SEC Friday baseball recap: Alabama, Diodati stop streaking Vols; Smith and Arkansas blank LSU, more

Here's what happened in the SEC's seven Friday baseball games.

Owen Diodati photo courtesy of Alabama athletics.

Alabama snaps Tennessee’s historic streak

Alabama’s Owen Diodadi smashed two home runs and Jim Jarvis hit another, as Alabama snapped Tennessee’s historic 12-game unbeaten streak to start conference play with a 6-3 win at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville on Friday night.

Crimson Tide starter Garrett McMillan went 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs in picking up a win, while Dylan Ray finished with 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the save. 

Alabama (23-12, 8-5) roughed up Tennessee starter Chase Burns for five runs (four earned), with all three home runs coming against the Vol freshman. The Vols had nine hits, the biggest being Jorel Ortega’s home run.

After a 31-1 start, the Vols have lost two straight after a mid-week loss to Tennessee Tech in a game played in a minor league park with wooden bats. 

Smith helps ‘Hawgs blank LSU

Freshman Hagen Smith threw seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts as Arkansas defeated LSU, 4-0, on Saturday.

Chris Lanzilli, Michael Turner and Zach Gregory all homered for the Razorbacks (27-7 10-4). 

LSU starter Blake Money allowed four runs (all earned) in 6 2/3 innings but got no support from the Tigers’ (23-11, 7-7) offense, which got just three singles and three walks. 

The Razorbacks are a game and a half ahead of Alabama in the Western Division standings. 

Vanderbilt opens series with home win over Florida

Jack Bulger had three hits, including a walk-off single, as Vanderbilt (24-9, 6-7) topped Florida, 5-4, in Nashville on Friday. 

Vandy got a home run from Calvin Hewett while the Gators (21-13, 5-8) had a two-run shot from Jud Fabian in the second off starter Chris McElvain. 

Gator starter Hunter Barco left after two innings due to illness. 

Patrick Reilly, Vanderbilt’s third starter the past two weekends, threw 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings. Thomas Schultz retired all five hitters he faced to get the win.

Georgia holds on to beat Aggies, even series

Connor Tate’s three hits led Georgia’s 12-hit attack, as the Bulldogs (26-9, 9-5) nearly blew a four-run lead but held on to beat Texas A&M by a 4-3 score in Athens.

Georgia’s Jack Gowen pitched out of a two-on jam in the ninth to earn the save. Starter Luke Wagner went four innings and allowed just one run. 

Jacob Palisch had five innings of six-strikeout, one-run relief for the Aggies (21-13, 7-7). Kole Kaler and Dylan Rock each had a pair of hits and an RBI. 

James, Cumbest lead 14-hit attack in win over Auburn

Kamren James and Brad Cumbest each homered and combined for seven hits as Mississippi State took a 2-0 series lead with a 9-5 win over Auburn in Starkville. 

MSU’s Preston Johnson struck out 12 and allowed four runs (three earned) in a 114-pitch outing to get the win, and K.C. Hunt added two scoreless innings for a save.

Auburn (23-12, 7-7) managed eight hits, but just one went for extra bases. Starting pitcher Trace Bright allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. 

Hall shines as Carolina evens series with Ole Miss

South Carolina’s Noah Hall gave up two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings and Matthew Becker retired all four hitters he faced for a save, as the Gamecocks beat Ole Miss, 4-2-, in Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina (17-17, 5-9) had just five hits and didn’t take a walk, but Josiah Sightler’s three-run homer off Derek Diamond proved to be enough offense. Diamond’s wild pitch added the Gamecocks’ other run. 

Tim Elko hit a pair of solo home runs for Ole Miss (21-13, 5-9). 

Neubeck pitches Missouri past Kentucky

Starter Peter Neubeck struck out five in seven innings of two-run ball as Missouri (20-12, 4-10) beat Kentucky by a 9-4 score. 

Fox Leum’s two-run homer and Josh Day’s two-RBI triple highlighted a five-run seventh inning that broke the game open. 

Adam Fogel’s two hits led Kentucky (21-14, 5-9), which fell behind early when Sean Harney allowed four runs in his 5 2/3 innings.