Next Game: Jacksonville State 2/18/2019 | 4 p.m. CT SEC Network+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball split its Saturday doubleheader with Presbyterian at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide fell in game one, 4-1, before a 9-4 win in the nightcap against the Blue Hose. With the game-three victory, UA claimed the series win and improved to 2-1 overall on the young season.

"It was a long day," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon . "The first game, I have to give Presbyterian credit. They did a good job of putting good swings on pitches. We scored a couple of runs and hit some balls right at them in opportune times.

"With that said, I was proud of how our guys responded in game two. (Presbyterian) put runs up early, and we responded with runs in the first and second. I was glad to get a lot of guys in the game this weekend, and I felt like it was a good starting point for our group."

Alabama will remain at home for its next contest on Tuesday, Feb. 19, against Jacksonville State. The Tide is then set to take on Alabama State the following day for a Wednesday pairing. Both games are set for 3 p.m. CT first pitches on SEC Network+.

GAME ONE

Alabama suffered a 4-1 loss in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Crimson Tide struck first in the top of the second with a solo home run from sophomore Sam Praytor , his second in as many games. Presbyterian countered with a solo shot in the top of the third to even things up. The Blue Hose then added one run in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to secure the victory.

Presbyterian starter Jake Rice (1-0) earned the win while Crimson Tide reliever Deacon Medders (0-1) suffered the loss with Colton Springs securing the save.

GAME TWO

The nightcap went in favor of Alabama with the Crimson Tide using five runs across the first and second innings to take a lead and never look back. The Tide added four more runs across the sixth, seventh and eighth innings while limiting PC to only a single score in the top of the eighth.

Alabama's offense produced nine runs on 11 hits, led by Kolby Robinson's second three-hit performance of the weekend. The junior shortstop finished 3-for-4 with a team-high tying two RBI and added one run scored. Matching Robinson in RBI was Keith Holcombe , with the senior tallying a pair thanks to his two-run home run, part of a 2-for-4 effort at the plate.

Freshman Connor Shamblin (1-0) earned the win in his first career start, working 4.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts compared to one walk. Jeremy Randolph collected his first save of the young season with 1.1 innings of shutout baseball, highlighted by three punchouts from the senior reliever.

Presbyterian struck first in game two, using a pair of hits in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Tide answered with three runs in the home half. Senior Joe Breaux led off the game with his third double in as many games and would come around to score one out later on a Presbyterian fielding error that allowed junior Morgan McCullough to reach. McCullough then crossed one out later when Holcombe cleared the bases with a two-run home run to give UA a 3-1 lead after one.

The Blue Hose evened the score with a pair of runs in the top of the second, but, once again, the Tide countered. Alabama plated two for a 5-3 lead after two, using a leadoff walk from freshman Drew Williamson to start the rally. Fellow freshman Tyler Ras followed with an RBI-double to left to put UA out front once again. An infield single from Robinson moved Ras to third before a 6-4-3 double play allowed the freshman to score.

Alabama's arms then kept Presbyterian off the board until the eighth, allowing the offense time to build on the Tide lead. In the sixth, UA added a pair to make it a 7-3 contest. Sophomore Sam Praytor led off the inning with a walk, helping the Tide eventually loaded the bases with one down. A two-run single to left from Robinson with the bases packed crossed two more to widen the Alabama advantage to four.

In the bottom of the seventh, McCullough led things off with a single before putting himself into scoring position with a stolen base. An infield single from Holcombe advanced McCullough to third before a sacrifice fly from freshman T.J. Reeves brought in the Tide's final run for an 8-3 lead.