The Alabama Crimson Tide traveled to Pensacola, Florida to face the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets Saturday afternoon at AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Yellowjackets emerged victorious with a 6-4win. Both teams utilized five pitchers and 14 position players during the exhibition contest. Alabama will conclude their preseason schedule with two seven-inning games against Birmingham University on Friday night, with the first game starting at 5 p.m. CT and admitting free public access.
Coming off their first College World Series appearance since 1997, the Tide are aiming to rebuild their roster after losing shortstop Justin LeBron, starting pitchers Tyler Fay and Zane Adams, and catcher/outfielder Brady Neal to the MLB draft. Additionally, catcher Johnny Lemm and outfielder Bryce Fowler departed via free agency.
Coach Rob Vaughn’s starting lineup included: 1) Coleman Mizell-DH, 2) Luke Vaughn-C, 3) Sam Christensen 1B, 4) Will Plattner-DH, 5) Jaser Arms-CF, 6) Evan Taylor-LF, 7) JoJo Williamson-3B, 8) Logen Devenport-RF, 9) Cooper Neville SS, 10) Griffin Rardin-2B. Senior left-handed pitcher Matthew Heiberger started on the mound. Both teams operated with ten-man lineups and flexible substitution rules similar to softball, with Alabama serving as the designated home team.
Heiberger allowed a two-out single and ground out while recording two strikeouts in the first inning’s top half. Georgia Tech starter Jackson Blakely shut down the Tide in order during the bottom half. In the second, Heiberger walked the leadoff batter before striking out and flying out. Tech shortstop Jordan Lodise drew a walk to load the bases, but Heiberger induced a flyout by Coleman Lewis to strand them. Evan Taylor recorded Alabama’s first RBI with a two-out single in the second.
In the third, Heiberger struck out and popped out before trouble arose when Kent Schmidt’s roller past second baseman Rardin reached on an error. Ryan Zuckerman then hit a solo home run over right field. Heiberger struck out Caleb Daniel to end his outing, having thrown three innings with three hits, two walks, five strikeouts, and two unearned runs.
The Tide responded in the bottom third with a lead. Devenport walked to start, and Rardin followed with a walk to load the bases. Both advanced on a wild pitch before Mizell delivered an RBI groundout. Vaughn doubled in the left-center gap to score Rardin, and Christensen singled in Vaughn for the lead. Plattner’s infield single scored Christensen from third, making it 3-2 before an outfield error ended the inning with Alabama ahead.
Myles Upchurch replaced Heiberger in the fourth and struck out the first two batters before allowing a single to Holden Painter. Neville made a spectacular play up themiddle to record an out. Taylor and Devenport both drew walks in the bottom half but were left stranded.
In the fifth, Coleman Lewis led off with a home run to tie the game. After two flyouts to center, Schmidt worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Zuckerman answered with another opposite-field home run, giving Georgia Tech a 5-3 lead.
Alabama rallied in the sixth when Plattner reached via single and advanced on Justin Osterhouse’s base hit. Taylor lined a second hit to put runners on second and third, and Zack Johnson’s sacrifice fly scored Plattner to make it 5-4. Devenport’s groundout ended the inning.
Freshman Wyatt Williams pitched two scoreless innings in the sixth and seven, walking two and striking out three. In the seventh, Rardin singled before a double play ended the threat. Zach Kittrell worked the eighth, allowing only a walk and strikeout. Vaughn reached on an error in the eighth but could not score the tying run.
