Next Game: Ball State 2/24/2019 | 12:20 p.m. CT SEC Network+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball rallied late, but was unable to complete the comeback in an 8-5 loss to Ball State that started on Saturday and was completed on Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide moves to 4-2 on the young season.

Alabama entered the ninth down four and rallied for a run but could not complete the comeback. A leadoff double followed by three walks brought in one tally and put the go-ahead run at the plate. On a 2-0 count, the Tide saw a deep fly ball reach the warning track but fall short of leaving the ballpark to end the day's game in favor of BSU.

Ball State reliever Mike Pachmayer (1-0) earned the win with announced Sunday starter Kyle Nicolas entering for the Cardinals for the final two innings of relief to get the save. Alabama freshman Tyler Ras (0-1) suffered the loss.

Two hits in the top of the first got Ball State on the board to give the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. One inning later, BSU added four runs in the top of the second for a five-run advantage. Alabama rallied for one in the home half of that second, using a leadoff home run from sophomore Tyler Gentry to make it a 5-1 game through two.

Alabama put a dent into the lead in the bottom of the fifth to set the score at 5-4. Senior Joe Breaux led things off with a walk and was followed by a Brett Auerbach single and Morgan McCullough walk with the juniors joining Breaux on the packed bases to force a Ball State pitching change. The reliever immediately walked senior Keith Holcombe to cross one and issued a free pass to Gentry in the next at-bat to bring one more in. Junior John Trousdale followed one out later with a fielder's choice to push the runner from third home and cut the lead to one.

The gap would widen once again with Ball State adding two more in the top of the sixth for a 7-4 advantage. Following a scoreless bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, the game entered a weather delay. The delay lasted 1:47 on Saturday with the game being postponed to Sunday. Sunday's contest resumed at 11:02 a.m.

The two teams went scoreless until the ninth when BSU added one run to make it an 8-4 affair. Alabama would not go quietly with Auerbach leading things off with a double to give the Tide life. One out later Holcombe drew a walk and following one more out another free pass, this one to freshman Drew Williamson , loaded the bases. Following a mound visit by Ball State, senior John Trousdale added another walk in the frame and crossed one for UA. Pinch-hitter Sam Praytor came to the plate and watched two balls before sending a deep fly to the warning track in right that was cut and ended the game at 8-5.

Game three of the series began at 12:20 and will air live on SEC Network+.

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