Live Updates: Alabama Baseball vs Xavier, Game 2
The Crimson Tide is looking to keep its momentum going after a walk-off home run by Owen Diodati on Friday night gave the team an opening-day win.
After a walk-off home run by Owen Diodati sealed a victory for Alabama baseball over Xavier in the season opener on Friday night, both teams return to the diamond on Saturday in Game 2 of the series.
The Crimson Tide will be looking to not only clinch the series over the Musketeers but also start the season 2-0.
For Alabama, junior southpaw Antoine Jean will get the start on the mound. Bryce Barnett will be the starting pitcher for the Musketeers.
Follow along below for live updates, stats and information as Alabama baseball will look to improve to 2-0 on the season against Xavier:
Gallery: Alabama Holds Off Xavier in Game Two, 5-4
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Live Updates
(most recent update at the top)
FINAL: Alabama 5, Xavier 4
Hunter Furtado is credited with the win for Alabama, and Caden Rose and Zane Denton tied their career-highs with three hits apiece in game two of the series. Brock Guffey gets the save as he came in to get the final out for the Crimson Tide.
Top 9
- Jarvis stays cool, calm, and collected on a ground ball that hits off his chest, and he makes the play at first to end the game.
- Guffey's first pitch hits Housinger, and the bases are loaded. Alabama still holds a one-run lead.
- LHP Brock Guffey is on to get the last out for Alabama with the tying run on second for the Muskateers.
- Green strikes out Huntzinger on a full count, and Xavier is down to its last out.
- Eblin bobbles the toss from Jarvis on the attempt to turn two, and the run scores from third. The Alabama lead is now 5-4.
- Green gets a monumental strikeout, as Tamez holds on to the foul tip.
- A full-count walk has runners at the corners for Xavier with no outs. The go-ahead run comes to the plate for the Muskateers.
- Walker spears a double down the left field line, and the tying run comes to the plate with no outs.
- Green remains on the mound, as he is in line for the save.
Bottom 8
END 8: Alabama 5, Xavier 3
- Pinckney strikes out to end the inning.
- Hamiter legs out a single on a diving stop by the third baseman.
- Following the blast, Xavier's infield flashes the leather to get two outs.
- Williamson pounds one over the bullpen in right center, a valuable insurance run for the Crimson Tide. His first home run of the season to lead off the inning. 5-3 Alabama.
Top 8
MID 8: Alabama 4, Xavier 3
- Jarvis retires the side on a slow roller. Alabama holds on to the 4-3 lead.
- Xavier has runners at the corners after a wild four pitches from Green.
- Franzoni singles to keep the Xavier eighth alive.
- Huntzinger steals third, and a wild throw from Tamez goes down the line in left. Huntzinger scores to cut the Alabama lead to 4-3.
- Green gets the swing and miss on a slider for out number two.
- Huntzinger swipes second on a late throw from Tamez.
- Green hits the second batter of the inning on the first pitch of the at-bat.
- Pinckney, who took over in right field, catches a liner for the first out.
- RHP Landon Green is on the bump for Alabama.
Final line on Dylan Ray: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K on 39 pitches
Bottom 7
END 7: Alabama 4, Xavier 2
- Gadd gets the out for the Muskateers, and Alabama leaves two runners on base.
- RHP Jared Gadd takes over on the mound for Xavier with two down and Jarvis at the dish.
- Eblin works for a two-out walk, and Rose follows him up with a single roped into left.
- Pinckney is caught stealing at second for the second out of the inning. He got a late break on the pitch, and the throw was right at the bag for Xavier.
- Hodo strikes out for the third time in his collegiate debut.
- Diodati is issued a five pitch walk, and Pinckney pinch runs for him at first.
- RHP Dorsey Chatham is Xavier's fourth pitcher of the game, and he begins the seventh after stretch time at The Joe.
Top 7
MID 7: Alabama 4, Xavier 2
- Despite a two-out single, Ray is able to escape the seventh with no more damage done.
- RHP Landon Green is getting warm for Alabama.
- DiMartino hits a home run to left center field, and he waves to the right field student section as he rounds the bags. Xavier cuts the Alabama lead to 4-2.
- Ray strikes out the first batter of the inning on a looping curveball.
Stats through six innings:
Bottom 6
END 6: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Hamiter grounds to first to retire the side.
- Denton grounds up the middle, and the diving effort from the second baseman is not enough to get him at first. Runners on first and second for Alabama with two down.
