Crimson Red Sports

All SEC series are Thurs-Fri-Sat this week because the SEC Tournament begins next Tuesday. Vandy has been almost unbeatable this year. We need to get one game in this series to help our NCAA seeding. Winning two game would be even better. A Vandy sweep, which most experts expect, would put pressure on us to win a game or two in the SEC Tournament next week.


http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051513aaa.html

I hope they can keep the scores respectable and you never know, they might just pull one out.

IMO our best chance is low scoring games like 2-1 or 3-2. Vandy will have good pitching. They have all year. We need to match their pitching and not allow many runs and maybe we can get out of Nashville with a win.

Game 1 of the series is off to a bad start. Vandy hit two out two run HR's in both the 1st and 2nd innings to take a 4-0 lead.

Vandy is batting in the bottom of the 6th with a 6-1 lead.

We sure gave it a 'Valiant' effort...

" Vanderbilt built a six-run lead through the first four innings and then held on for a 7-6 victory over Alabama on Thursday night.

The Tide (31-23, 13-14) trailed 7-2 going to the ninth inning. After a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases, leadoff hitter Kenny Roberts hit a grand slam to left field to cut the deficit to one.

But Vanderbilt retired the next two batters to end the game."

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/05/16/2506434/kenny-roberts-ninth-inning-grand.html

Bama gave a good effort but came up a run short in Game 1. We really need to win at least one game in this series.

The barn beat Arky last night so they are only 1 1/2 behind us. I want them to finish well behind us. I don't want the 1/2 game (the game that was called for rain when we were ahead of A&M 4-0) to be the difference.

Game 2 first pitch is 6:30 tonight.

Alabama wins Game 2 5-4 in 10 innings.

Wow, that is a huge win for this team and it was on the road. #+

That was a good win on the road. Our RPI went from 40 to 30 since we arrived in Nashville. We play at 1:00 this afternoon.

Another win today would sure help their seeding status for the NCAA tournament.

It would also take the pressure off of them in the SEC Tournament.

Our players must have some good talent if they beat Vandy. I have read where Vandy was a good team. Taking another game today would at least give us the win. So we would be feeling kind of nice. RTR!

After one inning in Nashville there is no score.

Tyler Guibeau pitching for Bama. 

Vandy has their ace on the mount who is 13-0 on the year with a 1.69 ERA.

Bama gets a 2 out single by Smith and he promptly stole 2nd. Booth hits a double to score the run. Bama leads 1-0 with Vandy coming to bat in B2.

Guilbeau was flawless in the first but can not throw strikes in the second. He walked the first 4 batters. Vandy has tied the game at 1-1 without a hit. Jon Keller is coming in to pitch with bases loaded and no outs.

Walks.  >:(

Vandy gets 7 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks to take a 7-1 lead. We used 3 pitchers in the inning. Tucker Hawley is now pitching.

Bama coming to bat in T3.

Bama is battling back. We got 5 runs in the 4th to close the gap. Vandy now leads 7-6.

Vandy coming to bat B4.

Hawley sitd Vandy down in order in the 4th.

Vandy leads 7-6 with Bama batting in T5.

Neither team scores in the 5th.

Bama coming to bat in T6. Vandy leads 7-6.

Alabama had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs and could not score in T6.

Vandy still leads 7-6.

Kenton Haack in to pitch for the Tide.

Bama wants to win the game but CMG also appears to be saving his pitching for the SEC Tournament that starts on Tuesday.

Vandy has another big inning scoring 5 runs to increase their lead to 12-6.

Vandy has score 12 runs on 7 hits, 7 walks and 2 HBP. Nine free passes is the reason we are behind in this game. We are out hitting Vandy 10-7.

Bama coming to bat in T7.

Bama continues to battle getting 3 runs in the 7th. Vandy now leads 12-9.

Vandy batting in B7.

Vandy now leads 14-9. Bama coming to bat in the 9th.

Bama loses to Vany 14-10.

We out hit Vandy 14-9 but 11 free passes were too much to overcome. Vandy gave us 7 free passes. Tide radio man Chris Stewart said the umpire was hard to please. I don't think I have ever seen 18 free bases in one game.

It looks like we will be the # 7 seed in the SEC Tournament. If that stands we will play # 10 Auburn on Tuesday around 1:00. We will be the second game with the opener starting at 9:30.

We went into the Vandy series with a RPI of 40. We won one game and our RPI improves to 28. That was a big win. Both experts expected Vandy to sweep us. Now we need to havie a good SEC Tournament.

I always thought the Tide likes playing in B'Ham. Right or wrong?

Under Jim Wells we owned the SEC Tournament in B'ham winning it 6 times. The SEC crowds are much larger when Bama plays.