Sunday, April 2, 2017

Bama Baseball Bests Arkansas; Alabama Baseball Coach Greg Goff Press Conference; Watch Tide Baseball Highlights In Win Over Arky; Alabama Softball Defeats Missouri; Crimson Tide Men's Tennis Splits A Pair On Saturday; Nick Saban Boasts Highest Approval Rating Among All SEC Football Coaches; Alabama Track & Field Finishes Strong At Florida Relays




Bama Baseball Takes 7-1 Win Over Arkansas


Photo Credit: UA Athletics


TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – After falling to the Arkansas Razorbacks 7-1 just one day before, the University of Alabama rode the arm of starting pitcher Dylan Duarte to pick up a 7-1 victory in game two of the three-game Southeastern Conference series with the Hogs. Duarte pitched 8.1 innings of one-run baseball, and the Crimson Tide paired that with two big innings from the Bama bats to propel the Tide over the 21st-ranked Razorbacks on Saturday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson lads move to 13-14 on the season and 2-6 in SEC play.

UA head baseball coach Greg Goff was indeed pleased with the contest, saying, "That's the best I've seen any of (our starters) look this year. That was awesome to watch. Dylan (Duarte) had a lot of courage and competitive spirit, and I was really proud of him. People don't see the practices and development; this guy has bought in to what we've asked him to do, and he's got his body into great shape. Early in the year, he was getting three to four innings and now you see that his hard work has paid off. For him to get to almost 120 pitches [last night] is amazing against a really good Arkansas team."

Duarte (2-1) picked up his second win of the season with a career-long 8.1 innings. The sophomore allowed just one run on six hits with no walks, as well as pitching four strikeouts with a career-high 116 pitches. Davis Vainer came on in relief for Bama in the ninth to preserve the Alabama win.

Seven of the nine Tide starters collected at least one hit in last night's game. The Bama offense got multi-hit efforts from Hunter Alexander, Cody Henry and Tanner DeVinny in the contest. Alexander was two-for-four with one RBI and a season-high two runs scored. Tonight's contest marked Henry's 10th multi-hit game of the season, tying him for the team lead with a two-for-four performance with one RBI and two runs scored. DeVinny finished with a two-for-three evening that included one RBI, one walk and a run scored. DeVinney's SEC hitting streak is now up to six games.

With last night's victory the Crimson Tide evens the series with the Hogs at one game apiece.

Today's game will be the decider. Alabama will call on right-hand pitcher Nick Eicholtz for the start, while Arkansas will put righty Josh Alberius on the mound to start. The game will air live on the SEC Network.

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Alabama Baseball Coach Greg Goff Presser
Following Tide's 7-1 Win


Click HERE to watch press conference via Tide TV

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Watch Alabama Baseball Highlights
Following Saturday Night's Win Over Arkansas


Click HERE to watch highlights from Saturday's game

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Alabama Softball Defeats Missouri 9-3


Photo Credit: UA Athletics


COLUMBIA, Missouri – The Bama bats were pounding last night. Really banging out hits...and home runs. In fact, four home runs, including three off the bat of Peyton Grantham, led the University of Alabama Crimson Tide to a 9-3 win over the Missouri Tigers on Saturday to even the weekend series.

Alabama (32-5, 8-3 SEC) rebounded from the previous day's shutout loss with a nine-run deluge on Saturday, the Tide's second-highest output in Southeastern Conference play so far this season. It was Peyton Grantham garnering six of the team's nine RBIs, knocking three home runs for a three-for-three day. The three homers tie a single-game record at Alabama, marking just the third time in Crimson Tide softball history a player has hit three home runs in a game. Jaclyn Traina previously did so as a freshman against Western Michigan back on February 26, 2011 and Marisa Runyon hit three back nearly two years ago on May 2, 2015 against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Though the Tigers (19-14, 2-5 SEC) out-hit the Crimson Tide 8-7, Missouri left six batters on base, including five in scoring position. Sydney Littlejohn (13-1) pitched the entire game for the win while Missouri starter Madi Norman (7-7) took the loss, leaving the contest after only 2.2 innings with six runs allowed. Danielle Baumgartner pitched 4.1 relief innings.

The series final game is set today for a noon CT start on Sunday, April 2 in Columbia.


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Crimson Tide Men's Tennis
Splits A Pair Of Matches On Saturday


Photo Credit: UA Athletics


TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama men's tennis team split a pair of matches on Saturday with Jackson State on Saturday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. The Crimson Tide shutout Jackson State 4-0 to start the action, but lost a 4-3 decision to the 21st-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. Bama moves to a 9-14 overall record, 1-8 in Southeastern Conference play. Alabama collected five singles wins and four doubles victories on the day.


