Instant Analysis: What Went Right in No. 17 Alabama Baseball's Win Over Alabama State
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team defeated the Alabama State Hornets 12-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
It looked to be a pitchers' duel for the first half of the game, then the Bama bats exploded resulting in another dominant win for the Crimson Tide to keep the team undefeated.
Here is what went right in the victory.
Pitching
Freshman left-handed pitcher Zane Adams started on the mound for the Crimson Tide, earning his first collegiate start. Adams was coming off a relief appearance on Feb. 17 against Manhattan College where he pitched one inning. On Wednesday, he went four innings, struck out two batters, walked two, and allowed one hit.
Matthew Heiberger, Pierce George, and Jansen Kenty all had appearances in the victory. As a whole, the relievers struck out four and allowed three hits.
Batting
The bats were ice cold through the first three innings with The Crimson Tide only having one hit, a leadoff single by Evan Sleight in the second inning. Things changed in the fourth as Alabama’s bats got crimson hot. The team tacked seven runs onto the board with an RBI walk by Kameron Guangorena, back-to-back RBI singles by Bryce Eblin and Gage Miller, and a grand slam by TJ McCants.
The Crimson Tide added another five runs to the board in the fifth inning with a two-RBI single by Guangorena, an RBI on a passed ball by the Alabama State catcher, and a two-RBI single by McCants.
Hornets Miscues
As well as the passed ball, the Crimson Tide capitalized on the Hornets miscues. The offense drew eight walks, two hit by pitches, one stolen base, and struck out a total of six times. Five of the Crimson Tide’s 12 runs came off of Hornets miscues.
