start his graduate season. Including the final game of last season, Williamson has gotten aboard in 16 straight games.
Jim Jarvis got aboard in tonight's game and has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 21.
ATTENDANCE: 2,867

The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT for game one of a doubleheader. Alabama will look to sophomore right-hander Ben Hess while Columbia counters with junior lefty JD Ogden. Game two of the day will start 45 minutes after the final out of the first contest. Fans can catch both matchups on SEC Network+.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabmaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.