No. 20 Alabama Baseball Run-Rules UT Martin, 10-0
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a revenge game of sorts, Alabama baseball defeated UT Martin 10-0 in a seven-inning run-rule game.
Last season, the Crimson Tide lost to the Skyhawks 7-6 early in the season. While the loss seemed relatively insignificant at the time, the midweek loss ultimately played a crucial part — along with other midweek losses — in Alabama not being invited to an NCAA Regional.
Alabama still has a long way to go this season, but a 2-0 start to the season in midweek games puts the team on the right track compared to last year.
"We lost some midweeks that we shouldn't [have] last year but to me it just kind of speaks to our mentality," Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon said. "[...] I just don't understand how you can be more excited to play on Friday than Tuesday. I mean, what does the day of the week or how many people are in the stands or the opponent affect your mentality? Your level of focus? The intent with which you do things?
"We weren't great yesterday and I let the kids know and I'm really pleased with the way they responded today."
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings. However, in the bottom of the fourth, Alabama scored its first three runs courtesy of an RBI single by Drew Williamson, a throwing error by UT Martin catcher and a sac-bunt by third baseman Colby Shelton.
In the bottom of the sixth, Alabama added six more runs. Among those runs were a two-run home run by Mac Guscette and another two-run blast by Williamson.
In the bottom of the seventh, up 9-0 and needing just one more run to put the run-rule into effect, Crimson Tide freshman catcher Jaxson West singled up the middle with two outs on the board, scoring outfielder Max Williams and ending the game.
On the mound, Alabama utilized three pitchers, including starter Jackson Reynolds. Reynolds pitched 3.0 innings, surrendered no runs off two hits, walked two batters and struck out three. However, reliever Kade Woods (1-0) received the win after tossing 3.0 innings and gave up no runs, no hits and struck out five batters while walking just one.
Riley Quick closed out the game in the seventh, throwing one inning, walking one batter and striking out two.
With the win, Alabama moves to 5-0 on the season while UT Martin falls to 3-3. Up next, the Crimson Tide will host the High Point Panthers in a three-game series this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
"Good game for us," Bohannon said. "We haven't been perfect, but five in six days — it's a good starting point for us. Pleased with the team."
Alabama Stats
UT Martin Stats
How It Happened:
Score: Alabama 10, UT Martin 0
Bottom 7
- Sorry for the delay, technical difficulties. West singled up the middle, scoring Williams for the Crimson Tide's 10th run of the game. With the mercy rule being in effect, the game is over. Ball game.
- Hayslip flied out to center. One out.
- Camden Hayslip to pinch hit for Rose.
- New pitcher for UT Martin: RHP Eli Martin.
Top 7
- Hobson grounded out to first. Side retired.
- Beaman walked. Runners on first and second with two out.
- A wild pitch advances the runner at first to second. Two out, runner on second for Beaman.
- Quick struck out the first batter he faced. One out.
- Riley Quick in to replace Woods on the mound as we start the seventh. Final line for Woods: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 33 TP, 23 ST.
Bottom 6
- Hodo struck out swinging to end the inning.
- Drew Williamson crushed a ball over the wall in straightaway center field. Two runs score. 9-0 Alabama.
- Pinckney grounded out, but Jarvis advanced home for another run. Portera to third. 7-0 Alabama with two out, Williamson digging in at the plate.
- Portera stole second. Two runners in scoring position for Pinckney with one out.
- Pinch runner in for Shelton: Will Portera.
- Shelton slapped a single into right. Jarvis advanced to third. Runners at the corners, one out for Pinckney.
- New pitcher for the Skyhawks: RHP Tucker Reed.
- Jarvis drew a walk. One out, runner on first for Shelton.
- Guscette blasted a ball around the foul pole in left for a two-run home run. 6-0 Crimson Tide.
- Johnson singled to left, Seidl advanced home for another Crimson Tide run. 4-0 Alabama. Runner on first, one out for Guscette.
- Tommy Seidl in to pinch run for Hamiter at second.
- Hamiter crushed a ball off of the wall in right-center field for a double. Runner on second, one out for Johnson.
- Rose fouled out to the shortstop, who had to run all the way past the left field foul line to make the catch. One out.
Top 6
- Woods struck out the side as we head to the bottom of the sixth.
Bottom 5
- Hodo flied out to right field. Inning over.
- Riley Quick and Alton Davis II are warming up in the bullpen for Alabama.
- Williamson walked. Runner on first, two out for Hodo.
- Pinckney popped up to second. Two down.
- Shelton flied out to center. One out.
Top 5
- Rice grounded out to short. 1-2-3, and the side is retired in order.
- Hobson grounded out right back to Woods. Two away.
