Live Blog: No. 8 Alabama Baseball vs. Samford

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The No. 8 Alabama baseball team has a familiar in-state opponent on the docket for a home tilt Tuesday night: the Samford Bulldogs.

Samford (14-14) makes its home approximately an hour from Sewell-Thomas Stadium, and its connections to this year's Crimson Tide squad run deep. Alabama got infielder Garrett Staton, one of midmajor baseball's better all-around hitters last season, from Samford.

Staton is available and will play against his old team in Tuesday's game, which gets underway at 6 p.m. CT and can be streamed on SEC Network+. He returned last week from surgery on a broken finger, which he had in February.

Alabama (25-4) most recently defeated Oklahoma in the two teams' weekend series in Tuscaloosa, taking both wins by 8-6 final scores on Friday and Sunday. It got a big Sunday spot start from Aeden Finateri, a past midweek starter this season. JT Blackwood will get the ball Tuesday.

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Ninth Inning:

Ozmer strikes out the side. FINAL: Alabama 11, Samford 9.

Eighth Inning:

Neal pops out to end the frame. Ninth inning inbound in a two-run game. Closer Carson Ozmer will come on and try to get the save. Alabama 11, Samford 9.

Staton is caught stealing second for the second out of the inning.

After Coleman Mizell grounded out to get Plattner over, Staton indeed hits his old school hard with an RBI single. Huge insurance run that makes it 11-9.

Plattner hits a double on a payoff pitch.

Banks works around a two-out error for a big swinging strikeout to retire the side. Crunch time. Will Plattner will start the bottom of the eighth at the plate.

Hagan Banks is coming on to pitch for Alabama. Could potentially finish this game if he's economical.

Seventh Inning:

Will Hodo and Jason Torres walk back-to-back with two away, but Bryce Fowler strikes out swinging to end the inning. On to the eighth. Alabama 10, Samford 9.

Joseph Lee will deal to Alabama in the bottom half of the inning. Another new pitcher for Samford.

Alabama escapes the inning without further damage. Crimson Tide 10, Samford 9 at stretch time.

Brayden Broome tries to bunt Souders home, but Souders is tagged. Samford challenges the out call, which is upheld. Bulldogs have scored seven runs in the inning.

A sac fly from Carr brings the score to 10-9.

Jake Souders singles home Harris to make it a two-run game.

Tyler Fay will now come out of the pen and try to salvage this inning for the home team.

Jackson Harris doubles home a pair, and the Bulldogs are back in this game. The score is now 10-7.

Ketchum will come out of the game with a man on first after failing to record an out. Replacing him will be Connor Ball.

Pinch-hitter Gatlin Pitts hits a three-run home run off Ketchum to make it a 10-5 game. He sent it to the Right Field Ragers student section. Samford has only sent pinch-hitters to the plate so far this inning.

Sixth Inning:

Crimson Tide goes down 1, 2, 3 in the bottom of the sixth, not doing any more damage. Jack Ketchum will begin the seventh on the hill for Alabama.

Drew Druckenmiller is on for Samford out of the pen. Bulldogs going through the motions as it pertains to using pitchers.

Samford down in order once more, as Lehman looks every bit the part of someone whose debut came before tonight.

Lehman starts the inning on the bump.

Fifth Inning:

Alabama strands men on the corners in the home half. The score holds steady at 10-2 in favor of the Crimson Tide.

Cullen Horowicz is now in to pitch for Samford.

Lehman and Buchanan combine to send Samford back to the first-base dugout 1, 2, 3. Lehman gets a three-pitch strikeout against his debut batter.

After Buchanan got the first two outs, Connor Lehman is now pitching for Alabama. Season debut for the left-hander.

Fourth Inning:

Alabama goes down 1, 2, 3 for the first time all night long. The Crimson Tide leads 10-2.

Staton flies out.

John Whitney is now in to pitch for the visitors. He'll face Staton first. Lots of chances early for the former Bulldog to burn his old team.

Buchanan sits the Bulldogs down in order in the top half of the fourth. He's settled in well.

Third Inning:

The Crimson Tide stretches its run total to double digits with a five-run third. Alabama 10, Samford 2.

Justin Lebron singles home Bonomolo. Alabama has four runs in the inning.

Two-run double for Richie Bonomolo. He's been a menace tonight for the Bulldogs and acquitted himself well in the leadoff spot on the lineup card. He has five RBIs tonight and also just stole third base. Nobody out in the inning.

Neal gets a double out to dead center for another run; Coleman Mizell scores. Samford going back to the bullpen and calling on Austin Tommasini. Alabama now leads 6-2.

Staton works another walk and has reached base twice in this game. Two on for Brady Neal.

Buchanan strands two to get out of the inning, but the Bulldogs cut into the lead. Alabama 5, Samford 2 halfway through three.

Another Samford run crosses on a sac fly by Cade Carr.

Buchanan hits his first batter, scoring Samford's Hayden Perry for the first visiting run of the ball game.

Each of Samford's first three batters of the inning have reached; Kittrell walked the bases loaded, prompting a mound visit as Coulson Buchanan finishes warming in the home bullpen and enters the game.

Zach Kittrell is now pitching for the Crimson Tide. JT Blackwood finishes his day with two perfect innings.

Second Inning:

A Will Plattner groundout ends the inning. Alabama 5, Samford 0.

Noah Berry is now pitching for Samford. Second Bulldog arm of the inning.

Fowler continues his great run at the plate over the last few games, doubling home Torres to bring the Alabama lead to 5-0.

Jason Torres thought a pitch hit him. After review, it did not. He doubles into the right-center gap on the next pitch.

Bonomolo hits a three-run home run, his third of the season, to make it a 4-0 score early. Brady Neal reached on a fielder's choice after the Staton walk. Staton was safe at second due to an error.

In his first at-bat against Samford, Garrett Staton draws a leadoff walk.

Will Hodo juggles the third out before getting it together just in time; Blackwood works another 1, 2, 3 inning in the second. The Bulldogs are now going with a new pitcher: John Malone.

First Inning:

Coleman Mizell pops out to strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, but a single by Bryce Fowler scored Richie Bonomolo for the first run of the game. The Crimson Tide drew three walks in the frame. Alabama 1, Samford 0.

Samford goes down in order in its first turn at the plate. JT Blackwood got a couple groundouts but had some swing-and-miss offerings as well.

Pregame:

No Kade Snell in Alabama's starting lineup, as expected, after he was injured in a collision Sunday. Taking his place in left field for the Crimson Tide tonight is Brady Neal.

Samford's lineup:
1. Jeffrey Ince, 2B
2. Jackson Harris, 1B
3. Cade Carr, DH
4. Jake Souders, RF
5. Parker McDonald, 3B
6. Trey Higgins, LF
7. Hayden Perry, C
8. Gus Gandy, SS
9. Michael Gupton, CF
P: Brooks Rice (RHP, 9.39 ERA)

Alabama's lineup:
1. Richie Bonomolo Jr., CF
2. Justin Lebron, SS
3. Will Hodo, 1B
4. Jason Torres, 3B
5. Bryce Fowler, RF
6. Will Plattner, C
7. Coleman Mizell, DH
8. Garrett Staton, 2B
9. Brady Neal, LF
P: JT Blackwood (RHP, 3.74 ERA)