Alabama vs. Nicholls State updates, Troy beats BC

Alabama’s set for its first home NCAA baseball regional in 17 years, just a little later than expected. An extended rain delay in Troy’s 11-10 win over Boston College pushed the start of Alabama-Nicholls State to approximately 9 p.m. CT in the first Tuscaloosa Regional game since 2006.

Alabama (40-19) will face the Southland Conference champs after a thrilling win for the Trojans saw BC bring the game-winning run to second only for a groundout to end it. Troy will face the winner of Alabama-Nicholls State at 8 p.m. CT Saturday. Keep it here for updates from Tuscaloosa.

Live score: Nicholls State 3, Alabama 3

Seventh inning

• Top: A leadoff homer from Wes Toups cleared the right field wall and it’s Nicholls State 3, Alabama 2. The next three struck out but damage was done.
• Bottom: It’s tied again on a line shot down the left field line by Guscette. It’s now Alabama 3, Nicholls State 3 with one out.

Sixth inning

• A lead-off triple from Alvarez was followed by a sac fly to right and it’s Nicholls State 2, Alabama 1 with one out. The Tide avoided further damage but every run matters in this one.
• A leadoff double by Rose was followed by a sac-bunt by Jarvis. A ground-rule double by Williamson made it Alabama 2, Nicholls State 2. After walking the bases loaded, Mayers was relieved on the mound by Galy. He went 5 2/3 innings with 8 Ks, 3 BBs and 3 hits. Alabama left the bases loaded and the game tied to end the sixth.

Fifth inning

• Top: An outfield assist from Pinckney to cut down Coddou at second was the highlight of the inning for Alabama.
• Shelton led off with a triple down the right-field line and there’s life in the Joe. That ended the no-hit bid. A sac fly from Johnson made it Alabama 1, Nicholls State 1. That was driven to deep left center but the ballpark held it. The Tide might be catching up to the speed here.

Fourth inning

• Top: Holman struck out two and is up to five through four innings but the one second-inning homer is the difference so far.
• Bottom: Whew, Mayers is bringing it. He finished off two strikeouts that inning with offspeed pitches right around 80. He has 6 Ks through four with the walk to Pinckney representing the only Alabama baserunner.

Third inning

• Top: Washington led off with a double to right center moved him to third. But a grounder to Holman and a foul out to first ended the inning.
• Bottom: Alabama goes down in order. NSU starter Jacob Mayers is throwing mid-90s heat on practically every pitch. Impressive performance so far.

Second inning

• Top: A two-out home run was crushed down the right field line for MaCrae Kendrick to make it Nicholls State 1, Alabama 0. Holman worked out of trouble with a strikeout to end the inning with runners on second and third.
• Bottom: Andrew Pinckney led off with a walk. He then stole second and took third on an error. The inning ended on an excuse-me swing to third from William Hamiter and a great throw to first.

First inning

• Top: Luke Holman worked around a two-out hit-by-pitch to escape unharmed.
• Bottom: That was an impressive first inning for Nicholls State pitcher Jacob Mayers. The righty, who entered with a 1.91 ERA, struck out two and threw gas. No score after one.

Game 1: Troy 11, Boston College 10

The decision to intentionally walk the potential-game-winning run into scoring position wasn’t too hard, Troy coach Skylar Meade said. That batter, Joe Vetrano, had hit two monster home runs in his previous three at-bats and the decision paid off.

Boston College’s Nick Wang grounded into a game-ending fielder’s choice to preserve a wild 11-10 win for Troy. It was a fourth straight regional-opening win for Troy, the lower-seeded team Friday.

Boston College loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth facing a two-run deficit. Troy’s Tremayne Cobb’s solo homer in the top of the ninth proved crucial as a sac fly brought the Eagles within a run. A line drive to the second baseman was the second out before the Trojans walked slugging Vetrano. He’d hit two shots over the batter’s eye before Meade opted to walk him.

Troy will play the winner of Alabama-Nicholls State at 8 p.m. CT Saturday.