SCORE: Alabama 4, Missouri 3
RUNDOWN: Alabama’s Casey Hughston gave the Crimson Tide an early 1-0 lead, but Missouri took a 3-1 lead midway through, getting a two-run bloop double from Brett Peel in the fifth and an RBI single from Trey Harris in the sixth.
Alabama battled back, getting a two-run single from Cody Henry in the sixth and a long home run to left from catcher Will Haynie in the seventh to break a 3-3 tie.
Taylor Guilbeau (3-6) got the win and Thomas Burrows got his seventh save. Tanner Houck (8-5) pitched a complete game to take the loss for Missouri.
CLUTCH MOMENT: Missouri had a runner on second with one out in the seventh. Alabama pitcher Taylor Guilbeau was tiring, but he got a strikeout. Then after a walk, he induced a flyout to Missouri’s No. 2 hitter Jake Ring and keep the game tied at 3-all.
DIAMOND MVP: Give Alabama catcher Will Haynie credit. He’s got 80 strikeouts this season, a school record, but hasn’t quit and has gotten his share of clutch hits this season. His home run in the seventh was the farthest home run of the SEC Tournament so far.
ACE OF THE GAME: Alabama pitcher Taylor Guilbeau threw seven innings of six-hit, three-run ball. Two runs came off a bloop.
COACH SPEAK
“The key today was really simple. Taylor gave us a good start and the bullpen was really good on the back end once we took the lead. Offensively we did enough. Hughston got the big double to get us started, then Cody got the big two RBIs to get us going, then Haynie hits the bomb.” – Alabama’s Mitch Gaspard
“They played very well at the end of the season, which is tough for any team to do, but especially that is on the road as much as them. They earned the win.” – Missouri’s Tim Jamieson
PLAYER SPEAK
“He kind of got it on my hands the previous two at-bats so I backed off the plate and I knew he was going to attack with fastballs. I got a good pitch up in the zone and put a good swing on it.” – Alabama catcher Will Haynie on his game-winning home run.
“I just try to go out there and compete for these guys so that they’ll compete back for me.” – Alabama pitcher Taylor Guilbeau
WHAT’S NEXT: Missouri is eliminated and is 30-28. Its season may be over. Alabama, now 32-27, plays in an elimination game Friday at 3 p.m. against today’s loser of Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
