What’s the pitching forecast for Alabama baseball‘s first weekend of the NCAA Tournament?
On Monday, the Crimson Tide clinched the No. 2 seed at the Hattiesburg Regional, hosted by No. 16 overall seed Southern Miss. Looking for its 42nd win of the 2025 season, Alabama faces No. 3 seed Miami first as the Hurricanes enter Friday with a 31-24 record.
The buzz in South Florida is that Cincinnati transfer Griffin Hugus, UM’s typical Saturday starter, will open the regional for Miami. Compared to last Wednesday, there’s far less uncertainty surrounding who will start for Alabama, which didn’t name its starting pitcher against Tennessee until just minutes before the first pitch of the fateful SEC Tournament outing.
During an interview on “The Gary Harris Show” last week, Crimson Tide coach Rob Vaughn gave assurance that fans would see right-hander Riley Quick once again after the redshirt sophomore didn’t get the starting nod he wanted in Hoover.
After the 15-10 loss to the Volunteers, Vaughn explained Quick’s absence from the second round was primarily a matter of pitch count following the regular season finale at Florida, as well as preserving the health of the projected first-round pick for the 2025 MLB Draft. Quick is navigating his first year back since Tommy John surgery that ended his 2024 season.
How likely is it that Riley Quick will start for Alabama baseball in NCAA Tournament?
Pending the official pitching matchup, Vaughn told Harris on Friday morning, “I’d say there’s a 95% chance you see Quick.”
Had the Crimson Tide received a host spot as a top-16 overall seed and met a four seed as the one seed, there would’ve been a “97% chance,” per Vaughn.
The righty Hugus has a 4.22 ERA with a 5-7 record in 15 appearances for the Hurricanes. Quick enters the NCAA postseason with an 8-2 record, maintaining a 3.54 ERA.
Hattiesburg Regional schedule in 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament
Friday, May 30
- Game 1: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Miami, 2 p.m. CT on ESPN2 (Watch on FUBO)
- Game 2: No. 1 Southern Miss vs. No. 4 Columbia, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+)
Saturday, May 31
- Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, TBA on TBD (elimination game)
- Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, TBA on TBD
Sunday, June 1
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, TBA on TBD (elimination game)
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBA on TBD
Monday, June 2
- Game 7: Regional championship game (if necessary), TBA on TBD
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
