Early Offense Proves Enough in Baseball’s 9-7 Win over UIC on Sunday

Sunday, March 5

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

12 p.m.

Alabama

12-0

UIC

4-6

Illinois-Chicago

Alabama

Photo by: Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

Early Offense Proves Enough in Baseball’s 9-7 Win over UIC on Sunday

3/5/2023 3:45:00 PM | Baseball

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The Crimson Tide scored nine runs across the first four innings to help secure the win and series sweep

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball built a lead early and held on late to earn a 9-7 win over UIC on Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The victory clinched the series sweep of the Flames and moved the Tide to 12-0 on the season.

UIC plated one run apiece in the first and second innings before Alabama gained the advantage thanks to a five-run second. The Tide then added a pair of runs in the third but a four-run fourth by the Flames cut the lead to one. Alabama answered with two runs in the fourth and allowed just one tally over the final 5.0 innings to secure the 9-7 win.

Zane Probst (1-0) picked up the win with 1.0 scoreless inning of relief that saw the junior strike out the side. Braylon Myers earned his third save of the season, getting out of a jam in the eighth and finishing with 1.2 scoreless frames and two punchouts.

Alabama's offense was led once again by Colby Shelton. The freshman recorded a grand slam for a second straight day and finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Mac Guscette and Drew Williamson each added a home run of their own, with Guscette's going for two runs while Williamson's was a solo shot.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

"I'm glad to get the win, a sweep and to be 12-0. We came out hot, and we got up 7-2, but I felt like we kind of took our foot off the pedal. I really didn't like the back half of the game except for Braylon Myers and Zane Probst, who were both really sharp out of the bullpen. We just weren't crisp after the fourth inning and gave away some at-bats, but we did enough to win the game."

How It Happened

T1 | The Flames reached a pair of runners with a hit-by-pitch followed by a two-out single. A single to right-center in the next at-bat brought across the game's first run. (1-0, UIC)
T2 | With runners on the corners, a double play got two but allowed the man from third to cross for the Flames. (2-0, UIC)
B2 | The Tide loaded the bases with a walk, hit-by-pitch and single, all with one down. Colby Shelton then cleared the bases with his second grand slam of the weekend. One out later, Drew Williamson sent a ball halfway up the Right Field Terrace for a solo shot. (5-2, Alabama)
B3 | William Hamiter led things off with a single and immediately came home when Mac Guscette homered in the next at-bat. (7-2, Alabama)
T4 | An error and a single put runners on the corners for UIC. A single in the next at-bat brought across a run. With runners still on the corners and two down, Carson Roberts hit a ball over the wall in right for a three-run home run to cut the lead to one. (7-6, Alabama)
B4 | Williamson and Will Hodo got aboard to start the frame and moved into scoring position on an Ed Johnson sacrifice bunt. Jarvis moved everyone up 90 feet with a run-scoring single and was followed by Hamiter, who recorded a single and an RBI of his own. (9-6, Alabama)
T8 | A single with runners on the corners added one for the Flames. (9-7, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

Alabama's 12-game winning streak to start the season is the standalone third-longest in program history. The all-time record for wins to start a season is 15 by the 1997 roster.
The 12-game streak also ties for the ninth-longest winning streak at any point in a season. The 12-game streak has occurred on three previous occasions, most recently by the 2019 team from games 7-18.
The Crimson Tide totaled 13 hits in the contest and has posted double-digit hit totals in 10 of 12 games.
Eight of the nine Alabama starters recorded at least one hit on Sunday.
Alabama has hit a grand slam in four straight games for the first time in program history. Camden Hayslip recorded one on Tuesday against Jacksonville State, followed by one from Tommy Seidl on Friday and then a pair from Colby Shelton on Saturday and Sunday.
Shelton hit the Tide's fourth grand slam of the season and his second in as many games. He is the first UA hitter to record a grand slam in consecutive games since Owen Diodati from March 7-9, 2021.
Shelton extended his hitting streak to nine games. Over that stretch, the freshman is batting .433 (13-30) with a double, seven home runs, 16 RBI, 11 runs, five walks and a hit-by-pitch.
Drew Williamson has gotten aboard in all 12 contests to start his graduate season. Including the final game of last season, Williamson has gotten aboard in 13 straight games.
Will Hodo has reached base safely in last 10 games played. Hodo also extended his hitting streak to seven games.
Andrew Pinckney's hitting streak came to an end at 11 games.
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Next up for the Crimson Tide is a quick trip up to Birmingham on Tuesday, March 7. Alabama will square off with Samford at 6 p.m. CT at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+.

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