- Williamson pops out to third, and Tamez lines one right at the left fielder. Two down.
- Jarvis earns a leadoff walk on four pitches.
Top 6
MID 6: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Ray comes through for Alabama with a strikeout, ending the Xavier threat.
- Another walk in the inning has Muskateer runners on first and second.
- Ray finds his command, forcing two pop outs. Rivero steals second for Xavier with two out.
- Ray issues a leadoff walk on four straight pitches.
- RHP Dylan Ray takes over for Furtado to begin the sixth, his first outing of the year.
Bottom 5
END 5: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- A reaching swing by Rose comes up empty as Alabama goes quietly in the fifth.
- Hodo is struck out looking on a back-door breaking ball. One down.
- RHP Bobby Jones taking over on the mound for Xavier.
Top 5
MID 5: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Furtado surges for back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning, as the Alabama dugout walks out to congratulate the lefty.
- Another one-out walk is issued by Furtado on five pitches.
Bottom 4
END 4th: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Hamiter earns a walk, but nothing comes of the Alabama effort in the fourth as Diodati flies out to left.
- Tamez strikes out for the first time this season, and Denton flies out to deep center. Two down for Alabama.
Top 4
MID 4th: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
Furtado through 2.0 innings: 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K on 33 pitches
- A dribbler to Denton at third retires the side.
- The first strikeout in Furtado's Crimson Tide career comes at an opportune time, as Alabama now has two down in the inning.
- Furtado hits the ensuing batter on the right foot. Two on with one out for the Muskateers.
- A one-out walk gives Xavier a runner on first. Furtado's breaking ball has produced some ugly swings in this inning, though.
- Furtado gets a lineout to Hamiter in right for out number one.
Bottom 3
END 3: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Williamson hits a ball out to the warning track in left-center field, but it's caught for the final out. Two runners left stranded.
- Jarvis singles to left, Rose advances to second. Still two out.
- Rose singles through the gap in left. Two out, runner on first.
Top 3
MID 3: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Tamez records his first put-out of the season, catching Walker stealing.
- Furtado has entered the game at the top of the side. Final line for Jean: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 12 BF, 63 TP.
Bottom 2
END 2: Alabama 4, Xavier 1
- Hamiter steals second on a wild pitch. Runner on second, two out for Diodati.
- Miles Halligan replaces Barnett on the mound. Final line for Barnett: 1.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 13 BF, 49 TP.
- Hamiter singles up the middle, Denton advances home from second. RBI. 4-1 Crimson Tide.
- Denton hits a ball hard out into right-center field, where it bounces off the upper part of the visiting bullpen. Williamson scores, and Denton picks up an RBI-double. 3-1 Alabama.
- Tamez picks up a sac-fly RBI as he hits a ball deep to left all the way to the warning track. Jarvis scored. 2-1 Alabama.
- An RBI single by Williamson allows Rose to cross home plate. Williamson advances to second on the throw. Alabama ties Xavier 1-1.
- Jarvis snags a one-out single for himself, but Rose is forced to stop at second.
- Rose picks up a one-out single to third base.
Top 2
MID 2: Xavier 1, Alabama 0
- Hunter Furtado is warming up in the bullpen as Jean retires the side. Jean walked two more batters that side, bringing his total to four through two innings.
- Jean surrenders a one-out walk. He is already up to 51 pitches on the day.
Bottom 1
END 1: Xavier 1, Alabama 0
- Diodati struck out swinging, then Will Hodo grounded out. Three runners left stranded.
- The bases are loaded with one out as Owen Diodati steps into the batter's box.
- Denton singles to left, but Tamez is forced to stop at second. Still one out.
- Tamez' hot streak continues with a blooper that drops down in shallow right field for a single. One out, Tamez on first.
- Drew Williamson gets caught looking for the first out of the Alabama side.
Top 1
MID 1: Xavier 1, Alabama 0
- Jean gets out of a jam with the bases loaded. Side retired, but the Musketeers strike first.
- Xavier begins the game much like it did yesterday, except it took one more batter to do so. Jack Housinger hit a home run over the right-field wall. 1-0 Musketeers.
- Antoine Jean strikes out the first batter he sees, thus beginning his K count.
Pregame
- Alabama vs Xavier is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. CT.
- Today's umpires: Fred Cannon, HP; Brian Hale, 1B; Matthew Wilbanks, 2B; Danny Cricks, 3B.
- Starting lineup for Xavier:
Alabama Baseball Starting Lineup
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