Alabama Baseball Crushes Alabama State, Set to Arrive in Jacksonville Still Undefeated

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Despite temperatures at Sewell-Thomas Stadium being anything but what players on teams from Alabama are accustomed to, the Crimson Tide took care of Alabama State 15-1 on Wednesday, the team's second consecutive win by run rule.

"Just really proud of the approach to the game tonight from our guys," head coach Rob Vaughn said. "That was an uncomfortable baseball game right there from a temperature perspective, but you wouldn't have known it sitting in that dugout."

Alabama's pitching staff was perfect through 3.1 innings and had a no-hitter going through 4.1. Right-hander Zach Kittrell made his first Crimson Tide start, and it was six up, six down for him in two innings.

"His path to getting here is pretty awesome," Vaughn said. "He missed all fall... Even coming out this preseason, we were kind of intrigued to see Zach Kittrell. We've seen videos, we knew what it was before he got hurt... What I think I've been most impressed with him is his ability to manage a game, slow it down."

The Hornets (1-4) didn't get a run across until the final frame, despite loading the bases in the fifth inning. Meanwhile, Crimson Tide right fielder Bryce Fowler was responsible for six runs batted in, all in the first three innings; he hit a grand slam to dead center in the bottom of the third to bring the score to 8-0.

After Alabama (5-0) spent last season with power atop the order in the form of slugging third baseman Gage Miller, Fowler provided shades of the since-turned professional Miller with that blast.

"It felt good, obviously, to get on the board," Fowler said. "I kinda felt like I was getting left behind, seeing all the guys hitting home runs over the last couple of games... Glad I got it out of the way."

Catcher Will Plattner and center fielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. added RBI singles in the fourth inning, sending the contest into run-rule territory. Second baseman Brennen Norton tacked on another in the fifth, scoring third baseman Jason Torres, who had previously ended a skid of three straight strikeouts in the game with a leadoff double.

Also in the home half of the fifth, Bonomolo took a 3-1 pitch with two men on that was called a strike. He had tossed his bat to jog to first, but upon reassuming his stance, scored both runners with a double on the next pitch. The Crimson Tide initially made the margin two touchdowns with a Will Hodo sacrifice fly in the sixth, sending in Peyton Steele.

The home team's final run crossed the plate in the form of Torres after a single by team captain Kade Snell. Reliever Jack Ketchum shut the door on the already-slim possibility of the game extending to regulation length in the visitors' seventh, though Kyler McIntosh hit a single to score Wilbert Espinal. Alabama State mustered only three total hits in the contest. Alabama's offense scored in every inning.

Fowler and Bonomolo had 10 RBIs between the two of them, with Bonomolo taking nicely thus far to his role of extending the lineup and turning the card over. It's one after the other with those two; if Bonomolo comes up and gets on, up comes Fowler.

"I think we're pretty awesome in the outfield," Bonomolo said. "We have the speed, and I think that me and Bryce, and Kade Snell, we just get after it... Going in the nine spot, I know what my job is, and I want to get on base every at-bat... I was able to work a walk, and Bryce hits that grand slam. It feels good, you know? Unselfish baseball. It's awesome.

Shortstop Justin Lebron flashed his elite defensive skills, among the best of middle infielders in the nation, including an incredible double play turned in the sixth. The sophomore has continued to lock down his area of the infield, and his range is naturally above average.

"He's unbelievable. In my opinion probably the best shortstop in the country. I don't think it's close," Fowler said. "Nine times out of 10, it's probably an out. I know as a pitcher, those guys, having him behind them, that's a great feeling to have."

"He's a special kid," Vaughn said. "When you get guys like that, you kinda just hold on tight and enjoy the ride."

Vaughn said his team's focus going into this weekend's Jacksonville Classic, where Alabama faces Coastal Carolina, NC State and Ohio State, will be to handle business while away from home after the first five games.

"We're gonna play three SEC-caliber teams," Vaughn said. "I think it's gonna be huge to get these guys on the road... It's gonna be really good to get out there and see, can we continue to be us on the road against good opponents, when we're not sleeping in our own bed, when we're not playing in The Joe, can we continue to be this team that operates at the level they're operating right now."

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