Alabama recorded a season-high 18 hits and 15 runs in the series-opening win
3/8/2019
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball recorded a season-high 18 hits on the way to a 15-1 victory over Northern Kentucky on Friday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson Tide extends its winning streak to nine games and improves to 13-2 on the season.
"This was a good win for us," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "We've been talking about executing better offensively. We had a lot of hard contact throughout the lineup. We got a couple of big hits early to bust it open, and then we got a lot of guys in there that all did a good job."
The Crimson Tide totaled a season-high 18 hits on the way to a season-best 15 runs in the series opener with the Norse. Eleven different players recorded at least one hit with four posting multi-hit efforts. The offense was led by junior Brett Auerbach, who finished a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and a team-high tying three RBI. The five-hit effort matched the Alabama program record for hits in a game and marked the 32nd five-hit game in Tide history.
Also contributing multi-hit efforts were freshmen Drew Williamson and T.J. Reeves along with senior Keith Holcombe, with all three players totaling two knocks. Reeves led the way with a 2-for-2 showing that included a double, his first career home run, three RBI and a team-best three runs scored.
Not to be outdone were the Crimson Tide pitchers. Sam Finnerty (4-0) was sharp once again, tossing 7.0 innings of one-run baseball. The senior gave up five hits while striking out six to match his career-high total for punchouts as a starter. Finnerty was followed by Dylan Smith and Dylan Oliver who both recorded 1.0 frame with one strikeout apiece while holding NKU hitless. The trio of arms did not issue a walk on the day, the first time Alabama has done so in a game this season.
Alabama struck early, scoring seven runs across the first three innings with five in the second and two in the third. The Tide then put up a season-high tying seven runs in the fifth inning to make it a 14-0 affair through five. Northern Kentucky tallied one run in the seventh off Finnerty, but that would end their scoring. Alabama came right back for one of its own in the bottom of the eighth to set the score at 15-1, the eventual final.
The Crimson Tide and Norse return to the diamond tomorrow for game two of the series at The Joe. The Saturday matchup has been moved up to an 11 a.m. first pitch after previously being listed for 2 p.m. Alabama will call on redshirt junior Brock Love, a right-hander, for the start while Northern Kentucky will counter with sophomore righty Kyle Service. Fans can catch all the action live on 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:
3/8/2019
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball recorded a season-high 18 hits on the way to a 15-1 victory over Northern Kentucky on Friday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson Tide extends its winning streak to nine games and improves to 13-2 on the season.
"This was a good win for us," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. "We've been talking about executing better offensively. We had a lot of hard contact throughout the lineup. We got a couple of big hits early to bust it open, and then we got a lot of guys in there that all did a good job."
The Crimson Tide totaled a season-high 18 hits on the way to a season-best 15 runs in the series opener with the Norse. Eleven different players recorded at least one hit with four posting multi-hit efforts. The offense was led by junior Brett Auerbach, who finished a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and a team-high tying three RBI. The five-hit effort matched the Alabama program record for hits in a game and marked the 32nd five-hit game in Tide history.
Also contributing multi-hit efforts were freshmen Drew Williamson and T.J. Reeves along with senior Keith Holcombe, with all three players totaling two knocks. Reeves led the way with a 2-for-2 showing that included a double, his first career home run, three RBI and a team-best three runs scored.
Not to be outdone were the Crimson Tide pitchers. Sam Finnerty (4-0) was sharp once again, tossing 7.0 innings of one-run baseball. The senior gave up five hits while striking out six to match his career-high total for punchouts as a starter. Finnerty was followed by Dylan Smith and Dylan Oliver who both recorded 1.0 frame with one strikeout apiece while holding NKU hitless. The trio of arms did not issue a walk on the day, the first time Alabama has done so in a game this season.
Alabama struck early, scoring seven runs across the first three innings with five in the second and two in the third. The Tide then put up a season-high tying seven runs in the fifth inning to make it a 14-0 affair through five. Northern Kentucky tallied one run in the seventh off Finnerty, but that would end their scoring. Alabama came right back for one of its own in the bottom of the eighth to set the score at 15-1, the eventual final.
The Crimson Tide and Norse return to the diamond tomorrow for game two of the series at The Joe. The Saturday matchup has been moved up to an 11 a.m. first pitch after previously being listed for 2 p.m. Alabama will call on redshirt junior Brock Love, a right-hander, for the start while Northern Kentucky will counter with sophomore righty Kyle Service. Fans can catch all the action live on 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:
