Three-Run Seventh Lifts Baseball to 8-7 Win Over Troy on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 6

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

4 p.m. CT

Alabama

12-1

Troy

10-4

Troy

Alabama

Three-Run Seventh Lifts Baseball to 8-7 Win Over Troy on Wednesday

3/6/2024 8:39:00 PM | Baseball

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

The Tide and Trojans traded leads all afternoon with Alabama getting the upper hand

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball used a three-run seventh inning to defeat Troy, 8-7, on Wednesday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the win, the 13^th-ranked Crimson Tide improves to 12-1 on the year and a perfect 9-0 at The Joe.

Alabama was first on the board on Wednesday, crossing a run in the second, but Troy answered in the top of the third with one run of their own. After UA plated single tallies in the third and fourth, the Trojans tied the game at three a piece with a two-run fifth. Troy took its first lead of the game with one in the sixth, but the Tide answered with a pair of runs in the home half to regain the advantage. A two-run top of the seventh shifted the lead back to the Trojans, but a three-spot following the stretch put Alabama in front for good. That seventh was highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of Gage Miller. Troy added one in the eighth but would get no closer for the 8-7 final.

Bryce Eblin led the Crimson Tide offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and a run scored. Also recording a multi-hit day was TJ McCants, who finished 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games while also contributing one run scored and two stolen bases. Miller rounded out the offense with the homer to push his hitting streak to 12 in a row.

Zane Adams was solid in his start on Wednesday, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He then turned the ball over to the bullpen, with four arms combining for the final 4.2 frames. The relief effort was highlighted by Braylon Myers (1-0), who picked up his first win of the season, along with Alton Davis II who notched his second save to secure the midweek win for UA.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn

"The energy level today was very mediocre early, but I thought we did a good job of continuing to show up and finding a way to win. There's something to be said for teams that just find a way to get it done when it matters. I didn't think we were outstanding, but at the end of the day we're 12-1 heading into the weekend with a good, veteran Lipscomb team."

How It Happened

B2 | Evan Sleight drew a one-out walk before a Justin Lebron single to right put two aboard for the Tide. Bryce Eblin was next up, sending a ground ball to second with an errant throw going into left field to allow Sleight to score the game's first run. (1-0, Alabama)
T3 | Troy loaded the bases with one down before a sacrifice fly deep to short allowed the man from third to tag and score. (1-1)
B3 | TJ McCants led off with a single to center and moved up 90 feet by way of the stolen base. Two batters later, a lineout to first turned into an eventual throwing error that afforded McCants the opportunity to score. (2-1, Alabama)
B4 | Lebron started the inning with a walk before Eblin was able to move the pair into scoring position with a double. Lebron then scored on a sac fly to right to widen the gap. (3-1, Alabama)
T5 | The Trojans loaded the bases and plated a pair with a two-out, two-run single. (3-3)
T6 | Peyton Watts homered to right to give the Trojans their first lead of the game. (4-3, Troy)
B6 | UA loaded the bases with two down for Kade Snell. The Tide first baseman capitalized on the opportunity, sending a two-RBI single through the right side. (5-4, Alabama)
T7 | With two on and one down, a single crossed the tying run. The Trojans then loaded the bases before a sac fly to right crossed the go-ahead run. (6-5, Troy)
B7 | Lebron reached on a hit-by-pitch and came home in the very next at-bat thanks to an RBI-double to center by Eblin. Will Portera then stepped in to pinch-hit, sending a sacrifice fly to second to plate Eblin and give the Tide the lead right back. Gage Miller was next, hammering a solo shot to left to cap the inning's scoring. (8-6, Alabama)
T8 | A two-out single to left crossed a run for the Trojans. (8-7, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

Alabama has won 16 straight games at Sewell-Thomas Stadium dating back to May 6 of last season. That streak includes three consecutive victories in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.
With tonight's victory, the Crimson Tide extended its' winning streak against Troy to seven games.
Alabama has homered in 11 straight games dating back to Feb. 18.
TJ McCants finished 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Over the current stretch, the senior is batting .403 (21-52) with five doubles, one triple, six homers, 21 RBI, 15 runs scored, nine walks, a hit-by-pitch and six stolen bases.
Gage Miller finished 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Over the streak, the junior is batting .438 (21-48) with two doubles, six home runs, 20 RBI, 20 runs, one walk and six hit-by-pitch.
Bryce Eblin finished 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games. Over the current stretch, the senior is batting .526 (10-19) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, six runs scored, two walks, two hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.
Evan Sleight has reached base in all 13 games this season.
ATTENDANCE: 3,245

Alabama will break before hosting Lipscomb this weekend at The Joe. The Crimson Tide and Bisons are slated for a 6 p.m. CT start on both Friday and Saturday followed by a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. All three games will air live on SEC Network+.

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