COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Alabama baseball team fell, 12-6, to No. 19 Texas A&M in a back-and-forth contest Thursday evening at Blue Bell Park.
Alabama (21-14, 5-8 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the third, but the Aggies used two runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to take the 4-3 advantage. The Crimson Tide recorded three runs in the sixth, but A&M answered again, this time with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh to move in front. 7-6. Texas A&M would add five more in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach.
Texas A&M reliever Cason Sherrod (3-1) got the win with Nolan Hoffman recording his sixth save of the season. Alabama reliever Dylan Duarte (3-2) suffered the loss, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing three runs – only one earned – on three hits while adding two strikeouts.
The Alabama offense totaled 10 hits on the night with seven of the nine starters tallying at least one knock. Junior Keith Holcombe led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Chandler Avant, with the senior finishing 2-for-4 with his team-high 11th double of the season while adding one walk. The two-hit night was Avant’s team-leading 17th multi-hit effort of the season.
Alabama will look to even things up on Friday night in game two of the series in College Station. The Crimson Tide will send senior right-hander Jake Walters to the mound while the Aggies will counter with righty Mitchell Kilkenny, a junior. Friday’s contest is slated for a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network+.
