If hitting a batter were an Olympic sport, Tennessee baseball would be in a position to medal every time.

The Vols failed to differentiate the strike zone from the batter’s box, and in turn, fell in game one of the series to Alabama, 12-8. Landon Mack’s start failed to make it out of the third inning, and set the tone for what was to come.

Tennessee (27-15, 8-11 SEC) finished with 10 walks given up, adding six hit-by-pitches to the tally. Alabama (29-14, 10-9) feasted with 12 runs on 10 hits, forcing the Vols to utilize seven total pitchers.

Free bag Mack

Mack’s zone command never came. In 2.1 innings, 71 total pitches and 40 strikes, Mack allowed nine free bases to be taken — four walks, two hit batters, a balk that advanced two runners and a stolen base. That’s 810 free feet in rewards the Crimson Tide reaped on Thursday.

In two innings, 51 total pitches, Mack allowed seven free bases to be taken — three walks, a balk that moved two baserunners, a hit batter and a stolen base.

In the first inning, he dealt 29 pitches, 15 of which were balls, while issuing three walks. Each of the three at-bats was competitive, coming down to a payoff pitch that couldn’t land in the zone.

Help from free passes allowed Alabama to strike first. With two walks initiated to Justin Lebron and Brady Neal, Bryce Fowler brought the first run across the plate on a double to the right-center gap. That put two in scoring position, still needing two outs to escape the inning.

Mack picked up a strikeout, then battled from a 2-0 count to a full count, but the 3-2 pitch missed the zone to load the bases. Mack induced a first-pitch flyout to Jason Torres to prevent a disastrous outcome.

In the second, Mack was a close play at first away from retiring the side in order. Lebron, however, beat the throw and kept it alive. Mack proceeded to allow a single, a stolen base and then balked on a turnaround to an empty second base.

It continued into the third, and that was the end of the line. Mack allowed a full-count walk to John Lemm — a new career-high in walks in the shortest outing of his two-year collegiate stint. He pegged Luke Vaughn with a 95-mph fastball off the helmet, and that ended Mack’s night in favor of Cam Appenzeller with one out in the third inning.

Goodbye, Garrett Wright

Wright’s been mashing a baseball that doesn’t seem to be the same size as everyone else’s.

Dating back to Sunday’s game three against Ole Miss, Wright mustered up eight consecutive hits. He kept the streak going with home runs in his first two at-bats against Alabama.

The first tied the game at 1-all on a leadoff blast, carrying 365 feet into the left-field porches. His next broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the second, bailing out a struggling Mack for a second time.

In the fourth inning, Wright stepped to the plate with runners on the corners, trailing by three. While a fielding error ended the hit streak, he still recorded an RBI and made it to first safely.

Wright finished the game 2-for-5 with three RBIs.

Eric Hines blasts dagger

Tennessee was fighting to see another round. Then Hines yanked the knockout hook over the foul pole. The Alabama five-hole hitter smashed a three-run home run to left field, giving Alabama a 9-4 lead in the sixth inning.

That was all too much for the Vols’ offense, which could only answer so many times.

Appenzeller’s day ended after the blast, turning to Brayden Krenzel for more relief. Appenzeller closed his book with four earned runs across 3.1 innings. He allowed four hits and walked three batters over 76 pitches.

It is the most walks he’s had in a game this season. Appenzeller has now gone three straight appearances with multiple runs allowed after starting conference play with four straight scoreless appearances.

Hines’ homer also marks the third consecutive game in which he’s allowed a four-base trot, after not having one in the first 26.1 innings of his career.

After Appenzeller exited, Tennessee’s five relievers afterward managed to walk three batters and hit four batters to finish up the loss.

Tennessee and Alabama will play a Friday doubleheader to beat the weekend storm, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.