Alabama 3, No. 21 South Carolina 4

SINGLES
1. No. 35 Mazen Osama (Alabama) defeated No. 59 Gabriel Friedrich (South Carolina) 7-6, 6-0
2. No. 88 Harris O'Keefe (South Carolina) defeated No. 105 Thibault Cancel (Alabama) 6-1, 6-1
3. Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) defeated Andrew Schafer (South Carolina) 7-5, 7-5
4. Yancy Dennis (South Carolina) defeated Spencer Richey (Alabama) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Paul Jubb (South Carolina) defeated Zhe Zhou (Alabama) 7-6, 7-6
6. Alex Fennell (South Carolina) defeated Ritchie Kruunenberg (Alabama) 6-3, 6-2

DOUBLES
1. No. 40 Mazen Osama/Spencer Richey (Alabama) defeated No. 47 Yancy Dennis/Harrison O'Keefe (South Carolina) 7-5
2. Sam Swank/Alex Fennell (South Carolina) defeated Thibault Cancel/Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-4
3. Zhe Zhou/Edson Ortiz (Alabama)  defeated Gabriel Friedrich/Andrew Schafer  (South Carolina) 6-4

Alabama 4, Jackson State 0
SINGLES
1. No. 105 Thibault Cancel (Alabama) vs. Alawi Andrey (Jackson State) 6-3, 4-1, DNF
2. Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) vs. Joan Sanson (Jackson State) 6-1, 6-1
3. Spencer Richey (Alabama) vs. Fritz Jacobs (Jackson State) 6-3, 3-4, DNF
4. Ritchie Kruunenberg (Alabama) defeated Stylianos Gkontsaris (Jackson State) 6-3, 6-0
5. Langford Hills (Alabama) defeated Federico Mendeita Ruiz (Jackson State) 6-4, 6-0
6. Hayes Brewer (Alabama) vs. Vishu Prasad (Jackson State) 4-6, 2-3, DNF

DOUBLES
1. Mazen Osama/Thibault Cancel (Alabama) defeated Alawi Andrey/Federico Mendeita Ruiz (Jackson State) 6-1
2. Ritchie Kruunenberg/Spencer Richey (Alabama)  vs.  Ryan Swanier/Fritz Jacobs (Jackson State) 3-2

3. Langford Hills/Hayes Brewer (Alabama) defeated Stylianos Gkontsaris/Vishu Prasad (Jackson State) 6-2


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Nick Saban Boasts Highest Approval Rating
Among All Southeastern Conference Football Head Coaches



University Of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban
Highest Approval Rating Among SEC Coaches
Photo Credit: UA Athletics


According to an SEC Country poll, University of Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban tops the list of Southeastern Conference coaches, as far as approval by fans is concerned. The SEC Country Head Coach Approval Rating shows Saban outdistancing his closest "competitor" by nearly six points with a 97.2 approval rating. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is that "second place" coach, still in his "honeymoon" phase by-the-way, with a 91.4 approval rating.

Oh, and Auburn's Gus Malzahn sits at a 57.6 approval rating, but still isn't in last place. That honor goes to Kevin Sumlin or Texas A&M with a 54.7 rating.

Here is a look at how all the football head coaches stacked up in the poll conducted for SEC Country by reporter Connor Riley:

  1. Nick Saban, University of Alabama: 97.2

  2. Ed Orgeron, LSU: 91.4

  3. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State: 89.0

  4. Jim McElwain, Florida: 85.0

  5. Mark Stoops, Kentucky: 84.7

  6. Will Muschamp, South Carolina: 83.7

  7. Kirby Smart, Georgia: 75.7

  8. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt: 75.5

  9. Barry Odom, Missouri: 67.7

10. Bret Bielema, Arkansas: 66.6

11. Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss: 65.9

12. Butch Jones, Tennessee: 60.2

13. Gus Malzahn, Auburn: 57.6

14. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M: 54.7





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Alabama Track & Field 
Finishes Strong At Florida Relays


Photo Credit: UA Athletics


Here is what University of Alabama track & field head coach Dan Waters had to say following the Florida Relays this weekend:

"We had some very good performances again [Saturday]. We did about what we expected for this time of the season. We competed well and still worked on the technical aspects of our events, which is what we need to be doing right now. If we continue to do that, it will pay off later in the season."

Here's a look at how University of Alabama student-athletes fared individually and as a team during Day 3 of the Florida Relays:


Men's Event Summaries – Florida Relays- Day 3

Finals
Sprint Medley Relay – The team of junior Terry Jernigan, sophomore Skyler Bowden and seniors Steven Gayle and Jacopo Lahbi won the men's sprint medley relay in a time of 3:18.00.
Distance Medley Relay – Freshmen Patrick Grant and Noah Karr, senior Andrew Harris and freshman J.P. Brinyark finished third in the men's distance medley relay in 10:03.98.
Invitational Discus – Sophomore Kord Ferguson finished third in the men's discus with a season-best mark of 189-1 (57.64m). Senior Joe Williams finished eighth with a season-best mark of 185-11 (56.67m). Senior Hayden Reed competed but did not record a clean attempt.


