Alabama
2-0
Manhattan College
0-2
Overpowering Offense Leads Baseball to 15-0 Win over Manhattan
2/17/2024 5:48:00 PM | Baseball
The Tide posted back-to-back shutouts to open a season for the first time since 2020
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball secured the series with a 15-0 victory over Manhattan on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the win, the 17th-ranked Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 on the young season.
Alabama's offense came out hot early, tallying a run in the first before a pair of four-run frames in the second and third inning. The Tide crossed another run in the fourth and posted a five-spot in the home half of the fifth to push the score to 15-0, the eventual final.
The Crimson Tide offense finished with 12 hits and eight walks on the way to 15 runs. TJ McCants and Mac Guscette led UA at the plate, both recording three-hit efforts. McCants went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, a pair of runs scored, one walk and a stolen base, while Guscette finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, a hit-by-pitch and a team-high four RBI. William Hamiter also contributed a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-2 with a double and one run scored off the bench.
Riley Quick (1-0) picked up the win in his first career start. The sophomore worked 3.0 innings, striking out five and walking one while not allowing a hit. Quick handed the ball off to the bullpen, with a collection of four arms combining for five punchouts while allowing just one hit and no walks across the final 4.0 frames.
From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"We didn't just go out and slug, slug, slug today – that's coming. The beautiful thing about today is that we were able to execute at a really high level. Some guys had really good days offensively just by battling through tough at-bats and taking what they were given. This has been a really good start to the year, but we have got to come out and finish tomorrow."
How It Happened
- B1 | TJ McCants started the rally with a one-out double to right and advanced to third on an infield groundout. The Tide center fielder then came across to score the game's first run on a wild pitch. (1-0, Alabama)
- B2 | With runners on the corners and one down, Justin Lebron beat out a grounder on the infield for an RBI-single. A fielder's choice then put runners on the corners for Gage Miller, who capitalized on the opportunity by sending an RBI-single through the right side. After a mound visit, McCants picked up his second knock of the game with an RBI-single. Miller, who moved to third on the McCants hit, came home in the next at-bat thanks to a wild pitch to cap the inning's scoring at four. (5-0, Alabama)
- B3 | Guscette got things going with a bases-loaded single to left to plate a pair. After a pitching change and a four-pitch walk to Lebron, Bryce Eblin reached on an error to cross another run for UA. The final run of the frame came on a bases-loaded double play that scored Guscette to widen the gap. (9-0, Alabama)
- B4 | Will Hodo led off with a four-pitch walk and found himself on third by way of a stolen base and a wild pitch. Guscette followed with his third single and third RBI of the game. (10-0, Alabama)
- B5 | Coleman Mizell began the inning with a pinch-hit double to left and came home in the next at-bat when McCants hammered a double of his own. William Hamiter was next to pinch-hit and delivered another double to put the pair in scoring position. A hit-by-pitch to Evan Sleight loaded the bases up before a walk for Swinney pushed a run across. Guscette followed with a hit-by-pitch to add another tally before a passed ball and a sacrifice fly led to two more tallies. (15-0, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Alabama has won 15 straight games on Opening Weekend following today's victory. The Tide's last loss in a season-opening series came on Feb. 16, 2019, against Presbyterian.
- The Tide posted back-to-back shutouts to start the season for the first time since Feb. 14-15, when Alabama blanked Northeastern to start 2020.
- Alabama's pitching staff did not surrender a hit for the first 4.2 innings of Saturday's contest.
- Riley Quick tied his career-high for strikeouts with five punchouts in his first career start.
- Alabama's 15 runs are the most since UA posted 21 in a 21-7 win against Alabama State on March 8 of last season.
- ATTENDANCE: 3,718
Alabama will go for the season-opening sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT. The Tide will send junior right-hander Aidan Moza to the bump while Manhattan's starting pitcher is still to be announced. The series finale between the Crimson Tide and Jaspers will air on SEC Network+.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabmaBSB on X/Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at Alabama Baseball. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on X/Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Riley Quick (1-0)
L: Mattera, Noah (0-1)
Base Running:
HBP: Davis, Vincent 1
Batting:
2B: Coleman Mizell 1 ; TJ McCants 2 ; William Hamiter 1 ; Mason Swinney 1
RBI: Gage Miller 1 ; TJ McCants 2 ; Mason Swinney 1 ; Mac Guscette 4 ; Justin Lebron 1 ; Bryce Eblin 1 ; Will Portera 1
SF: Will Portera 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gage Miller 1 ; Coleman Mizell 1 ; TJ McCants 2 ; William Hamiter 1 ; Will Hodo 2 ; Evan Sleight 2 ; Mason Swinney 3 ; Mac Guscette 2 ; Bryce Eblin 1
SB: TJ McCants 1 ; Will Hodo 1
HBP: Evan Sleight 1 ; Mac Guscette 1
