Chris Stewart Sports

12:30 a.m. CDT - Struggling for answers...

Blame this one on me. I told somebody three weeks ago that I wasn't planning on a vacation until July.

The meaning of that statement was that the Alabama Baseball season would not end until the team went to Omaha and competed in the College World Series.

Three weeks, and seven losses later, I'm not ready to book a June vacation - nor am I ready to change my plans to see Omaha this year.

If there is anything I've learned in 11 seasons of following SEC Baseball, it's that the college season is a LONG one. It is usually full of streaks - both good and bad.

Mitch Gaspard's team looked virtually unbeatable in claiming 16 of their first 17 games. Now that wins are now tougher to come by, it's easy to think everything is lost, and the season is headed toward the abyss.

To be honest, things could get worse before they get better.

After losing Tuesday to a pretty good UAB team for the second time in a week, the Crimson Tide now must go on the road tonight to take on Jax State. From there it's on to Kentucky for three against a team that was a pitch away from winning a series at Arkansas; a trip back home for a single game with Samford; one road game at Top 25 Southeastern Louisiana; and then three at Alex Box against the defending national champions.

That will bring us to the midway point of the SEC schedule. At that point last year, most of us thought Arkansas would be lucky to get to Hoover - let alone be a threat to get to Omaha. But the Hogs got up off the deck late and slugged their way to the CWS.

Alabama doesn't posses the long-ball power that the Hogs did (or do). However, this is the same team that three weeks ago was red hot...and they can be once again.

Time will tell if the next two weeks are the beginning - or the signal of the end.