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Live Updates From Alabama Baseball's Series Opener Against Rhode Island

Score updates and analysis from Sewell-Thomas Stadium as the Crimson Tide takes on the Rams.
Theodore Fernandez|
Sewell-Thomas Stadium ahead of Alabama baseball's Friday game against Rhode Island
Sewell-Thomas Stadium ahead of Alabama baseball's Friday game against Rhode Island | BamaCentral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama baseball squeaked by in its two midweek games this week, using a big eighth inning to get past Samford and eeking out a 2-1 win on Wednesday against Alabama State. The win over the Hornets drew criticism from head coach Rob Vaughn, citing the team's failure to play up to the "standard."

The Crimson Tide has an opportunity to right the ship this weekend as it plays host to the Rhode Island Rams. The Rams are 0-4 this season after getting swept by Jacksonville, but went 38-22 last season and won the Atlantic 10. Tyler Fay will be on the mound for Alabama as he looks to redeem his poor season-opening performance, while RHP Joe Sabbath starts for the Rams. Follow along for live updates and analysis:

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FINAL: Alabama 19, Rhode Island 4

Botti grounds out to end the game.

Hindle doubles to center field to score Moroney. Alabama 19, Rhode Island 4

Moroney doubled to center field. He advanced to third on a groundout from Hopko.

Penney grounds out to Young to start the inning.

Jon Young Jr. replaces Lebron at short and Eric Hines comes in at left field.

This will be the last frame of the game, barring seven runs from the Rams.

B6 — Alabama 19, Rhode Island 3

Osterhouse strikes out swinging, and Taylor flies out to deep centerfield to end a 1-2-3 inning. It's the first inning where Alabama did not score.

Vaughn flies out to start the frame.

T6 — Alabama 19, Rhode Island 3

Lehman strikes out the next two Rams batters, ending a very quick frame.

Ryan King singles for Rhode Island's fourth hit of the game.

Lehman strikes out Thompson to start his relief appearance.

Connor Lehman takes over on the mound for Fay.

B5 — Alabama 19, Rhode Island 3

Freshman Joe Chiarodo strikes out to end a five-run inning. Alabama has scored in every inning this game.

Freshman Caleb Barnett pinch-hits and walks on five pitches. He's walked in both of his at-bats this year without swinging.

Captain Will Plattner pinch hits and strikes out swinging for the second out.

Lebron has a second home run. He sends this ball over the center field wall to bring Holt and Taylor home as well. Alabama 19, Rhode Island 3

Freshman Chase Kroberger strikes out swinging in his first career at-bat.

Holt singles through the right side, bringing home Vaughn and Osterhouse. Alabama 16, Rhode Island 3

Freshman Evan Taylor comes in to pinch-hit and is plunked to load the bases with nobody out. Rhode Island holds a mound visit.

Vaughn and Osterhouse walk to start the frame. After striking out in his first at-bat, Osterhouse has reached base three straight times.

T5 — Alabama 14, Rhode Island 3

Hindle strikes out swinging and Rhode Island grounds into a double-play to end the frame.

Lebron misses first base on a throw, but it is not ruled an error. Was a tough play to make. Rhode Island has another man on.

Moroney hits a home run to center field. That's a three-run blast to cut into the lead. Alabama 14, Rhode Island 3

Penney singles to second. Lebron made a throw to first that was initially ruled as an out, but it was overturned by a Rhode Island challenge.

Medina singles up the middle to start the inning.

Jake Kroberger is playing center field for Alabama.

B4 — Alabama 14, Rhode Island 0

Purdy lines into a double play to end the inning.

Torres grounds out to third, but the first run comes in. Alabama 14, Rhode Island 0

Neal singles to load the bases with nobody out. Alabama is primed for another big inning.

Fowler walks, and Lebron singles to bring him into scoring position.

T4 — Alabama 13, Rhode Island 0

Fay hit the next batter to load the bases, but a pop-up got him out of the jam.

Justin Lebron just nearly made an unreal play at short. Fielded a hard hit grounder, just missed a tag at second, and rifled a throw to first. Would have made his career highlight reel if he'd turned the double play.

A flyout from Aidan Botti advances Hopko to third. Ryan Thompson has a chance to get the Rams on the board with anything to the outfield.

Hopko walks to start the inning. Fay hits Hindle and the Rams are in scoring position for the first time today.

