Sweep Secured as Baseball Outlasts Manhattan, 11-8, on Sunday

Sunday, February 18

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1 p.m. CT

Alabama

3-0

Manhattan College

0-3

Manhattan

Alabama

Sweep Secured as Baseball Outlasts Manhattan, 11-8, on Sunday

2/18/2024 5:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Postgame Press Conference

The Crimson Tide used 11 runs on offense plus a save from Alton Davis II to hold off the Jaspers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball held off Manhattan for an 11-8 win on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to complete the series sweep. With the victory, the 17^th-ranked Crimson Tide is now 3-0 to start the 2024 campaign.

The Tide posted a pair of two-run frames in both the first and second to take the early lead, but Manhattan answered with a three-spot in the top of the third to keep things close. Alabama came right back with a four-run third and added one more in the fourth to set the score at 9-3 after four full. The Jaspers were able to add three in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it a two-run ballgame, but the Tide returned the favor with a solo home run from Will Hodo in the bottom of the sixth. Each team added one apiece across the final three frames with the game finishing at 11-8.

Alabama recorded 14 total hits on the afternoon, five of which were home runs including four that went over the fence. Hodo was joined in the home run column by Gage Miller, TJ McCants and Evan Sleight while Justin Lebron hustled for an inside-the-park homer. Hodo and Miller tied for the team lead in hits with three apiece, as Miller went 3-for-5 from his leadoff spot with one RBI and a team-high three runs scored while Hodo finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs and a walk.

Aidan Moza (1-0) picked up the win, tossing 4.0 innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Alton Davis II earned his first save of the year, holding Manhattan scoreless over the final 2.0 innings. The sophomore gave up one hit and walked one while striking out three to help UA complete the sweep.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

"What I really look for as a coach is the level of energy that we bring (on Sunday). Today was a really cold morning and it is easy, especially after winning a game 15-0, to show up hoping that the other team just rolls over, but I don't think our guys did that today. Our energy was great, I just don't think we played an awesome brand of baseball defensively. But that is why you have some of these early games, to kind of get that going, and we did enough offensively to get the win."

How It Happened

B1 | Ian Petrutz got the Tide's two-out rally started with a single. Will Hodo followed with a walk before a wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position. Evan Sleight then sent a grounder to short that resulted in an error, with the ball traveling into center field to allow both runners to score. (2-0, Alabama)
B2 | With the bases loaded and two down, Petrutz drew a walk to push a run across. Hodo followed with a single on the infield to score one more and double the lead. (4-0, Alabama)
T3 | The Jaspers reached two to start the inning before a sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly then scored the first run before a single and a double added two more. (4-3, Alabama)
B3 | Mason Swinney and Coleman Mizell opened the inning with singles and came home on a Justin Lebron inside-the-park home run. One out later, Gage Miller singled before a homer over the wall from TJ McCants plated the pair. (8-3, Alabama)
B4 | Sleight hit a solo shot to left to add to the Tide lead. (9-3, Alabama)
T5 | Manhattan loaded the bases to start the frame with a fielder's choice bringing in the first run of the inning. A hit-by-pitch and a groundout to first added two more to narrow the gap. (9-6, Alabama)
T6 | A two-out single with two aboard brought in the man from second for another Manhattan run. (9-7, Alabama)
B6 | Hodo hit a solo homer over the wall in right to get one back for the Tide. (10-7, Alabama)
T7 | A leadoff double followed by a one-out single added a run for the Jaspers. (10-8, Alabama)
B8 | Miller sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left for a solo home run. (11-8, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

Alabama has won 16 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 Crimson Tide has now swept on Opening Weekend in each of the last five seasons.
Eight of the nine starters on offense recorded at least one hit in today's game.
Alabama's offense recorded five home runs on the day, its most since March 7 of last season at Samford. The five against the Bulldogs were the 2023 group's season-high.
Justin Lebron's inside-the-park home run was his first career home run. He is believed to be just the second player in Crimson Tide history to go inside-the-park for his first home run, joining only David Kindred (2010).
Lebron's inside-the-parker was just the sixth by an Alabama player since 1983 and the first since T.J. Reeves on March 19, 2019, against Maine.
ATTENDANCE: 3,325

The Crimson Tide will break on Monday before hosting at pair of midweeks at The Joe. Alabama will first welcome Middle Tennessee to town on Tuesday before hosting Alabama State on Wednesday. Both games are set for a 4 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network+.

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