The Alabama Crimson Tide faced off with the Florida Gators in the third round of the SEC Tournament this afternoon. The Tide received a strong effort from starting pitcher Dylan Smith but could not provide the pitcher with enough run support to threaten the Gators. Florida defeated Alabama 7-2 to stay unbeaten in Hoover and send Alabama into the loser's bracket.

Smith was able to give the Crimson Tide a seven-inning outing he struck out six batters and gave up four runs on nine hits. Smith's runs given up came off a solo home run in the sixth inning and three runs in the seventh off three hits, including a second home run.

Florida's junior pitcher Franco Aleman deserves the credit for shutting down the Crimson Tide offense today. The starter gave the Gators seven innings of work, striking four and allowing just five hits while issuing one walk.

The Florida pitching and defense was so strong today that the Tide only managed to put a runner on third base safely just twice.

Brad Bohannon opted to use Jake Eddington in relief of Smith in the eighth inning and the freshman pitcher gave up three runs to put the Florida lead out of reach. Eddington recorded a strikeout and a walk in his outing while giving up the three runs on five hits.

The Crimson Tide could only muster seven hits at the plate today, sensational sophomore Peyton Wilson got on board three times on three singles but his teammates were unable to advance him around the diamond. Rightfielder Andrew Pinckney surprised at the plate with two hits of his own. Jim Jarvis recorded the teams only RBI in the ninth inning.

Alabama was able to get two hits and got on board with a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the game's final frame but it was not enough of a rally to force extra baseball.

Alabama will take on the Tennessee Vols in its next matchup in the tournament on Friday. The two sides played an 11-inning grinder on Wednesday that went the Tide's way 3-2. The loser of the game will be eliminated from the SEC Tournament. The game is of extra importance to the Tide as Alabama sits squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Alabama and Tennessee will get underway at 10 a.m. CT to attempt to avoid inclement weather. The game will be televised on SEC Network and can be heard locally on Tide 100.9 FM.

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