Gentry’s Home Runs Lead Tide To Victory

The Crimson Tide baseball team remained perfect, winning their 13th straight game to start the season by defeating South Alabama by a score of 12-2 on Tuesday afternoon. The Tide is scheduled to play North Alabama on Wednesday, but the weather experts don't expect that game to be played.

Coach Brad Bohannon started left hander Garret Rukes on the mound on Tuesday and used him for the first two innings. Rukes allowed both runs, but both were unearned. In the first the Jaguars had two one out singles and a walk to load the bases. After a pop out the inning seemed to be over on a routine fly ball to center field. However, Peyton Wilson misplayed the ball, allowing two runs to score. A third run appeared to score, but Wilson made a perfect throw to second to catch the batter off the bag. Originally the run was counted, but after a review, it was determined that the out was recorded prior to the runner crossing the plate.

The Tide came to bat down 2-0, but quickly erased the deficit. Brett Auerbach led off the inning with a long double that just missed leaving the park. With one out Tyler Gentry launched a long blast over the left field fence, almost to the law school. Drew Williamson followed one batter later with first home run of the year into the bullpen in right center field, and a 3-2 lead that Bama never let slip away.

Casey Cobb followed Rukes on the mound and pitched three sparkling innings, allowing only one hit, with no walks, while striking out four batters. The Tide added to the lead in the fourth when T.J. Reeves was hit by a pitch and raced around to the plate on a hit and run double off the bat of Jim Jarvis. Gentry blew the game wide open in the fifth when he blasted his second home run of the game, and fourth of the season, over the fence in left. The three run home run tied Gentry for the team lead- at least temporarily.

Tyler Ras relieved Cobb in the sixth, and tossed two perfect innings with two strikeouts. Landon Green took the eighth inning and needed only eight pitches to retire USA in order. Bama piled on in the bottom of the eighth, plating five more runs. Owen Diodati knocked in the first with a bases loaded sacrifice fly, and Gentry knocked in his sixth run of the game with a single. Sam Pratyor then took over the team lead in home runs with his fifth Praytor Tater, an absolute tank over everything in left, into the parking lot.

Chase Lee, aka “The Viper”, made quick work of the Jags in the ninth, allowing one harmless single, and striking out two batters. The Tide hit 14-37, drew three walks, had one hit batter, struck out five times, and left six runners on base. USA was 4-29, drew two walks, struck out nine times, and left two runners on base.

MVP

Gentry was the big gun with his 3-5 day with two home runs, six RBI, and three runs scored. Jarvis finished 3-4 with a double, run scored, and one driven in. Praytor and Williamson both had two hits, with a home run each. Cobb improved to 2-0 with the victory.

ANALYSIS

The Tide just continues to roll. Newly ranked this week, 23rd in one poll and 25th in another, the momentum is building for Bama. Next in line is the school record of 15 straight wins to open a season. The team is doing it in every aspect of the game, hitting, hitting with power, running, playing defense, and pitching well. The four home runs in the game gave the team 20 in the first 13 games, the team average is .333, and they have stolen 20 bases. Defensively the Tide has committed only five errors. The pitching staffs ERA dropped to 2.38 in 117 innings pitched. After only walking five batters in the the last four games. the staff has walked 33 batters and have notched 132 strikeouts, and unheard of 4:1 ratio.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Next up is a scheduled game on Wednesday the 4th with North Alabama (3-9). The home game is scheduled for 3 p.m. and, if played, will be available on SEC Network Plus. The Tide will host Lipscomb (8-3) in a three game set this weekend, Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m.

UPDATE: The game vs. North Alabama scheduled for this evening has been postponed due to anticipated weather issues. The Crimson Tide and Lions will now play on Wednesday, April 1.

Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It! Roll Tide

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