Seven-Run Eighth Ensures Baseball’s 13-6 Win over South Carolina

Friday, March 29

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

21-6, 4-4

South Carolina

20-7, 4-4

South Carolina

Alabama

Seven-Run Eighth Ensures Baseball’s 13-6 Win over South Carolina

3/29/2024 10:20:00 PM | Baseball

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

Things were knotted up at six apiece before the Tide blew the game open with a seven-run frame

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A seven-run eighth inning propelled Alabama baseball to a 13-6 win over No. 10 South Carolina on Friday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the 15^th-ranked Crimson Tide clinched the series over SC while improving to 21-6 overall and 4-4 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama got the scoring going thanks to a five-run third with the Gamecocks cutting into the lead in the fifth by posting a four-spot. The Tide answered with one in the home half of the fifth, but the two-run advantage was not safe as SC evened things up with a pair of runs in the sixth. Both teams were then held scoreless until the eighth when five hits and two free passes led to seven runs for UA.

The Crimson Tide offense racked up 13 hits to go with three walks and two hit-by-pitch for 13 runs on the evening. Eight of the nine starters reached base safely and contributed one run or better in the game while seven of the starters tallied at least one hit. Gage Miller led in hits with a 3-for-4 showing that included a double, one walk and two runs scored. Also contributing multi-hit efforts were the Tide's 3-through-6 hitters in Ian Petrutz, Evan Sleight, Justin Lebron and Kade Snell, who all tallied two knocks apiece. Petrutz and Sleight each homered while Petrutz led the Tide in RBI with five.

Ben Hess was solid in his start, maintaining a no-hitter through 4.0-plus innings. He allowed four runs on three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work before the Tide bullpen took over. The relief effort featured a combination of four arms with Pierce George (1-0) getting the win thanks to a scoreless eighth inning that included a walk and one strikeout.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

"We did a great job with their starter (Dylan Eskew) who is really good, and we were able to get him out early. We got to their bullpen arm Matthew Becker, and we took some good swings off of him early, but he settled in with that breaking ball and kept us off time so we couldn't get comfortable. However, we adjusted well once we got into the eighth and our guys just put together tremendous at-bats all around."

How It Happened

B3 | Alabama loaded the bases to start the third before a groundout to first from TJ McCants scored the game's first run. Then, with two down and runners at second and third, Ian Petrutz singled through the left side to add two more. Evan Sleight was next, homering to left-center for two more runs. (5-0, Alabama)
T5 | With runners at second and third and one down, a single to center scored a pair for the Gamecocks. Cole Messina then cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left. (5-4, Alabama)
B5 | McCants led off with a double to right. A groundout in the next at-bat moved the center fielder to third before a Sleight double to right scored him. (6-4, Alabama)
T6 | The Gamecocks put runners on second and third with one down before a 6-3 groundout brought one across. A passed ball then allowed the tying run to score. (6-6)
B8 | Sleight started the inning with a hit-by-pitch before a Justin Lebron single moved runners to the corners. Kade Snell capitalized on the opportunity, breaking the tie with a two-run double to right-center. He was followed by an RBI-double from Will Hodo that forced an SC pitching change. The new arm proceeded to get the first out before a sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter William Hamiter added another tally. Gage Miller followed with a double and McCants drew a walk in the next at-bat with the pair scoring on Petrutz' three-run homer to right. (13-6, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

The Crimson Tide pitching staff tallied 14 strikeouts and has notched double-digit punchouts in 14 games this season, including four SEC contests.
Ben Hess maintained a no-hitter through 4.0-plus innings.
Eight of the nine starters reached base safely on the night. All eight contributed at least one run scored, as well.
Seven of the nine starters recorded at least one hit.
Alabama totaled 13 hits and has recorded double-digit hits in 20 of 27 contests, including five SEC matchups.
Alabama has homered in 20 games overall, including 14 multi-homer efforts.
Kade Snell has recorded a hit in seven consecutive games. Over that streak, the redshirt junior is batting .444 (11-25) with two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, eight runs scored, a pair of walks and one hit-by-pitch.
Gage Miller has reached base safely in all 26 games that he has played in. The 26-game streak is the longest by a Crimson Tide player since Morgan McCullough's 25-game streak from Feb. 15-March 22, 2019.
Ian Petrutz has reached base in 15 consecutive games.
ATTENDANCE: 4,723

Alabama will return to The Joe on Saturday looking for the sweep of South Carolina. The Crimson Tide will send senior left-hander Greg Farone to the hill while the Gamecocks counter with freshman righty Tyler Pitzer. Fans can catch the series finale on SEC Network+.

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