Next Game: at Samford 4/9/2019 | 6 p.m. CT ESPN+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – An extra-innings affair between Alabama baseball and South Carolina favored the Gamecocks, 5-4, as SC earned the Saturday victory in 12. Following the series finale, the Crimson Tide sits at 22-11 overall, 4-8 in Southeastern Conference play.

"It was obviously a really, really tough way to lose in a good college baseball game," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon . "I was really proud of the way our guys battled back after being down 4-0 in the second. Our bullpen was outstanding, putting up nine consecutive zeroes, which was huge and gave us a chance to get back in there. To their credit, (Brett) Kerry came in was outstanding. He just threw a bunch of strikes with all three of his pitches. South Carolina made some great defensive plays, and they were just able to do a little bit more than us."

The Crimson Tide was tasked with overcoming an early 4-0 deficit but was able to do so, scoring two in the third and two in the fifth to make it a 4-4 game after five innings. The Tide bullpen provided a commendable effort, keeping SC off the board from the third inning until the 12th. Alabama's relievers did not allow a hit from the fifth inning on, but a walk and two wild pitches in the final inning of play led South Carolina to the win.

Freshman reliever Brett Kerry (3-1) came away with the victory thanks to 5.2 scoreless innings of relief for the Gamecocks. Alabama's Deacon Medders (2-2) suffered the loss. The junior reliever tossed 3.0 frames and issued one walk while striking out four but was pinned with the SC go-ahead run.

South Carolina got out front first on Saturday, scoring two runs in both the first and second frames. The Crimson Tide was able to cut the lead in half in the third with a two-spot of its own. Alabama got things started with a one-out double from senior Joe Breaux . A hit-by-pitch in the next at-bat put two on for Keith Holcombe . The senior brought across both runners with a laser to the corner in right, making it 4-2 in favor of SC after three full.

The Crimson Tide knotted things up in the fifth, scoring two more to set things even at four. Freshman T.J. Reeves led things off with a single and was followed by a Breaux walk, putting two on to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the pair into scoring position and forced an SC pitching change. The new Gamecock reliever recorded the inning's second out, but Morgan McCullough made him pay in the next at-bat. The junior sent the first pitch he saw to right field for a two-RBI single to bring in tying the runs and set the score at 4-4.

The two teams were then held off the board for the remained of regulation, sending the game to extras. A walk and two wild pitches would bring in the go-ahead run for SC in the 12th with the Tide going in order in the final half inning. Alabama had the winning run in scoring position in both the ninth and 10th but was unable to come away with the Saturday victory and series sweep.

Next up for Alabama is a short trip up the road to Birmingham to take on Samford on Tuesday, April 9. The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch at Joe Lee Griffin Field with the game airing live on SEC Network+.

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