Alabama Series
Ferguson – 189-1 (57.64m); 189-1 (57.64m); Foul; Foul; Foul; Foul
Joe Williams 181-7 (55.35m); 185-11 (56.67m); Foul; 183-0 (55.79m); Foul; Foul
Reed – Foul; Foul; Foul

High Jump – Freshman James Williams competed in the men's high jump but did not record a clean jump.


Alabama Series
James Williams 1.95m (xxx)

Pole Vault – Sophomore Will Herrscher finished second in the men's pole vault at 17-5 ½ (5.32m), a personal-best and the second-best mark in school history. This marks the second time in two weeks Herrscher has improved the No. 2 clearance in the Alabama record book. He cleared 17-1 ¾ (5.22m) at the Florida State Relays on March 24. Freshman Henry Barrett and sophomore Jake Zalesky both cleared 15-1 ¾ (4.62m) and finished 18th and 19th, respectively. The clearance is a personal-best for Barrett.


Alabama Series
Herrscher – 4.47m (Pass); 4.62m (Pass); 4.77m (Pass); 4.92m (Pass); 5.07m (o); 5.22m (o); 5.32m (xxo); 5.42m (xxo); 5.52m (xxx)
Barrett – 4.47m (o); 4.62m (xo); 4.77m (xxx)
Zalesky – 4.47m (xo); 4.62m (xo); 4.77m (xxx)

Shot Put – Senior Nathan Karr finished fifth in the men's college shot put with a season-best mark of 56-4 ½ (17.18m)


Alabama Series
Nathan Karr 56-4 ½ (17.18m); 52-9 ¼ (16.08m); Foul; 55-1 (16.79m); 55-3 ¾ (16.86m); 56-4 ½ (17.18m)

Invitational Shot Put – Junior Kord Ferguson finished sixth in the men's invitational shot put with a mark of 59-11 ¼ (18.27m). Senior Hayden Reed finished seventh at 58-6 ½ (17.84m). Senior Kyle Felpel competed in the event but did not record a clean throw.


Alabama Series
Ferguson – 59-6 ¼ (18.14m); Foul; 59-7 (18.16m); Foul; Foul; 59-11 ¼ (18.27m)
Reed – 57-0 ¾ (17.39m); 58-6 ½ (17.84m); Foul; Foul; Foul; Foul
Felpel – Foul; Foul; Foul



Women's Event Summaries – Florida Relays- Day 3

Finals
Sprint Medley Relay – The quartet of sophomore Janel Pate, seniors Domonique Williams and Brianna Sims and sophomore Kristyn Williams finished third in the women's sprint medley relay in a time of 3:55.92.
4x100-Meter Relay – The team of seniors Vanessa Clerveaux and Diamond Gause and freshmen Symone Darius and Takyera Roberson finished sixth in the women's 4x100-meter relay in 43.59, the second-fastest time in school history.
Shot Put –In her first meet of the outdoor season, junior Haley Teel finished eighth in the women's shot put with a mark of 52-8 ¼ (16.06m), the eighth-best throw in school history.


Alabama Series
Teel – Foul; 52-8 ¼ (16.06m); Foul; Foul; Foul; Foul




Florida Relays
Saturday April 1, 2017

Alabama Results

Men
Finals
Sprint Medley Relay – 1. Alabama (Terry Jernigan, Skyler Bowden, Steven Gayle, Jacopo Lahbi), 3:18.00
Distance Medley Relay – 3. Alabama (Patrick Grant, Noah Karr, Andrew Harris, J.P. Brinyark), 10:03.98
Invitational Discus – 3. Kord Ferguson, 189-1 (57.64m) (SB); 8. Joe Williams, 185-11 (56.67m) (SB); NM. Hayden Reed
High Jump – NM. James Williams
Pole Vault – 2. Will Herrscher, 17-5 ½ (5.32m) (PB); 18. Henry Barrett, 15-1 ¾ (4.62m) (PB); 19. Jake Zalesky, 15-1 ¾ (4.62m)
Shot Put – 5. Nathan Karr, 56-4 ½ (17.18m) (SB)
Invitational Shot Put – 6. Kord Ferguson, 59-11 ¼ (18.27m) (SB); 7. Hayden Reed, 58-6 ½ (17.84m) (SB); NM. Kyle Felpel



