Live Blog: No. 18 Alabama Baseball at Samford

The No. 18 Alabama baseball team only has two midweeks to go before that aspect of the regular season schedule is in the books for 2025. The first of those two takes place on Tuesday night at Samford.

Alabama won the first meeting of the season at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on April 1. The Bulldogs made it interesting by scoring seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to put a severe dent in what had been a 10-2 deficit. The Crimson Tide added an insurance run and won by two, 11-9.

As it now stands, Samford (22-17) has not beaten Alabama (31-10) in its last 10 tries. It also came close in last spring's game in Homewood, Rob Vaughn's first season coaching the Crimson Tide.

The game, with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch time, can be live streamed on ESPN+. The contest was initially scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, but that was postponed slightly due to weather.

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from Alabama at Samford. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

Ninth Inning:

Ozmer gets a strikeout to end it. FINAL: Alabama 11, Samford 7.

Carson Ozmer is now in to close the game on the mound for the Crimson Tide.

Brady Neal strikes out for the third out. Last chance for Samford coming up.

After a Bonomolo single, Samford goes to another pitcher, this time Heath Clevenger. Two out in the top of the ninth.

Kade Snell singles in Lebron to add a key two-out insurance run for the visitors. Alabama 11, Samford 7.

Joseph Lee is now on the mound for the Bulldogs.

Eighth Inning:

Banks strikes out the side. Final regulation inning inbound; Alabama has a 10-7 lead.

Hagan Banks will be the new pitcher for Alabama.

Staton pops out to send it to the bottom of the eighth.

Will Hodo extends the lead with a two-run single and pushes Alabama's run total into double digits. Three RBIs for him on the night. Torres worked a walk to get him to the plate. Alabama 10, Samford 7.

Samford will go to Evan Steckmesser to pitch. Sanders has lots his control. Runners for the Crimson Tide are on second and third. Jason Torres is at the plate with a huge opportunity.

A wild pitch from Sanders scores Justin Lebron, who'd also made it to third on a wild pitch. Alabama 8, Samford 7. Two on, two gone.

Seventh Inning:

Prieto strikes out to end the seventh. Both teams are still tied at seven.

Morris strikes out Gupton and Neal throws McDonald out at third. Pivotal double play.

Lehman walks Parker McDonald on the first batter after stretch time. He's replaced by Austin Morris.

Will Plattner grounds into an inning-ending double play after a Staton popout. Samford gets out of the jam still tied 7-7.

Trey Sanders is the new arm for Samford. Whitney exits after a walk to Torres and hitting Hodo with a pitch to put two runners on with nobody out.

Sixth Inning:

Lehman sits the Bulldogs down 1, 2, 3. On to the late innings in Homewood.

Whitney strikes out the Crimson Tide in order in the sixth. Could be a momentum swing in this 7-7 game.

Fifth Inning:

Lehman gets the final out of the fifth, stranding the runner on second.

Connor Lehman is coming in to pitch in relief of Blackwood.

Pinch hitter Gatlin Pitts ties the game with a double down the left field line. Alabama 7, Samford 7.

Gupton scores Souders and McDonald from second and third on a single. Again, it's a new ball game. Alabama 7, Samford 6.

Whitney retires the next three in order after the home run, bringing the game to the bottom of the fifth. Halfway home in Homewood.

A two-run home run by Garrett Staton makes it Alabama 7, Samford 4.

Fourth Inning:

A two-out double is the only offense for Samford in a scoreless fourth.

JT Blackwood will toe the slab for the visitors in the bottom of the fourth.

Whitney strikes out Torres to prevent further damage in the top of the fourth. Alabama strands them loaded. Crimson Tide 5, Bulldogs 4.

Samford goes to a new arm out of the bullpen, John Whitney. Two are out in the inning but the bases are also full. Big spot.

Horowicz walks Neal to load the bases.

Richie Bonomolo connects on a clutch two-out single with runners on first and second to give the Crimson Tide the lead back. Alabama 5, Samford 4.

Cullen Horowicz is now on the mound for the Bulldogs.

Third Inning:

The inning ends with a Finateri strikeout of Broome. Tie game.

Prieto lines it to Lebron, who takes it for an unassisted double play. Huge twin killing for the Crimson Tide at this point in the game.

A Texas Leaguer for the speedy Michael Gupton ties the game. Parker McDonald had been hit by a pitch and reached third on a failed pickoff. Alabama 4, Samford 4.

A home run for the cleanup man Jake Souders makes it a 4-3 game. Samford is back in it. Deep to left center. Nobody out in the home third.

Berry leaves two men aboard in a scoreless opening inning of work for him.

Noah Berry is now on the mound for Samford.

Second Inning:

Ince is stranded at third base with a Finateri strikeout to end the inning. Alabama 4, Samford 1.

Finateri gets the first batter he faces, Gus Gandy, to ground into a double play.

Alcock is being lifted from the contest. Runner on first is his responsibility. The new Alabama pitcher will be Aeden Finateri.

Leadoff walk to Brayden Broome from Alcock to start the bottom half.

Lebron hits a two-out single to bring Staton in. One of the country's quality run producers gets his 60th RBI of the year. Alabama 4, Samford 1.

Garrett Staton doubles against his former team. One run is in and another is in scoring position with nobody out in the top of the second.

Will Hodo hits a solo home run off Brooks Rice to lead off the inning. Alabama 3, Samford 1.

First Inning:

Richie Bonomolo Jr. makes a great catch in center to rob Angelo Prieto of at least two RBIs, and probaby three if he had missed the catch. He also retired the side with that play, keeping Alabama's 2-1 lead intact.

Alcock walks the bases loaded with one out. Early pressure for him and an opportunity for Samford to grab the lead.

Jeffrey Ince hits a leadoff home run against Bobby Alcock to get the scoring started for the home team and slash the deficit in half. Alabama 2, Samford 1.

Jason Torres strikes out to close a productive top of the first. Alabama had one hit in the two-run frame.

Kade Snell scampers home on a wild pitch. Samford also has a walk, an error and a failed rundown. Crimson Tide 2, Bulldogs 0.

Richie Bonomolo singles, and beats a rundown, to score Justin Lebron. Crimson Tide has runners on the corners with one away. Alabama 1, Samford 0. The Bulldogs have been struggling on defense early.

Pregame:

Alabama's lineup:
1. Bryce Fowler, right field
2. Justin Lebron, shortstop
3. Kade Snell, left field
4. Richie Bonomolo Jr., center field
5. Brady Neal, catcher
6. Jason Torres, third base
7. Will Hodo, first base
8. Garrett Staton, second base
9. Will Plattner, designated hitter
P: Bobby Alcock (RHP)

Samford's lineup:
1. Jeffrey Ince, second base
2. Jackson Harris, first base
3. Cade Carr, catcher
4. Jake Souders, left field
5. Parker McDonald, third base
6. Michael Gupton, center field
7. Angelo Prieto, right field
8. Brayden Broome, designated hitter
9. Gus Gandy, shortstop
P: Brooks Rice (RHP)