Photo Credit: rolltide.com
It was indeed a battle. One that saw the Crimson Tide clinch the weekend series against Auburn in their own house on Saturday in a 7-6 win that saw the lead change hands three times. Alabama improves to 27-24 overall and 10-16 in the SEC.
Alabama head baseball coach Mitch Gaspard said, "It feels good to get the
win, but I'm more pleased with the way our team played and responded
with their backs to the wall. Offensively, I thought we were really good. We showed good resolve
when they regained the lead; we were able to come right back and answer,
and that is a good sign for our group."
The Crimson Tide will be trying for a sweep tomorrow at 1 PM CDT. Alabama will start sophomore righty Geoffrey Bramblett in game three. Auburn will start junior right-hander Dalton Rentz.
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Men's Basketball
It appears Avery Johnson, Jr has started packing.
Shortly after his arrival at the University of Alabama, new head basketball coach Avery Johnson said his son would not be transferring to UA but would instead stay at Texas A&M. According to a report by AL.com, that has changed and Junior will be coming to Bama after all. He is currently a junior at Texas A&M.
Seeing limited duties for the Aggies this past season, Johnson Jr. averaged 1.4 points.
The once deep guard position was quickly decimated after the transfers of Ricky Tarrant and Devin Mitchell.
Johnson Jr. must sit out one season because of NCAA rules, and will join the team for the 2016-17 season.
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Women's Tennis
Photo Credit: rolltide.com
The 13th-ranked University of Alabama women's tennis team was upset by the No. 21 Clemson Tigers 4-2 on Saturday in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Championship at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. The Crimson Tide closes out the dual match season with an 18-8 record. Clemson (18-9) advances to the round of 16 hosted by Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Clemson got off to a fast start in doubles, taking a court one battle that featured two of the top five doubles pairings in the country. The Tiger's No. 4 Beatrice Gumulya/Jessy Rompies handed No. 1 Erin Routliffe/Maya Janses just their second loss of the season, defeating the Tide's top duo by a final score of 8-2.
In a marathon doubles contest that lasted nearly 90 minutes, the Tide and Tigers saw both the court two and three matches reach 7-7 and extend into a tiebreaker. No. 57 Luicelena Perez/Danielle Spielmann -- playing on court two -- trailed in their tiebreaker when Clemson's Joanna Eidukonyte/Daniela Ruiz defeated Emily Zabor and freshman Aryn Greene by a final score of 8-7 (9) to secure the opening point.
Clemson now advances to their tenth Sweet 16 in the team's last 12 seasons.
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Women's Golf
Photo Credit: rolltide.com
The Alabama women's golf team will advance to its 10th consecutive NCAA Championships after tying for fourth in the NCAA Raleigh Regional. In the final round on Saturday the Crimson Tide shot 11-over par 299 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Club in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Of the top six finishers in the regional, who also advance to the championships, three are from the Southeastern Conference. Besides Alabama, South Carolina and LSU will advance.
The Crimson Tide makes the trip to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in school history, including ten out of ten seasons with head coach Mic Potter leading the team. Bama has finished in the top 10 for the past five years, which includes the NCAA National Championship in 2012.
Head coach Mic Potter said yesterday, "Not the best golf we have ever played, but we advanced and that was the key today. I'm really proud of Cammie (Gray) and Lakareber (Abe). They got par and carried us us throughout the round. We made a couple of big mistakes on the 16th hole today and that cost a chance at finishing second. We have to get those cleaned up before NCAAs if we want to be competitive, but you have to get there first, and we were able to do that today."
It was top-seeded South Carolina taking the win with a 13-over 877. Northwestern was second at 21-over par 885. North Carolina State finished also at 877, then Bama at 24-over 888. It was LSU at 888, then Campbell at 892. These six advance to NCAA Championships at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida coming up May 22-27.
