Less than 160 miles separates Alabama’s premier universities in Auburn and Alabama, a distance that feels like nothing for a rivalry that’s spanned over a century. Team pride burns deep, even when the Iron Bowl is months away.
But Friday was a moment in time where both teams celebrated to the fullest extent.
The Crimson Tide and Tigers baseball programs won their series openers in memorable ways. Here’s how it happened.
Alabama’s Tyler Fay throws first solo no-hitter in 84 years
The SEC’s high level of talent and competition means there are no days off on weekends. Every contest resembles a heavyweight battle, and nothing comes easy.
Alabama’s right-handed pitcher Tyler Fay is the perfect example of that. He struggled in his conference opener on Mar. 13 against No. 21 Kentucky, giving up seven runs in as many innings, and prepared to face a 19-3 No. 18 Florida team on Friday.
And the redshirt junior did more than bounce back; he cemented himself in Crimson Tide history by throwing the program’s first solo no-hitter since 1942.
LEGENDARY! I
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB)
"It came on the heels at a time where I'll just call what it is, we really needed it," coach Rob Vaughn said to the media after the game. "Just a masterful effort, just completely smothered the strike zone, mixed pitches."
The righty completed his mission in 132 pitches, retiring 27 of the 29 batters he faced alongside 13 strikeouts and just two walks in the 6-0 win.
Fay was nearly untouchable in his sixth outing of the season, bobbing and weaving through the Gators' lineup with ease. UF’s only runner in scoring position came in the second inning after Fay’s pick off attempt to first skidded away, allowing Florida’s right fielder, Blake Cyr, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, to advance to second.
The Doniphan, NE. native proceeded to get the next batter to ground out, ending the frame, and never looked back. He struck out five of the next six batters he faced, the side and retired the fifth through a fly out or ground out — the only inning he didn’t record a punch out.
He struck out another in the sixth, fanned two in the seventh, and added two more in the eighth. Whatever pocket he found, Florida had no answer for it.
THE T-FAY GAME IS IN FULL EFFECT. I
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB)
The right-hander trotted back out to the mound for the final inning with 11 strikeouts and 121 pitches under his belt as the fans at Sewell–Thomas Stadium cheered him on. He struck out left-hander Jacob Kendall on a pitch low in the zone and climbed the ladder for the second punch out against pinch hitter AJ Malzone.
The Crimson Tide faithful rose to their feet and broke out into applause as Fay eyed the final out. On the third pitch of the at-bat, shortstop Brendan Lawson lined out to left, cementing his name in the history books.
Celebrating immediately with his teammates, Fay raced around the warning track to high-five Alabama fans and was met with a cooler dump during his postgame interview.
"These memories are what makes college baseball so special," Vaughn said. "Super proud of him, proud of our boys, and now the hard thing, and not to diminish it, but that's one game, right?"
Alabama will look to take the series in Game 2 on Saturday.
No. 5 Auburn walks off No. 2 Texas thanks to fielding error
A top-five ranked regular matchup is bound to produce fireworks and a popcorn-worthy affair, especially when it features two teams in the same conference. With the level of competition, mixed with the added pressure, neither team will go down easily.
No. 2 Texas and No. 5 Auburn’s series opener on Friday fit that description to the tee, birthing one of the craziest walk-offs of the college baseball season yet.
“That was definitely the game of my life,” left-handed starter Jake Marciano said to the media after the game. “I’ve never had that much fun in my life. I’m really happy to start off the series like that.”
It was a pitcher’s duel for the first eight innings, tied 1-1 and seven hits combined, but flipped on its head in the ninth.
The Longhorns center fielder Aiden Robbins broke the 4.5-inning tie, blasting a solo home run to left center, his second of the game. The junior quieted the crowd during his trot around the bases and stepped out of the dugout after celebrating with teammates to do the ‘horns up’ gesture.
AIDEN. ROBBINS. |
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball)
Texas added another run before the frame ended, taking a 3-1 ahead of Auburn’s last chance.
That’s when the magic happened.
Tigers right fielder Mason McCraine doubled to right center, first baseman Ethin Bingaman walked and designated hitter Lucas Steele singled to short to load the bases. And two batters later, center fielder Bristol Carter walked it off.
WHAT. A. FINISH‼️
— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball)
He hit a line shot past left-handed pitcher Ethan Walker into center, expected to score two, but went through Robbins’ legs and rolled all the way to the outfield wall. Before his relay made it to the infield, pinch runner Ty Thompson touched home plate to win the game, 4-3, and send Plainsman Park into a frenzy.
The victory improved Auburn to 19-2 and handed Texas its third loss of the season.
"I’ve never felt that way in my whole baseball career," Carter said to the media after the game. "We just battled. We passed it down to each guy and trusted one another. That’s exactly what we did, just go out there and compete. I was ready, and my name was called. It feels good."
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