Alabama baseball loses to South Carolina on Saturday, but clinches its second SEC series of the season: scores and takeaways

Alabama baseball won its second SEC series of the season, after defeating the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks 4-3 on Thursday and 13-6 on Friday, but lost 9-8 on Saturday.

The finale included missed comeback from a 9-5 deficit going into the ninth.

No. 18 Alabama (21-7, 4-5 SEC) bounced back after getting swept by Georgia in Athens in its last conference series to continue its blazing start of the season at home with a 16-2 home record. The offense continued its dominance in the second game by scoring 13 runs, its highest in SEC play so far, while just four runs in the first and third games.

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MORE:Alabama baseball reaches Coaches Poll top 10 for the first time in 18 years

Here are three takeaways from Alabama's series against South Carolina (21-7, 5-4 SEC):

Pitching lifts Alabama on Thursday; Ben Hess starts hot but struggles late Friday

Alabama pitcher Zane Adams struggled to start on Thursday, giving up two earned runs and three hits in the first inning. He bounced back in his final three innings at the plate without allowing a run or a hit, finishing with four innings pitched, four strikeouts and two earned runs in his eighth appearance of the season.

Freshman pitchers Matthew Heiberger, Tyler Fay and Alton Davis II were terrific out of the bullpen and kept Alabama in the game the whole night on Thursday, which ultimately propelled them to the victory. All four pitchers combined for five innings, six strikeouts, and just five hits and a run allowed.

"Just a gritty win. I thought the story of the game was our freshman arms. I told our boys after the game that I wanted to be the grittiest team out there and I thought we went out and demonstrated that tonight," Alabama coach Rob Vaughn said on the team's victory Thursday.

Alabama ace Ben Hess started off his day on Friday with a no-hitter through four innings before giving up four earned runs in the fifth inning, allowing four or more runs in three straight starts. Hess ended his day with eight strikeouts, four walks, three hits, and four earned runs on four innings pitched. Hess did pick up his fifth pitching win, bringing his record to 5-2 on the mound this season.

Alabama offense comes alive late Thursday but early Friday

The Crimson Tide was hitless until the fourth inning on Friday, and recorded its second and third hits in the fifth inning while scoring its first run of the game from designated hitter Kade Snell on a wild pitch in the same inning. Alabama looked like its old self after that, scoring two more runs in the seventh inning off of RBIs by catcher Mac Guscette and outfielder TJ McCants to tie the game at three.

Alabama was able to score a run in the eighth inning from outfielder Evan Sleight on another wild pitch by the Gamecocks which ultimately sealed the victory for them on Thursday. The Crimson Tide recorded just two RBIs in the win.

Alabama had no problem getting runs on the board starting in the third inning on Friday with an RBI ground out by outfielder TJ McCants followed by a two-run single by outfielder Ian Petrutz and a two-run home run home run for outfielder Evan Sleight to give Alabama an early 5-0 lead. The Gamecocks were able to cut into the lead to tie it at six in the sixth inning until Alabama ultimately scored seven runs in the eighth inning from four different players to clinch its second SEC series of the season. The Crimson Tide totaled 13 runs in the game, its most in SEC play so far this season.

"We adjusted very well once we got into the eighth and our guys put together tremendous at-bats all around," Vaughn said.

Farone looks solid on the mound; Alabama nearly comes back on Saturday

Despite Saturday's loss, Alabama pitcher Greg Farone had another solid outing on the mound in his eighth start for the Crimson Tide, pitching 5 ⅓ innings, recording four strikeouts, a walk, five hits and three runs. Farone has not given up three or more runs in a start yet this season.

The Crimson Tide will look toward the likes of Farone in big moments now as the team announced that pitcher Hagan Banks will miss the remainder of the season.

The Crimson Tide scored four runs on six hits in the bottom of the ninth inning from some clutch hitting by third baseman Gage Miller, outfielder TJ McCants and pinch hitter William Hamiter, nearly coming back from down five going into the inning.

Up next

Alabama will play Samford in Birmingham on April 2, as its midweek contest. The Crimson Tide's next SEC series will be against Kentucky in Lexington starting with game one on April 5.