Alabama Baseball Slams Grambling, 12-2

The Crimson Tide used three big innings and a stellar start on the mound from freshman Deacon Medders to defeat Grambling State by a score of 12-2 on Wednesday. The Tide had cancelled a Tuesday night game in Birmingham with the Samford Bulldogs.

‘Bama scored three runs in the first and five in the second, before being shut out up until the bottom of the eighth inning. Medders went the first six innings for the Tide, allowing only three hits, with two walks, two hit batters, four strikeouts and no runs. Tyler McMurray got his most extensive work of his career on the mound, and pitched 1.1 innings, allowing both Tiger runs. Mike Oczypok finished the game off on the mound, in his team leading 24th appearance of the year.

The first three Tide batters scored in the first. Chandler Avant lead off with a triple, then scored on a single by Kyle Kaufman. Cobie Vance then doubled, followed by two strikeouts. Kaufman scored on a balk and Vance scored after Alex Webb singled, giving the Tide a 3-0 lead after one inning.

‘Bama scored five times in the second, highlighted by a grand slam home run by Hunter Alexander. The Tide had four hits and drew two walks in the frame. After that Grambling used five pitchers for one inning each, and none allowed any more runs. Medders allowed two base runners in the second, third and sixth inning, but never let the Tigers cross home plate. McMurray finally allowed a run in the seventh after two hits and a wild pitch.

In the top of the eighth McMurray got into trouble, allowing two singles and a double to score one run with one out. Oczypok came to the mound and picked one runner off of base, then struck out one to end the inning. Being a non conference, mid week game, the run rule was in affect (10 run lead after seven innings.)

In the bottom of the eighth Zack Coker drew a walk, followed by a single by Connor Wright and a walk to Alexander. John Trousdale, who entered the game in the sixth, then lined a shot deep into the right field plaza, for a walk off, grand slam home run. The hit was only the freshman's third hit of the year, and was his first home run and first four runs driven in.

‘Bama improved to 19-29 on the year, while GSU fell to 22-28. The Tigers are in first place in the SWAC with a 16-7 conference mark. The Tide out hit GSU 14-8 and had six walks to only two for Grambling. Both teams struck out five times. Medders improved to 2-0 on the year. Avant had three hits, falling a home run shy of the cycle. Kaufman and Webb had two hits each. Alexander and Trousdale drove in four runs apiece with their grand slams. The only starter for the Tide with out a hit was reigning SEC player of the week Chandler Taylor, and he drew two walks in the game.

Whats next? Only six games remain in the regular season, and believe it or not the Tide could still possibly sneak into the SEC Tournament. Twelve of the fourteen teams make it to Hoover, and although ‘Bama is still 14th in the league at 5-19, they are only two wins behind Tennessee (7-15) and Georgia (7-17). ‘Bama hosts Florida on Friday-Saturday and Sunday before traveling to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt the following Thursday-Friday and Saturday. The game times for Florida are set for 6 p.m on Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m on Sunday. However as of now the weather makes it look more like a double header on Saturday, with no idea of the starting time. Sunday’s game will be on the SEC Network and the first two games will be available on SEC Network Plus, Watch ESPN App.

RTR

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