Alabama Baseball Continues To Roll

The Crimson Tide baseball team continued their tune up for SEC play by once again blowing out Alabama A&M on Wednesday night. After a 15-0 victory on Tuesday, the Tide was “only” able to plate 14 runs on Wednesday. ‘Bama used 14 hits, including five home runs, to take their 15th victory of the year. Just like last night’s win the game was cut to seven innings. Alabama didn't win their 15th game until April 18th last season.

Coach Brad Bohannon used four pitchers to shut out the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Sophomore Davis Vainer started and after allowing a lead off single got the next three batters out. Brady Greene relieved in the second, pitching three innings, allowing three hits and walking two. The freshman from Birmingham earned the first victory of his career. Tyler Adams followed with two scoreless innings, and Dylan Duarte cleaned it up with a perfect seventh inning.

Unlike the Tuesday game where the Tide scored eight runs in the first, it took a little time to get going. ‘Bama scored the first run of the game in the third inning when a Jeaux Breaux fielder’s choice grounder scored Matt Malkin, who had singled to open the inning.

The game had the look of a low-scoring affair until the Tide sent 12 men to the plate in the fifth inning and scored seven runs. Malkin and Jett Manning singled in front of Connor Stutts, who slammed a three run home run to right, his second in two nights. Cobie Vance and Breaux then walked and jogged home in front of Hunter Alexander’s first home run of the season. Malkin and Manning both had two hits in the inning.

The Tide poured it on in the sixth, sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six more times. Vance walked to lead off and scored on a long triple by Breaux. Alexander then put his second home run of the night into the play ground in left field. Chandler Taylor followed with his team leading sixth home run, deep into the right field plaza. Avant walked and scored in front of Malkin’s long bomb over the fence in left center field. The home run was Malkin’s fourth hit of the game, and second long ball of the season. Alexander who normally bats sans batting gloves, borrowed Taylor’s gloves and his bat prior to each of his home runs.

‘Bama had 14 hits for the second night in a row, walked seven times and stranded six on base. The Bulldogs had five hits and drew two walks while striking out three times and leaving six runners on base. The five home runs was a team high for the season, but well short of the school record of 13 in a game (vs Birmingham U in 1999).

Analysis

The Tide is taking care of business in the midweek games, running their record to 5-0 while outscoring opponents 48-4. Pitchers Garret Rukes and Brock Love who both had Tommy John surgery early last season have been brought back slowly, and have been pitching the midweek games. They were able to be held out this week, so look for them to both be used this weekend when the SEC season starts with a visit from Georgia. The games are at 6 p.m on Friday, 1 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. All will be shown on the SEC Network.

Who Did What?

• Matt Malkin: 4-4, three singles, home run, two RBI, three runs
• Hunter Alexander: 2-4, two home runs, five RBI, two runs
• Connor Stutts: 2-3, double, home run, three RBI,
• Jett Manning: 2-3, BB, run, RBI
• Chandler Taylor: 1-4, team-leading sixth home run, RBI
• Jeaux Breaux: 1-4, triple, BB, two runs, two RBI
• Brady Green: First career win, 3 IP, 3 Hits, 2 BB, 1 strikeout