Alabama baseball is back in the NCAA tournament.

The Crimson Tide (33-22, 13-17 Southeastern Conference) received an at-large bid to the big dance and was slotted in the Tallahassee Regional as a two-seed. Alabama faltered in the opening game of the SEC tournament but wins this season against the country’s best teams and well to position the Tide with the selection committee. Now, its pitching will need to keep the ball in the park to let its explosive offense erupt.

UA’s run began against UCF (35-19, 14-15 Big 12) in Dick Howser Stadium. The winner will advance to play host seed Florida State while the loser plays Stetson in a double-elimination game.

Follow along for live updates.

Lineups

UCF | Away: Andrew Brait 2B | Matt Prevesk LF | Matt Cedarburg DH | Lex Boedicker 1B | Jack Zyska RF | Danny Neri C | Braden Calise 3B | Andrew Williamson CF | Mikey Kluska SS

Pitcher: Dom Stagliano

Alabama | Home: Gage Miller 3B | Ian Petrutz LF | Justin Lebron SS | William Hamiter RF | Kade Snell DH | Mac Guscette C | TJ McCants CF | Will Hodo 1B | Bryce Eblin 2B

Pitcher: Greg Farone

1st Inning

Top: After Farone worked two quick strikeouts, the lefty conceded a two-out walk, balk, walk and then double to Zyska down the left-field line. There was a debate about an interference call that allowed Zyska to reach second, but the damage was already done. UCF takes an early 2-0 lead before UA gets to the plate.

Bottom: Some productive at-bats start the inning for Alabama as Miller singled and Petrutz was plunked. Stagliano got Lebron to pop out left field on the second pitch for an important first out. Hamiter then stared at an inside pitch for strike three. Alabama gets its own two-out magic, however, with Snell clubbing a two-strike off-speed pitch over the right-center field wall.

A three-run shot makes it 3-0, Crimson Tide.

2nd Inning