B3 — Alabama 13, Rhode Island 0

Steele fouls out and Holt pops up to end the inning

After going 0-for-11 to start the season, Osterhouse now has back-to-back hits. He rips a base hit up the middle to bring home Purdy and advance Vaughn to third. Alabama 13, Rhode Island 0

Kopetski gets away with a balk, but ends up walking Vaughn.

Purdy is hit by a full-count slider to get to first base.

Torres flies out to center field. Adonis Medina made an athletic catch in the field to put one away.

Neal hits a leadoff home run to center field, his first of the season. Alabama 12, Rhode Island 0

T3 — Alabama 11, Rhode Island 0

Fay gets the Rams 1-2-3 in an eight-pitch inning with two groundouts and a strikeout. He's struck out four batters and gotten through three innings in just 33 pitches.

B2 — Alabama 11, Rhode Island 0

Reliever Josh Kopetski puts down Fowler and Lebron to end an eight-run inning.

Holt walks, moving Steele into scoring position. Sabbath's day is done after just 1.1 IP.

Alabama has made it all the way through the order in one frame. Steele is back up, and he again singles. Still just one out in this one.

Osterhouse finally records his first hit with the team. It's a home run to right field that also scores Purdy. Alabama 11, Rhode Island 0

Vaughn hits a sac fly to center, bringing Torres home. Alabama 9, Rhode Island 0

Purdy hits into what should be a groundout, but the shortstop Moroney just cannot field the ball. The freshman reaches first base.

Torres rips a bases-clearing double to deep centerfield that hits the wall. Alabama is rolling. Alabama 8, Rhode Island 0

Neal hits into what should be a routine flyout, but the left fielder drops the ball. Everyone advances on base. Alabama 5, Rhode Island 0

Lebron walks to load the bases. It looks like Lebron showed up pitcher Joe Sabbath on his home run the prior inning, as Sabbath threw inside twice to start the at-bat.

Fowler singles to center field, bringing Steele home. Alabama 4, Rhode Island 0

Brennan Holt hits a line drive to right that goes just over the first baseman's glove. Steele advances to third.

Peyton Steele singles to left field to start the frame.

T2 — Alabama 3, Rhode Island 0

Fay hits the next Rams' batter, but a subsequent fielder's choice ends an uneventful frame.

Fay gets a strikeout and a groundout to start the inning.

Lebron's first-inning home run was announced as 417 feet, the longest by any Alabama player this season.

B1 — Alabama 3, Rhode Island 0

Vaughn flies out and Osterhouse strikes out looking to end the inning. Osterhouse ripped what he thought was a base hit down the right field line, but it rolled just foul.

After Jason Torres strikes out, freshman Andrew Purdy knocks a base hit through to left field to bring Neal home. Alabama 3, Rhode Island 0

Brady Neal doubles down the right field line.

Justin Lebron hammers his third home run of the season to center field to put Alabama up 2-0. Alabama 2, Rhode Island 0

Fowler gets hit by a pitch. Rob Vaughn comes out to check on him, but he is able to stay in the game.

T1 — Alabama 0, Rhode Island 0

Fay strikes out Will Hindle to end the frame.

Fay walked shortstop Reece Moroney, but got Jack Hopko to fly out to left field for the second out.

Tyler Fay strikes out Scott Penney to start the game.

First pitch was 4:02. It is 75 degrees and slightly overcast.

Pregame:

Alabama's starting lineup
Alabama's starting lineup | BamaCentral
Rhode Island's starting lineup
Rhode Island's starting lineup | BamaCentral

This is Alabama baseball's first-ever Power of Pink series, designed to raise awareness for breast cancer. First started in the gymnastics program in 2005, Power of Pink has spread throughout numerous Crimson Tide sports.

How To Watch Alabama vs. Rhode Island:

All three games of the series will be broadcast digitally on SEC Network+. Fans can listen to the series on Tide 100.9 FM with Roger Hoover on the call.

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Published | Modified
Theodore Fernandez
THEODORE FERNANDEZ

Theodore Fernandez is BamaCentral’s baseball beat reporter and a co-host of The Joe Gaither Show. He also works as a weekend sports anchor at WVUA 23 News in Tuscaloosa and serves as one of the station’s lead high school sports reporters. Fernandez is a news media student at The University of Alabama and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management.