Hess’ Standout Start, Pair of Big Innings Lead Baseball to 12-0 Win over No. 21 Indiana

Friday, March 1

Frisco, Texas

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

10-0

Indiana

6-3

Alabama

Indiana

Hess’ Standout Start, Pair of Big Innings Lead Baseball to 12-0 Win over No. 21 Indiana

3/1/2024 10:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Press Conference

The Tide starter recorded a career-high tying 10 strikeouts while the off5ense scored five in the first and seven in the fourth to earn the run-rule victory

FRISCO, Texas – Alabama baseball used a standout start from Ben Hess combined with a pair of big innings on offense for a 12-0 run-rule victory over No. 21 Indiana on Friday evening at Riders Field. With the win, the 15^th-ranked Crimson Tide is now 10-0 to start the year.

Hess (3-0) was masterful on Friday, maintaining a no-hitter through 4.0 frames and finishing with 5.0 scoreless innings that included just one hit, a walk and a career-high tying 10 strikeouts. He handed the ball over to Coulson Buchanan, who tossed 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings with three strikeouts for the first save of his Crimson Tide career.

Alabama's offense needed only the two big innings to post 12 runs. The first inning featured five hits, a walk and one error for five runs followed by a seven-run fourth that featured just three hits to go with an error, three walks and three hit-by-pitch. All nine starters reached base safely on the night while eight of the nine starters recorded at least one hit. The offense was powered by the 2-3-4 hitters in TJ McCants, Ian Petrutz and Will Hodo, with the trio all contributing two-hit performances while combining for six runs scored and five RBI. Also of note was Evan Sleight, who went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

"Tonight starts with the guy on the mound. (Ben Hess) was unbelievable today, the stuff was real. He attacked the strike zone a bunch and it seemed like he was ahead of everybody. That's a good offense in Indiana and he did a great job of shutting them down."

How It Happened

T1 | Gage Miller reached on an error to start the game before a TJ McCants double in the next at-bat placed the pair in scoring position. Ian Petrutz took advantage of the opportunity, singling to center to score the leadoff man and put runners on the corners for Will Hodo. The Tide first baseman hammered a double to left-center to clear the bases and make it a three-run affair. After a walk and a sac bunt put two more in scoring position, Mac Guscette came through with a two-run single. (5-0, Alabama)
T4 | Miller and McCants both got on to start the inning with a Petrutz double scoring the pair. After a hit-by-pitch for Hodo, Evan Sleight brought three in on a homer to right. The Tide was then able to load the bases up for Miller, who delivered with a sacrifice fly. After a passed ball moved both runners up 90 feet, a wild pitch on ball four brought in the inning's seventh tally. (12-0, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

Alabama is now 10-0 to start the Rob Vaughn era. The 10-0 record ties Vaughn for the longest winning streak to start a Crimson Tide head coaching career. He matched Kid Peeples' record that was set in 1897.
The 10-game winning streak also ties for the fifth-best start to any season, joining the 1897, 1998 and 2002 squads.
Alabama recorded its fourth shutout of the season.
The UA pitching staff tallied 13 punchouts and has struck out double-digit batters in six games.
Ben Hess struck out a career-high tying 10 batters. He had punched out 10 on two previous occasions, most recently against Kentucky on March 24 of last season.
Hess maintained a no-hitter through 4.0 full innings.
All nine starters for the Crimson Tide reached base safely on the night.
Eight of UA's nine starters recorded at least one hit on the night.
Alabama's offense has registered double-digit hits in eight of the 10 games this season.
With his 2-for-4 night, TJ McCants extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Over the current stretch, the senior is batting .410 (16-39) with four doubles, one triple, six homers, 19 RBI, 14 runs scored, six walks, a hit-by-pitch and four stolen bases.
Gage Miller extended his hitting streak to nine games. Over the streak, the junior is batting .472 (17-36) with two doubles, five home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs, one walk and three hit-by-pitch.

Alabama returns to the diamond tomorrow when the Crimson Tide squares off with Arizona. The matchup with the Wildcats is set for a 4 p.m. CT start at Riders Field with the game streaming on D1Baseball.com.

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