Head baseball coach Brad Bohannon, along with outfielder T.J. Reeves and closer Chase Lee, addressed the media Wednesday ahead of a highly important SEC weekend series with the Auburn Tigers. Alabama is a hot team now after sweeping the Aggies in College Station and beating Samford by a whopping 19-3 score last night. 

Alabama is 5-7 in SEC play, and they are fourth in the SEC West standings. "We've put ourselves in a really good position to where it is a big weekend," Bohannon said.

Auburn is currently 1-11 in SEC league play, and they are last in the SEC West. However, Bohannon said they are better than their record shows.

"Don't let Auburn's SEC record fool you, nine of their eleven losses in league play have been by one or two runs," Bohannon added.

Bohannon does not want his players to overlook this SEC matchup because every game is vital to the Crimson Tide at this point. Only the top six teams in the SEC West get to play in the SEC Tournament, and with how strong the conference is, it is a very real possibility to slip below that line if the team does not keep the foot on the gas.

Alabama will have its ace, Connor Prielipp, back this weekend and he will be pitching Saturday. He has not pitched since opening day back in February.

"We're all really excited about him (Prielipp) because he's such a difference maker," Bohannon said of his star pitcher.

Alabama's dugout has a 'home run chain' that they pass around to whoever hits a long ball. T.J. Reeves is responsible for keeping up with the chain and making sure it makes it on road trips.

"Bringing that chain out just brings a lot of excitement to the players... when you put that chain on you feel like you are on top of the world," Reeves said.

No. 22 TJ Reeves - Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics
No. 22 TJ Reeves - Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics
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"The most traumatic point of the season was when we went on a road trip and somebody forgot the home run chain, just very traumatic," Bohannon said jokingly of the dugout bling.

Reeves has been in and out of the lineup this season due to two different injuries, but he is finally healthy and able to contribute to the Crimson Tide cause.

"I constantly work on my swing and work on whatever I need to work on, and things will fall into place," Reeves said.

Chase Lee has made 11 appearances this season and has yet to give up a run. He is always in the closer role, so he is operating under high pressure and coming through for the team to get outs and win the game.

Chase Lee
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"Whether I fail or whether I succeed I'm going to be the same person off the field, so I take that out there with me knowing I have the freedom to compete," Lee said of pitching in high pressure situations. "Its really easy to believe in yourself when you've got everyone else believing in you."

Alabama is winning games, and they are having fun doing it. "These kids like being at the park, they like playing, they love baseball," Bohannon said.

The players are in luck because a lot of baseball will be played this weekend against the Auburn Tigers in Sewell-Thomas Stadium. First pitch tomorrow is at 6 p.m. CT., go show Alabama Baseball your support!

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