Alabama Gymnastics Finishes Sixth At NCAA Championships
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| Alabama Gymnastics Captures Sixth Place NCAA Championships Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
The Oklahoma Sooners captured its second-consecutive national title (fourth overall) with a score of 198.375, while the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators ended the night in second and third, respectively. The UCLA Bruins were fourth, followed by Utah with a fifth-place finish. The Southeastern Conference wound up with half of the final six at the Championships.
With the sixth-place finish, the Crimson Tide is the only team in the nation to finish in the top-six nationally each of the last ten years. Overall, Bama has now notched 33 top-six NCAA finishes.
UA gymnastics head coach Dana Duckworth said, "You have to look at all the good things. We are here. We gave our heart and soul. Team 43 has had quite a journey. I am very proud of how far we came. We are one of the top-six teams in the country."
Alabama junior Kiana Winston led the Crimson Tide to a 49.325 on the floor exercise from her anchor position with a 9.925. Bama then closed things out with a 49.1625 on the vault led by a trio of 9.85s from sophomore Abby Armbrecht, senior Katie Bailey and junior Nickie Guerrero.
Duckworth continued, "Starting off the way we did, creating such a deep hole, at that point when we went into the locker room, I just said, 'It's not how we start, it's how we finish, so let's go out there and represent the script A by being classy and doing our very best on the last two events.' They gave all they had on the last two events."
It was the first two events that gave Bama the problems to start the night. The Tide scored a 48.8875 on the uneven bars to open the meet, led by senior Keely McNeer's 9.9. That was followed by a 48.625 on the balance beam, led by Guerrero's 9.9.
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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Tennessee Softball Defeats Alabama On Saturday
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
UA picked up its only runs in the contest in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run triple by Sydney Booker, but runs by Tennessee (38-5, 10-3 SEC) in the sixth and seventh would give the Volunteers its 17th-straight win, as well as break a three-game winning streak by the Tide over Tennessee. Losing pitcher for the Tide was Alexis Osorio (18-5), tossing 146 pitches over 6.0 innings, allowing three three earned runs on five hits while Caylan Arnold (17-4) went the distance for Tennessee in the victory. Following Osorio, Bama put Madi Moore in, followed by Sydney Littlejohn, then Moore finishing once again on the mound.
Game two is set for 6 p.m. CT this evening in Knoxville, with the game being broadcast live on the SEC Network.
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Crimson Tide Baseball Falls To Texas A&M
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Alabama head baseball coach Greg Goff said, "I'm really proud of the way or guys went out there today and competed. I love the resiliency of these players and what they're doing. I thought those were the best two-strike at-bats (in the ninth inning) we've had all year with Cobie (Vance) and Chandler (Taylor)."
Crimson Tide starting pitcher Nick Eicholtz put together his best start of the season. Eicholtz pitched 6.0 innings of scoreless baseball, limiting the Aggies to just one hit while issuing four walks and striking out a season-high six batters. Through the middle innings, he put down 12 in order and tossed 13 consecutive outs at one point before working himself out of a jam in the sixth to close out his part in the contest.
Goff continued, "Nick's start today [Saturday] was a big plus for us. He's fought through some injuries and hasn't had the start to this season that he wanted to, but he told me last week that he was going to finish strong. I'm just really proud of the way he continues to go out there, compete and give our team the chance to win."
Eight of the Crimson Tide's nine starters recorded at least one hit, as Bama finished with 11 total hits on the afternoon. Vance led UA once again with a career-high tying four hits in five at-bats, including one double, and adding a run scored. Avant finished one-for-four with his double in the ninth, as both he and Vance each extended their hitting streaks. Avant has now hit safely in 10 consecutive games, as well as eight straight SEC pairings, while Vance is right behind with a hit in nine consecutive games and seven SEC contests.
Alabama next faces Alcorn State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Tuesday, April 18th. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CT.
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Alabama-Texas A&M Postgame Press Conference
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| Click HERE to view press conference via Tide TV |
