The Tide was no-hit until the fifth but scored five runs over the final four innings for the win
3/10/2018
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Five runs across the final four innings, highlighted by a three-run seventh, helped Alabama baseball clinch the 5-2 victory and series win over New Mexico State on Saturday. With the win, the Crimson Tide moves to 13-3 on the season.
"It was a tough day to score," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "Compliments to their starter (Jonathan Groff), who did a great job of throwing strikes. He had a good changeup and threw all three pitches for strikes. I was proud of our kids. We grinded through it. We didn't get a hit until the fifth inning but the feeling in the dugout was still positive. Our kids didn't press or panic, and we were able to bust through and win the game."
Alabama's offense was highlighted by senior Chandler Avant's 3-for-4 day that included a career-high three doubles to go along with his team-leading two runs scored and two RBI. Junior Jett Manning also contributed a pair of RBI as part of his 1-for-3 outing with one walk.
On the hill, sophomore Davis Vainer (2-0) earned his second win of the season thanks to a career-long 4.0 innings of work. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three Aggie hitters. Junior Dylan Duarte tallied his second save of the season, throwing the final inning.
New Mexico State struck first in the game thanks to a solo home run in the top of the fourth. One inning later, Alabama evened things up at 1-1. Avant led off the fifth with a double to left-center, the Crimson Tide's first hit of the day, breaking the no-hit bid by the Aggie starter. A flyout to right moved Avant to third and then a 4-3 groundout crossed the leadoff man to knot the score up after five full.
The Tide broke the tie in the seventh, plating three runs on four hits and a walk to give the Crimson Tide a 4-1 lead after seven. Junior Keith Holcombe collected a one-out single to start the rally, and came home in the next at-bat. Avant plated Holcombe with an RBI-double to left, leading to a play at the plate, but a great slide by Holcombe broke up the tag and allowed Avant to move to third on the throw.
Junior Matt Malkin walked on four straight pitches in the next at-bat before a single by Manning through the left side brought in Avant from third for the inning's second run. One out later sophomore Walker McCleney singled to right to lead to another play at the plate, this time with Malkin. The throw beat the Tide backstop by a good bit, but a perfect slide by Malkin avoided the tag at home as he touched the plate to score UA's third run of the inning.
New Mexico State cut the deficit to two with one run in the top of the eighth. The Aggies used three consecutive singles followed by a double play to bring in one run and make it a 4-2 affair heading to the home half. In the bottom of that inning, the Crimson Tide matched NMSU with one run to put the game out of reach. Senior Hunter Alexander walked with one down and one out later Avant used his third double of the day to bring in Alexander, making it 5-2 for the final.
Next up for Alabama is a two-game midweek pairing with in-state Alabama A&M on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network+. Following the midweek non-conference matchups, the Crimson Tide will host Georgia this weekend form March 16-18 to kick off Southeastern Conference action. All three games of the SEC series can be seen nationally on the SEC Network.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
3/10/2018
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Five runs across the final four innings, highlighted by a three-run seventh, helped Alabama baseball clinch the 5-2 victory and series win over New Mexico State on Saturday. With the win, the Crimson Tide moves to 13-3 on the season.
"It was a tough day to score," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "Compliments to their starter (Jonathan Groff), who did a great job of throwing strikes. He had a good changeup and threw all three pitches for strikes. I was proud of our kids. We grinded through it. We didn't get a hit until the fifth inning but the feeling in the dugout was still positive. Our kids didn't press or panic, and we were able to bust through and win the game."
Alabama's offense was highlighted by senior Chandler Avant's 3-for-4 day that included a career-high three doubles to go along with his team-leading two runs scored and two RBI. Junior Jett Manning also contributed a pair of RBI as part of his 1-for-3 outing with one walk.
On the hill, sophomore Davis Vainer (2-0) earned his second win of the season thanks to a career-long 4.0 innings of work. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three Aggie hitters. Junior Dylan Duarte tallied his second save of the season, throwing the final inning.
New Mexico State struck first in the game thanks to a solo home run in the top of the fourth. One inning later, Alabama evened things up at 1-1. Avant led off the fifth with a double to left-center, the Crimson Tide's first hit of the day, breaking the no-hit bid by the Aggie starter. A flyout to right moved Avant to third and then a 4-3 groundout crossed the leadoff man to knot the score up after five full.
The Tide broke the tie in the seventh, plating three runs on four hits and a walk to give the Crimson Tide a 4-1 lead after seven. Junior Keith Holcombe collected a one-out single to start the rally, and came home in the next at-bat. Avant plated Holcombe with an RBI-double to left, leading to a play at the plate, but a great slide by Holcombe broke up the tag and allowed Avant to move to third on the throw.
Junior Matt Malkin walked on four straight pitches in the next at-bat before a single by Manning through the left side brought in Avant from third for the inning's second run. One out later sophomore Walker McCleney singled to right to lead to another play at the plate, this time with Malkin. The throw beat the Tide backstop by a good bit, but a perfect slide by Malkin avoided the tag at home as he touched the plate to score UA's third run of the inning.
New Mexico State cut the deficit to two with one run in the top of the eighth. The Aggies used three consecutive singles followed by a double play to bring in one run and make it a 4-2 affair heading to the home half. In the bottom of that inning, the Crimson Tide matched NMSU with one run to put the game out of reach. Senior Hunter Alexander walked with one down and one out later Avant used his third double of the day to bring in Alexander, making it 5-2 for the final.
Next up for Alabama is a two-game midweek pairing with in-state Alabama A&M on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network+. Following the midweek non-conference matchups, the Crimson Tide will host Georgia this weekend form March 16-18 to kick off Southeastern Conference action. All three games of the SEC series can be seen nationally on the SEC Network.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaBSB on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
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