Florida knocks Bama out of SEC tourney
Alabama scored three runs in the second inning to take a lead, but the Tide couldn’t hold on and fell 5-4 to Florida on Thursday afternoon in the SEC tournament.
The loss ended Alabama’s season at 32-26.
The Tide was behind 1-0 to start its second inning. Will Haynie had a one-out single. After another out, Chance Vincent singled.
Daniel Cucjen sent a double down the third-base line to score Haynie and Vincent. Hunter Webb (Russell County High) followed with a double to knocked in Cucjen for a 3-1 lead.
Webb went 5-for-11 in Alabama’s three games in the tournament.
But the Gators scored three of their own in the top of the fourth. Bama tied the game in the seventh as pinch-hitter Connor Short drove in a run.
Florida scored the winning run in the eighth.
Alabama will wait to hear if it receives an invitation to the NCAA tournament. Those selections will be announced Monday.
Texas A&M 4, South Carolina 1
Brigham Hill allowed only one unearned run in seven innings and Texas A&M beat South Carolina 4-1 Thursday in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Aggies (42-14) will face the Vanderbilt-Mississippi loser on Friday. The Gamecocks (42-15), losers of eight straight SEC tournament games, await their NCAA regional fate.
Hill (8-1) struck out eight batters while allowing five hits and three walks.
Texas A&M scored three runs in the second inning, including RBI hits from Michael Barash, Jonathan Moroney and Nick Banks. The Aggies didn’t score again until the ninth when Banks singled, went to third on a throwing error and scored on Austin Homan’s single up the middle. Banks also made a leaping grab at the wall to prevent a home run and end the game.
Moroney was 3 for 4 at the plate. South Carolina starter Braden Webb pitched 6-2/3 innings and allowed three runs.
ACC
Florida State 6,
Georgia Tech 1
John Sansone and Dylan Busby each hit two-run homers to help Florida State beat Georgia Tech 6-1 in Thursday’s pool play at the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament.
Jackson Lueck went 3-for-3 at the plate for the fourth-seeded Seminoles (36-19), who improved to 2-0 in Pool A. Reigning champion Florida State finished with 10 hits, while Cole Sands (5-6) took the win after allowing one run over five innings.
Cal Raleigh had an RBI single in the first and Sansone’s homer pushed the lead to 4-1 in the third, while Busby’s homer increased the lead in the seventh.
Kel Johnson had a sacrifice fly in the first for the ninth-seeded Yellow Jackets (36-22). Zac Ryan (3-3) took the loss after allowing four runs in 3 2/3 innings. Florida State returns to action Saturday against top-seeded Miami, while Georgia Tech faces fifth-seeded North Carolina State on Friday.
Clemson 5, Virginia 4
Chase Pinder’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth scored the go-ahead run and lifted Clemson past Virginia 5-4 on Thursday at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
Mike Triller hit a two-run home run to help the sixth-seeded Tigers (39-18) begin pool play with a victory.
Daniel Pinero and Matt Thaiss homered for the third-seeded Cavaliers (36-19), with Thaiss’ solo shot in the eighth tying it at 4.
The defending national champions had the tying run on second base with one out in the bottom of the ninth on a single by pinch-hitter Kevin Doherty, who advanced to second on a throwing error. Pat Krall got Cameron Simmons to pop out and Ernie Clement to line out to shortstop Eli White to end it.
Krall (9-1) worked two innings of relief to earn the win. Losing pitcher Tyler Shambora (5-1) gave up one run on two hits.
This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Florida knocks Bama out of SEC tourney."