CUBA – The University of Alabama baseball team travelled to Cuba for a historic three-game “Friendship Tournament” against a Cuban Collegiate All-Star squad from December 16-18 at the tradition-rich Latin American Stadium in Havana.

Game 1: Alabama 3, Cuba 3

University of Alabama baseball senior Kent Matthes had two hits, including a two-run home run, and the Crimson Tide got some excellent relief pitching and late-inning defense to throw out the winning run at the plate in the bottom ninth inning to preserve a 3-3 tie with the Cuban Collegiate All-Stars in the opening game of the series.

A shaky start on defense by Alabama led to three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning to stake Cuban Collegiate All-Stars to a 3-0 lead. Three errors and a wild pitch led to all three runs scored for Cuba. UA second baseman Ross Wilson, third baseman Jake Smith and DiFazio were charged with errors in the first inning. Left fielder Juan Linares had the only hit in the inning for Cuba.

Alabama settled down and got one run back in the third inning when Wilson’s two-out single to center scored center fielder Alex Kubal from second base to make it 3-1. The Crimson Tide added two more runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Designated hitter Kyle Moore drew a one-out, four-pitch walk and scored on right fielder Kent Matthes‘ towering, two-run home run to left field.

Alabama got solid pitching in the game from starter Austin Hyatt and four reliever.

Hyatt allowed three unearned runs and two hits in five innings in the series opener. He added five strikeouts and walked one batter before reaching his pitch-limit in the fifth inning. Hyatt threw 84 pitches in his outing against Cuba. After a two-out walk to Jose Abreu in the first inning, Hyatt retired 13 of the next 14 batters, including his last eight in a row.

Cuba starter Yuleski Gonzalez, who is one of Cuba’s top pitchers and pitched in the 2008 World Baseball Classic in San Diego, Calif., worked six innings and allowed three runs and four hits before being replaced by Vladimir Banos. Gonzalez added two walks and struck out seven Alabama batters in his 80-pitch performance.

Game 2: Cuba 6, Alabama 2

The Cuban Collegiate All-Stars used a three-run third inning to defeat the University of Alabama baseball team, 6-2, in Game Two of the 2008 Friendship Tournament.

Cuba (1-0-1) out-hit Alabama 11-4 in the win and six of the nine starters had at least one hit. Third baseman Adonis Garcia went 3 for 4 with two stolen bases and scored one run to pace the Cuban All-Star attack. Shortstop David Castillo had two hits, one stolen base and scored one run.

Cuba starter Maikel Forch, a member of the 2008 World Games baseball team, held the Tide to one run on three hits in five innings for the win. He added three walks and struck out two. Jose Garcia worked the final two innings for the save, with four strikeouts.

Game 3: Cuba 7, Alabama 5

The University of Alabama baseball team had its most productive offensive performance in the final game against the Cuban Collegiate All-Stars in the Friendship Tournament, but saw its four-run lead erased by Cuba’s six-run sixth inning as the home team took the series finale, 7-5.

Cuba (2-0-1) overcame a 5-1 Crimson Tide lead to win the exhibition series. Alabama (0-2-1) grabbed the early lead with a five-run fifth inning against the more experienced Cuban roster whose average age was nearly 26 years old.

The Cubans had 11 hits in the series finale and were paced by Yolian Crese and Henry Urruita who had two hits and two RBI each. Alabama had six hits, including three doubles, and no player had more than one hit.

“I am very proud of our team and the way they played this week and how they represented the University of Alabama,” head coach Jim Wells said. “This was a great experience for our team against a very, very talented team. We learned a lot about our team and playing Cuba made us better.”

Source: Alabama Crimson Tide Athletics

Tags: Cuba, NCAA