No. 19 Alabama Baseball Rides Early Start to Opening Day Win vs. Manhattan
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The opening game of the Rob Vaughn era went just like the No. 19 Alabama baseball team drew it up. A successful run through the early innings propelled the Crimson Tide to a 4-0 win against the Manhattan Jaspers in front of a solid crowd and rowdy right field terrace at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Starting pitcher Ben Hess, getting the Opening Day nod in his junior season, brought his A+ stuff while on a pitch count as he works back from injury and got the win. He struck out nine Jasper hitters and allowed just one hit in four innings of work. Hagan Banks followed this performance with five punchouts of his own in 2.2 innings pitched. Those are two of the Crimson Tide’s key returning arms.
The newly-revamped offense got to Manhattan starting pitcher Justin Solimine early without even hitting the cover off the baseball. Leadoff man Gage Miller was plunked in his first Alabama plate appearance, which was then supplemented by the first of two hits on the day by Ole Miss transfer TJ McCants. Miller and McCants had the first two runs of the season, when Jaspers shortstop Josiah Brown couldn’t get a Will Hodo grounder out of his glove and then allowed another run by making an errant throw to first.
In the third inning, McCants scored another run after doubling, then stealing third, when fellow transfer outfielder Ian Petrutz sent him home. Hodo, playing first base after the departure of Drew Williamson, flew out, but then right fielder Evan Sleight hit a screaming single (the first of his two hits) to score Petrutz. It was a productive day for the newcomers. Freshman shortstop Justin Lebron also got his first college hit, and would’ve had a pair if it weren’t for an excellent pick by Manhattan’s Drew Wyers at the hot corner in his first turn at the plate.
None of the bats left the ballpark on Friday, despite it being markedly less cold and less windy than previous opening games, including those played to start the last two seasons. Miller, one of the lineup’s power threats, later got hit again and therefore reached base twice in his debut. Junior designated hitter Camden Hayslip struck out twice before walking on his third trip to the dish and striking out in his fourth.
Strikeouts dominated the day defensively. The three Crimson Tide pitchers to see the field combined for 15 of them. The Jasper hurlers settled in, but the offensive side didn’t match that newfound consistency. The only frame in which the visitors had more than one on base at a time was the top of the seventh. The series is far from over, and Manhattan will play for the split on Saturday, while the Crimson Tide can win it with another triumph.
How it Happened:
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- Grounder on the infield ends it and Alabama wins 4-0.
- Alabama threatens in the eighth but does not score, and can win the game with a seamless T9.
- Halfway through the eighth. Petrutz, Hodo and Sleight will bat next with a 4-0 lead still.
- Alabama gets baserunners in the seventh but fails to extend the lead. The final two innings are upon us.
- Myers ends the brief Manhattan threat. Hayslip, Lebron, Eblin due next for the Crimson Tide. Stretch time with Alabama still leading 4-0.
- Banks exits after 2.2 sterling innings with five strikeouts on his ledger. Braylon Myers coming on to pitch with two on and two away in T7.
- Alabama again down 1,2,3 in B6. Uneventful first frame for Shaw on the mound.
- New pitcher for Manhattan in B6 is Greg Shaw. Justin Solimine goes five innings with five hits and four runs, all earned.
- Hess' start was a hard act to follow, but through two frames, Banks has three strikeouts and no baserunners. Still 4-0 Alabama midway through six.
- Alabama goes down in order in the home half of the fifth. Some of Solimine's best work of the day.
- Hagan Banks seamless in T5. Jaspers retired 1,2,3. Once again, it's the top of the order up for Alabama in the bottom half.
- Final line on Hess: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Excellent opening start for the third-year righty.
- Eblin grounds into a double play to end the fourth inning, negating any potential long-term impact for Justin Lebron's first collegiate hit. Hagan Banks coming in to pitch for Alabama.
- Hess strikes out a pair in T4, bringing his number to nine. Manhattan starter Solimine is back out for B4, where it'll be Hayslip, Lebron and Eblin due up.
- Hagan Banks is throwing in the Alabama bullpen.
- Three innings in the books on Opening Day. Alabama is in front 4-0 on four hits, and Hess is still dealing. Card will turn over for Manhattan in the fourth.
- Sleight bats in Petrutz with a screaming single. 4-0 Alabama with two out in B3.
- Petrutz doubles to score McCants from third base. 3-0 Alabama, with one gone in B3.
- Top of the order due up for Alabama in B3.
- The top of the third ends as Guscette narrowly catches Perez stealing for the second out. Debatable call is upheld and Brown strikes out swinging to retire the side.
- Manhattan gets its first hit to lead off T3.
- Alabama goes down in order in B2. Third inning inbound.
- Hess strikes out the side in T2. Two swings, one looking. Bottom of the second inning coming up.
- The top of the second inning is underway.
- The first inning is in the books. Six batters see the plate and two score. 2-0 Crimson Tide.
- Hodo grounds to the shortstop, who can't get it out and makes a bad throw. Two score, E6 and one RBI for the new first baseman. 2-0, Alabama.
- The first hit of the season comes courtesy of TJ McCants, who singles to move Miller to third.
- The first Alabama baserunner of the season is Gage Miller, who was hit by a pitch.
- Through half an inning, Hess has two strikeouts. Miller, McCants, Petrutz coming up to bat for Alabama.
- Hess strikes out his first batter swinging.
- The first pitch of the 2024 season is a called strike.
- Ben Hess will be on a pitch count, which can ascend slightly based on how his opening frames go.
- It'll be crimson hats, not camo, adorned by Alabama for the opening game.
- Alabama Batting Order vs. Manhattan:
- 1. Gage Miller, third base
- 2. TJ McCants, center field
- 3. Ian Petrutz, left field
- 4. Will Hodo, first base
- 5. Evan Sleight, right field
- 6. Mac Guscette, catcher
- 7. Camden Hayslip, designated hitter
- 8. Justin Lebron, shortstop
- 9. Bryce Eblin, second base
- P: Ben Hess, RHP