- Beaman struck out looking. One down.
Bottom 4
- Jarvis grounded out to second, but the Crimson Tide put three on the board.
- Guscette drew a full-count walk. Runners on first and second, two out as Jarvis digs in at the plate.
- Johnson laid down a sac-bunt, Rose scored from third. 3-0 Alabama. Runner at second, two out for Guscette.
- New pitcher for UT Martin: RHP Trey Ricko.
- Hamiter chopped a ball to third, the throw forced Williamson out at home. However, Hamiter reached first on a throwing error by the catcher. Hodo advanced home on the error. 2-0 Alabama. Runners at the corners, one out.
- Rose reached first on a bunt. All runners safe. Bases loaded, nobody out for Hamiter.
- Hodo beat out an infield single. Runners on first and second, nobody out for Rose.
- Williamson singled to the right side, with Pinckney advancing all the way to third. However, he was caught between first and second on the throw. Pinckney took advantage of the opportunity and advanced home. The throw to the plate was not in time, and Williamson retreated safely back to first. 1-0 Alabama. Runner on first, nobody out for Hodo.
- Pinckney beat out a throw from third for an infield single. Runner on first, nobody out for Williamson.
Top 4
- Taylor lined out to second, where Johnson was able to quickly beat the runner back to first base for the double play. Side retired.
- Smith drew a full-count walk. Runner on first, one out.
- Woods struck out the first batter he faced. One out.
- Reynolds' day is done on the mound for Alabama. New pitcher for the Crimson Tide: RHP Kade Woods.
Final line for Reynolds: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 55 TP, 42 ST.
Bottom 3
- Shelton grounded into a double play. Inning over.
- Jarvis lined out to center. One out, runner on first.
- Guscette drew a four-pitch walk. Runner on first, nobody out for Jarvis.
Top 3
- Culumovic flied out to second and three runners are left stranded.
- Kade Woods is warming up in the bullpen as Alabama pitching coach Jason Jackson makes a mound visit.
- Another walk by Reynolds loads the bases for the Skyhawks. Two out as designated hitter Columovic steps up to the plate.
- Fernandez drew a full-count walk. Runners at the corners with two out.
- Hobson stole third. Runner on third, two out.
- Reynolds fans Rice. Two out, runner on second.
- Hobson stole second. Runner on second, one out.
- Hobson reached on a fielder's choice to short, Beaman out at second.
- Beaman hit an infield single to short. Runner on first, nobody out.
Bottom 2
- Johnson popped up to second. Inning over.
- Hamiter drew a full-count walk. Runner on first, two out for Johnson.
- Rose popped up to short. Two out.
- Hodo struck out looking. One out.
Top 2
- A flyout by Taylor ends the side. Reynolds sits them down in order.
- Reynolds' strikeout total increases to two on the afternoon as he caught Smith looking. Two out.
Bottom 1
- Williamson struck out swinging. Inning over.
- Shelton stole second on a wild pitch. Runner on second, two out.
- Pinckney flied out to center. Two out, runner on first.
- Shelton singled to right field. Runner on first, one out.
- Jarvis grounded out to second. One out.
Top 1
- After a leadoff infield single, Reynolds is able to retire three batters in a row to end the side.
- First pitch by Reynolds is called a ball, and we are underway at The Joe.
Pregame
- A solid performance of The Star-Spangled Banner on a beautiful afternoon for some college baseball. First pitch is slated for 3:02 p.m. CT:
INLINE
- Starting lineup for Alabama:
- 1. Jim Jarvis (SS)
- 2. Colby Shelton (3B)
- 3. Andrew Pinckney (RF)
- 4. Drew Williamson (1B)
- 5. Will Hodo (DH)
- 6. Caden Rose (CF)
- 7. William Hamiter (LF)
- 8. Ed Johnson (2B)
- 9. Mac Guscette (C)
- Starting pitcher: Jackson Reynolds (RHP)
- Starting lineup for UT Martin:
- 1. Zac Rice (RF)
- 2. Andrew Fernandez (SS)
- 3. Blaze Bell (1B)
- 4. Jack Culumovic (DH)
- 5. Mac Danford (3B)
- 6. Will Smith (LF)
- 7. Slade Taylor (C)
- 8. Alex Beaman (2B)
- 9. Caleb Hobson (CF)
- Starting pitcher: Zach Wager (LHP)
- Current weather conditions: 83 degrees Fahrenheit, 44 percent humidity, 1 percent chance of rain, winds 18 m.p.h. north-northeast.
- Umpires for today's game:
- HP: Dillon Wilson
- 1B: Matthew Wilbanks
- 2B: Bobby James
- 3B: David Bailey