Women
Finals
Sprint Medley Relay – 3. Alabama (Janel Pate, Domonique Williams, Brianna Sims, Kristyn Williams), 3:55.92
4x100-Meter Relay – 6. Alabama (Vanessa Clerveaux, Diamond Gause, Symone Darius, Takyera Roberson), 43.59
Invitational Shot Put – 8. Haley Teel, 52-8 ¼ (16.06m) (SB)




Alabama Superlatives- Florida Relays/Stanford Invitational

School Records

Men
10,000 Meters- Alfred Chelanga, 28:04.95



School Top-10 Performances

Men
Javelin- 6. McLean Lipschutz, 222-2 (67.72m)
Javelin- 9. McLean Lipschutz, 217-5 (66.27m)
400 Meters- 4. Steven Gayle, 45.40
Hammer Throw- 2. Elias Hakansson, 231-9 (70.64m)
Hammer Throw- 8. Elias Hakansson, 227-0 (69.21m)
10,000 Meters- 3. Antibahs Kosgei, 28:35.79
Pole Vault – 2. Will Herrscher, 17-5 ½ (5.32m)



Women
Hammer Throw- 4. Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m)
Hammer Throw- 6. Danielle McConnell, 199-11 (60.95m)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – 8. Hannah Waggoner, 10:21.12
10,000 Meters- 8. Hannah Capek, 34:50.72
4x100-Meter Relay – 2. Alabama (Vanessa Clerveaux, Diamond Gause, Symone Darius, Takyera Roberson), 43.59
Shot Put – 8. Haley Teel, 52-8 ¼ (16.06m)

                                                                                                         
Personal Bests

Men
Hammer Throw- Jacob Beene, 196-6 (59.89m)
5,000 Meters- Andrew Bull, 14:45.49
5,000 Meters- Garrett Bull, 14:51.41
400 Meters- Steven Gayle, 45.40
5,000 Meters- Conner Thompson, 14:19.39
10,000 Meters- Alfred Chelanga, 28:04.95
10,000 Meters- Antibahs Kosgei, 28:35.79
Pole Vault- Will Herrscher, 17-5 ½ (5.32m)
Pole Vault- Henry Barrett, 15-1 ¾ (4.62m)



Women
100 Meters- Symone Darius, 11.51
Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase- Jessica Gray, 11:01.51
10,000 Meters- Hannah Capek, 34:50.72



Season Bests

Men

Hammer Throw- Jacob Beene, 196-6 (59.89m)
Javelin- Will Edwards, 198-0 (60.36m)
Javelin- McLean Lipschutz, 222-2 (67.72m)
5,000 Meters- Andrew Bull, 14:45.49
5,000 Meters- Garrett Bull, 14:51.41
400 Meters- Steven Gayle, 45.40
800 Meters- Jacopo Lahbi, 1:47.98
800 Meters- Andrew Harris, 1:55.08
Hammer Throw- Elias Hakansson, 231-9 (70.64m)
1,500 Meters- Payton Ballard, 3:50.54
1,500 Meters- Josh Short, 3:51.01
5,000 Meters- Conner Thompson, 14:19.39
10,000 Meters- Alfred Chelanga, 28:04.95
10,000 Meters- Antibahs Kosgei, 28:35.79
Discus- Kord Ferguson, 189-1 (57.64m)
Discus- Joe Williams, 185-11 (56.67m)
Shot Put- Nathan Karr, 56-4 ½ (17.18m)
Shot Put- Kord Ferguson, 59-11 ¼ (18.27m)
Shot Put- Hayden Reed, 58-6 ½ (17.84m)
Pole Vault- Will Herrscher, 17-5 ½ (5.32m)
Pole Vault- Henry Barrett, 15-1 ¾ (4.62m)



Women
110-Meter Hurdles- Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.39
100 Meters- Symone Darius, 11.51
100 Meters- Olivia Fotopoulou, 11.73
400 Meters- Alex Gholston, 52.79
400 Meters- Domonique Williams, 53.82
400-Meter Hurdles- 22. Kaitlin Walker, 1:01.16
Pole Vault- Lakan Taylor, 13-9 1/4 (4.20m)
Hammer Throw- Danielle McConnell, 201-2 (61.33m)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase –Hannah Waggoner, 10:21.12
3,000-Meter Steeplechase – Nicole Gardner, 10:51.84
3,000-Meter Steeplechase- Jessica Gray, 11:01.51
10,000 Meters- 8. Hannah Capek, 34:50.72
Shot Put –Haley Teel, 52-8 ¼ (16.06m)



PB- Personal best
SB- Season best
SR- School record
NB- National best
NM- No mark
NH- No height
DNF- Did not finish
DNS- Did not start
Q- Qualified for final with heat win
q- Qualified for final on time

*All Statistics & Information supplied by rolltide.com