How rain delays have powered Alabama baseball's run in SEC Tournament
With the SEC Tournament, comes three things for certain – dominant performances, Cinderella stories and rain delays. Coach Brad Bohannon's Alabama baseball team has experienced all three in just two days of play at the Hoover Met this week.
Entering the tournament, Alabama needed at least two or three wins in Hoover to earn to an NCAA Tournament bid. After a 4-3 victory over Arkansas on Wednesday, its chances have improved.
Alabama baseball has weathered consecutive rain delays to advance to the third day of play after a 5-3 win over sixth-seeded Georgia on Tuesday followed by the win over third-seeded Arkansas.
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The Crimson Tide's opener against Georgia lasted longer than five hours after a roughly two-hour delay. The start of the Arkansas game was delayed several hours from its original start time due to the backed-up schedule and more morning rain.
"All the pitchers were meeting before the game, it got pushed back, getting to the field, all of that got pushed back," said junior pitcher Antione Jean. "So I would say not trying to overthink the situation, just chill with the guys, do what you can do to get ready, and once it's time to go, it's time to go."
During Tuesday's delay, several Alabama players relived their travel baseball days with Jimmy John's sandwiches, while catcher Will Portera, was seen throwing the ball around with young fans to pass the time.
“The players deserve all the credit. I really didn’t have to do anything," Bohannon said Tuesday. "I really feel that after the Friday game against Arkansas (to start the finale series of the regular season), you just felt a different level of looseness within our team."
Reach Max Wolborsky at Mwolborsky@gannett.com or follow @wolbnotwoj on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball's run in SEC Tournament fueled by rain delays
