GAINESVILLE, Fla.- No.18 Alabama (40-15, 16-14 SEC) falls on the road 9-2 in the rubber match game three against No.23 Florida (37-19, 15-15 SEC), resulting in the Tide dropping its final series of the regular season. 

Florida jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after infielder Bobby Boser and catcher Brody Donay both went yard with Boser’s home run coming at the first at-bat of the bottom of the first inning, and Donay’s homer came with two outs in the inning on a 0-1 pitch resulting in the Gators jumping ahead by two runs heading into the second inning. 

The Crimson Tide responded in the top of the second inning with a run of their thanks to an error by Florida’s second baseman, making it a 2-1 ball game going into the bottom of the second.

Florida came away with an added one-run lead in the bottom of the third inning when Gators right fielder Ty Evans jacked up the third home run of the ballgame for the Gators, making the score 3-1 going into the fourth inning after Evans sent a bomb over center field.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Gators got on the board once again, this time an RBI single from Florida’s third baseman Landon Stripling to drive home the Gators’ fourth run of the ball game, making it 4-1 going into the last four innings of the rubber match.

Alabama's starting pitcher for game three was Zane Adams, a sophomore left-handed pitcher. He pitched four innings, allowing four runs on six hits, three of which were home runs. Adams also recorded three strikeouts in Saturday's game-three loss.

Adams was replaced by reliever Austin Morris, who entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Gators scored its fourth run of the contest. Morris made an immediate impact by forcing a ground out from Alabama’s shortstop, Justin Lebron. He then retired the next batter, Evan, with a swinging strikeout, bringing the inning to a close and leaving the Gators with runners stranded on first and third base.

In the fifth inning, Alabama responded when Bryce Fowler knocked his second hit of the day, with his first hit of the game being a single in the top of the third inning. Fowler doubled to right center field to drive home Brennan Norton to make it a 4-2 ball game.

Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, the bottom half of the fifth inning saw the Tide’s defense have an error-filled inning, which resulted in the Gators coming away with a five-spot in the fifth inning. Florida managed to plate five runs on only two hits due to Alabama’s crucial fielding mistakes. This inning saw three Alabama pitchers: Austin Morris, Connor Lehman, and Aeden Finateri, with Morris and Lehman allowing five runs in the inning, while Finateri checked in to record the last two outs of the inning thanks to a pair of strikeouts.

Florida forced the Tide to go 1-2-3 at the top of the sixth inning, with the Gators going into the bottom half of the inning with a 9-2 lead. 

Alabama tacked on a run in the seventh inning with LeBron’s sac fly driving home Norton to make it a 9-3 game. This was the Tide’s shortstop’s 69th RBI of the season.

Florida secured game three on Saturday with a final score of 9-3, as neither team scored again.

Stat Leaders

• Hits- Bryce Fowler (2)
• Runs- Brennen Norton (2)
• RBIs- Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron (1)
• Strikeouts- Zane Adams (3)

Alabama might have lost its final series of the regular season, but the Tide still appears to be in a good position to host regionals. A win in the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, which starts on Tuesday, May 20, and concludes with the championship game on Thursday, May 25, would further strengthen the Tide's chances of hosting.

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