ATHENS, Ga. – Alabama fell to Georgia on Friday evening 7-1, using a two-out, ninth-inning home run by Georgie Salem to avoid being no-hit. With the loss, Alabama falls to 16-10 overall and 5-3 in SEC play.

“(Robert) Tyler pitched well,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said of Georgia’s starter. “You have to tip your hat. He sat at 94-97 the entire game with nice command. We just couldn’t figure him out. He’s a kid that pitched for Team USA and is probably the best arm in the conference right now. He’s a projected first-rounder, and he pitched like it tonight.”

Tyler worked nine innings, allowing one run on one hit while walking two and striking out nine. Alabama (16-10, 5-3 SEC) reached two runners on walks in the seventh, but faced the potential of a no-hitter entering the ninth. With two down and no one on, pinch-hitter Georgie Salem sent the first pitch he saw off the top of scoreboard in right field to put Alabama on the board.

Alabama starter Jake Walters worked six innings and allowed one earned run (three total) on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

The Bulldogs used the pair of errors to score two in the third to kick off the game’s scoring. In the sixth, a two-out single to center followed by a double to left plated one more for the Bulldogs and pushed the advantage to 3-0. Georgia added four runs in the eighth.

The two teams will meet Saturday to decide the series. Alabama will call on junior right-hander Nick Eicholtz, while Georgia has yet to name a starter. First pitch of the series finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.

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