TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For the second time Sunday, the Alabama baseball team received a complete game in an elimination game.
Alabama’s second complete game came from junior left-hander Taylor Guilbeau that helped second-seeded Alabama beat third-seeded Kennesaw State 4-1 at Dick Howser Stadium.
Alabama (37-23) and Kennesaw State (39-22) will play at 11 a.m. today in the championship game of the NCAA tournament Tallahassee Regional. The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN3, but may also be carried on one of the ESPN networks.
“Similar to the same message after game one today, guys have to step up right now and I don’t know if we’ve had anyone like (Taylor) Guilbeau step up for us tonight,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said. “It was his first start this year and he responded with a complete game effort. He threw 126 pitches and that’s just stepping up for his team. I can’t say enough about his outing today and what he brought to our team.”
After Geoffrey Bramblett threw his first career complete-game in a 6-0 shutout of Georgia Southern in an elimination game in the morning, Guilbeau threw his first complete game in the evening game. Guilbeau allowed a run on five hits and six walks. He struck out five. Guilbeau’s longest outing before Sunday was six innings against Vanderbilt on April 21, 2012.
En route to snapping the Owls’ nine-game winning streak, Alabama had its 30th game of the season with at least 10 hits. Mikey White was 2-for-4 with a run scored, Ben Moore was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Kyle Overstreet had two singles. Casey Hughston had a two-run double, Georgie Salem had an RBI double, and Austen Smith had an RBI and scored a run.
“We have a different energy, and it started with the won over FSU yesterday,” Gaspard said. “It relaxed our guys and we’re really in a good place. I’m excited about the game tomorrow.”
n Alabama 6, Georgia Southern 0: Geoffrey Bramblett threw a complete-game shutout Sunday afternoon to lead second-seeded Alabama past fourth-seeded Georgia Southern.
“When you get in that losers’ bracket, certain guys have to step up, and today Geoffrey Bramblett was outstanding on the mound,” Gaspard said. “He gave us just what we needed and that was a complete game and had a tremendous
outing.”
Bramblett (5-2) picked up his first career postseason win by posting his first career complete game. He allowed two hits and two walks and struck out seven. At one point during the game, Bramblett retired 14 straight batters, and 18 of the first 19 batters he faced.
Ben Moore led Alabama’s nine-hit day by going 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs, a walk, and a run scored. Mikey White was 1-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, and Georgie Salem was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Wade Wass, Austen Smith, Kyle Overstreet, and Casey Hughston singled, and Chance Vincent had an RBI and scored a run.
Georgia Southern used six pitchers, as starting pitcher Will Jackson (3-3) took the loss. He allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two. Five relievers gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks and struck out four.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.