Crimson Tide firing on all cylinders
After
winning two mid week games against Grambling State, Arkansas (11-7, 1-2) brings
a 3 game winning streak into this weekend’s series against SEC opponent Alabama
(14-6, 2-1). The Crimson Tide took 2 of
3 from Kentucky to open conference last weekend in Tuscaloosa. Their schedule has been a favorable one so
far this season as they have only been tested once against No. 5 Louisiana
Lafayette. Though it was a big test, Alabama
lost the series 2-1 with two shut outs.
Alabama
is hitting a modest (.274) on the season but has been hot at the dish lately
while winning 10 of their last 11 games since playing ULL. During that time against lesser opponents
they are hitting .315, averaging over 11 hits per game, with 20 doubles and 9
of their season’s 13 total home runs. Arkansas’
staff will have their hands full against a confident lineup coming into this
series.
The
Tide are led offensively by senior first baseman Austen Smith who is hitting
.381 with 2 home runs, 4 doubles, 17 RBI, and 14 runs scored. He has a balanced 10 to 7 strikeout to walk
ratio and has an on base percentage of .449 while slugging .540. Second on the team in average is sophomore
center fielder Georgie Smith (.326).
Smith leads the team with 28 hits including 4 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI
and has stolen 4 bases in 5 attempts.
Freshman designated hitter Will Haynie is making an impact in his first
season hitting .298 on the season with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 8 RBI while
slugging .468.
The
pitching staff on this Alabama squad will bring in a 1.77 ERA against Arkansas’
1.82. Opponents are hitting only .182
against them with 166 strikeouts in 183 innings. The Tide will start three juniors but have
three freshmen relievers that have been stellar on the young season. RHP Spencer Turnbull (2-1, 0.31) will start
Friday. He has given up only 1 earned
run in 29 innings, striking out 26 batters and issuing 15 walks. Opponents are hitting only .141 against him
in 5 starts. Justin Kamplain will get
the ball for Saturday’s day game. The
righty is 2-2 on the season in 5 starts with 30 strikeouts to only 9 walks in
27 innings. Jon Keller (4-0, 1.63) will
make his third start of the season in the finale. In 5 appearances this season, Keller has
pitched 27.2 innings, allowing 5 earned runs on 18 hits, 3 walks and 19
strikeouts.
Alabama
has several options out of the bullpen, but few have been as efficient as
freshman RHP Nick Eicholtz (1-0, 1.12).
Eicholtz has pitched 24 innings, given up 3 earned runs, and struck out
24 batters. LHP Thomas Burrows (3-0)
leads the team in appearances (7) and has yet to give up an earned run over 11
innings. The reigning SEC freshman of
the week has struck out 12 and walked 3 while allowing only 1 hit. RHP Geoffrey Bramblett has given up only 1
earned run over 11.1 innings with 12 strikeouts, and junior RHP Tucker Hawley
has chewed up 14.2 innings with 2 earned runs allowed, 13 strikeouts and 4
walks. Not one pitcher mentioned above
has an opponent average above .196.
It
is hard to predict which Alabama team will show up. Will it be the one that is tearing up the
ball and keeping it off opponents’ sweet spots?
Or will it be the team that went on the road to a quality opponent and
got shut down for two games? Either way
Arkansas has a large order in lowering the Tide’s momentum.
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