Texas A&M scores 10 unanswered, beats Alabama baseball 12-8 in SEC Tournament

HOOVER — Alabama baseball's surprising run in the SEC Tournament received a reality check against Texas A&M. 

Neither the season nor the Crimson Tide's time in Hoover is over, but it's going to have to start scoring more late in the second half of games if it wants to compete with top teams on a consistent basis this postseason. 

Alabama has solid pitching, but that pitching can only hold up so long if the offense keeps sputtering. Such was the case when the No. 2 seed Aggies scored 10 unanswered and defeated the 11th-seeded Crimson Tide 12-8 on Friday at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. 

Alabama will face No. 7-seed Florida in an elimination game at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The winner will advance to face the Aggies in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. the same day. 

Here are observations and takeaways from the game between Alabama (31-26) and Texas A&M (37-17).

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LHP Grayson Hitt solid but left in too long

Hindsight allows for much better clarity, but Alabama probably should have stopped Hitt at pitch 99. 

Through pitch 99, he was putting together a strong effort. He had allowed only three hits, one run and three walks to go with seven strikeouts. 

Then he threw pitch No. 100 on a full count. Dylan Rock sent it past the fence for a three-run home run to bring Texas A&M within 6-4 in the fifth inning.

The Aggies were back in the game, and Hitt's day was done. 

Bullpen produces nightmare in the sixth

Alabama's bullpen had been a vital part of the hot start in the SEC Tournament over the first two games. Friday was a different story. 

Once Hitt left, his replacements struggled. Landon Green walked the first batter he faced, then hit another shortly before he was pulled. Those became the tying runs at 6-6. 

Brock Guffey replaced Green and had his own issues. He tried to pick off the runner at second but the throw went past. The next pitch, Guffey hit the batter to load the bases. 

Luke Holman then got the ball and also hit a batter. Texas A&M took a 7-6 lead. 

The Aggies continued to add runs from there. 

Alabama needs to replicate seventh inning

The Crimson Tide hadn't scored a run after the fourth inning in any of its previous two SEC Tournament games. It looked like that would continue against the Aggies, but then Bryce Eblin hit an RBI-double to score two runners and brought Alabama within 11-8. 

Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly