Alabama coach Jason Jackson praises Jacob McNairy's bounce back after shaky first inning

Things got off to a shaky start for Alabama in an SEC Tournament elimination game against Vanderbilt on Friday night. The Commodores piled up five runs in the first inning, tagging starting pitcher Jacob McNairy early and often to begin the scoring.

But Alabama stuck with McNairy, having already used a lot of its pitching depth in the tournament.

“Well I think he’s starting to settle in and locate his secondary stuff a little bit better,” interim coach Jason Jackson said live on the SEC Network. “He hung that 0-2 change-up in the first. I mean they’ve had a great approach, but he’s starting to settle in and locate a little bit better I think.”

Early control issues led to McNairy’s poor start.

The starting pitcher walked the leadoff hitter for Vanderbilt, then gave up a single to third baseman Davis Diaz. Enrique Bradfield, the leadoff man, scored on the next at-bat when right fielder RJ Schreck hit a double to right field.

A groundout to second base scored Diaz, making it 2-0 Vanderbilt.

Then designated hitter Chris Maldonado hit a single to plate another run, making it 3-0. Maldonado came home moments later when second baseman RJ Austin launched a two-run homer to left field, stretching the lead out to 5-0.

But with McNairy settling in on the mound and able to work clean frames in the second and third innings, Alabama began to bite into the lead in the bottom of the third.

After center fielder Andrew Pinckney doubled to left field, third baseman Colby Shelton came to the plate with two outs. After fouling off one pitch, he took the second over the wall in right center field for a two-run homer, making it 5-2.

Jackson praised his team’s resiliency and ability to fight back following some trying circumstances, which included the midseason firing of coach Brad Bohannon.

“Just the way they bring it every single day, these guys love to play,” Jackson said. “They love to play for the guy beside them, they love to play for each other. Every single day they’re in a great mood, they love to be at the ballpark and they’re just a really fun team to be around.”

The winner of tonight’s game between Alabama and Vanderbilt will advance to face Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinals. That game will be played in the evening, about 30 minutes after the end of the first semifinal between Arkansas and Texas A&M.