Alabama Defeats UT, 11-3, in Game One of Doubleheader

Saturday, March 26

Tuscaloosa, AL

3:00 PM

University of Tennessee

13-9, 1-4

Alabama

15-7, 4-1

Tennessee

Alabama

March 26, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

March 26, 2016

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Tennessee worked five innings of one-hit, scoreless baseball against No. 22 Alabama, but the Crimson Tide came back to score 11 runs after the sixth en route to an 11-3 win in Game One of Saturday's doubleheader at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Game Two of Saturday's doubleheader between Tennessee (13-9, 1-4 SEC) and Alabama (15-7, 4-1) is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) live on the SEC Network, with VFL and former UT Baseball All-American Chris Burke joining Dave Neal on-air for the series finale in Tuscaloosa.

Hits were scarce to begin Game One, as Tennessee and Alabama stood toe-to-toe with just one hit for each squad through four innings. While the Vols combined for eight hits, Alabama used late-inning rallies to shower 11 runs on 10 hits in the contest.

After four scoreless frames, Tennessee took advantage of a bases loaded situation in the fifth to get on the boards first. Designated hitter Leno Ramirez (1-for-2) led off with a double into the left field corner before Jared Pruett (0-for-2, BB) and Max Bartlett (0-for-2) reached base safely, loading the bases for a Derek Lance (0-for-2, RBI) sacrifice fly to make is 1-0 for UT.

Tennessee put together a two-out rally in the sixth to extend their lead over UA. Jordan Rodgers (2-for-4) began the frame with a two-out single up the middle. Ramirez then took first via hit-by-pitch before Benito Santiago (1-for-4, RBI) ripped a ball through the left side, scoring Rodgers from second.

Using three free passes and two key hits in the gaps in the sixth, Alabama came from behind to go on top, 4-2. The Tide then scratched seven runs across in the seventh inning to further their advantage to 11-2.

Tennessee put together a string of hits and scored on a bases loaded walk in the ninth, but the late rally ended with a ground ball to second to make it an 11-3 final.

Senior Andy Cox worked 5.0 solid innings before the sixth, facing no more than four batters in each frame against Alabama and allowing just two hits during that span. But a stretch of three consecutive walks to load the bases for a three-run double by UA's Cody Henry ended the outing for Cox.

Righthanders Jon Lipinski (1.1 IP) and Hunter Martin (1.2) were called upon in relief, but were tagged with a combined seven runs over 3.0 innings in the loss.

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