How To Watch: No. 17 Alabama Baseball vs. Valparaiso
The No. 17 Alabama baseball team is off to a 5-0 start, and next on the slate are the Valparaiso Beacons. The second weekend of the series of the Crimson Tide's 2024 campaign comes after a 2-0 midweek stretch. Those victories came by a combined margin of 18-1.
Each game can be viewed on SEC Network+. The first pitch of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on Friday.
The weekend looks a bit different from the opening three-game set against Manhattan College. Most prominent amongst the changes is the change to the pitching rotation, necessitated by starting pitcher Riley Quick having undergone Tommy John surgery on Tuesday. He exited his lone start early, on Feb. 17.
Ben Hess, who dazzled in four shutout innings with nine punchouts on Opening Day, will take the mound first against the Beacons. Aidan Moza, who started last Sunday, gets the ball on Saturday. Louisville transfer Greg Farone gets his first crack at filling in the weekend spot in the series finale after putting up five strikeouts in fewer than three innings during the first midweek game of the spring.
Valparaiso (2-2) just split a four-game series with Alabama's most recent opponent, Alabama State. The wins featured the Beacons posting eight runs apiece. The losses have been defined by comparatively less output: the season opener featured the Hornets defeating Valpo 16-5 in eight innings.
The Crimson Tide offense has been bolstered by the early breakout of center fielder TJ McCants, a transfer from Ole Miss. McCants has three home runs (including a grand slam) and 13 runs batted in through five games. Third baseman and designated hitter Gage Miller has also tallied multiple long balls, and second baseman Bryce Eblin has come into form over the past week.
First pitch in game two of the series on Saturday will be at 2 p.m. CT. Farone's first weekend start on Sunday is set to get underway at 1 p.m. CT.
