TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Baseball games when a team gives its opponent twelve free passes and wins by seven are rare. The baseball team from No. 16 Alabama added Friday’s matchup against No. 18 South Carolina to their list of victories after their offense scored 13 runs.
Against the Gamecocks, Alabama (21-6, 4-4 SEC) produced two huge innings to win 13-6 and secure the series. A tight game was spoiled by a seven-run eighth inning after a five-run third inning set the tone. With six runs scored, South Carolina was tied until the previously mentioned home half of the eighth inning.
Ian Petrutz, a left fielder who batted in five runs and hit a home run on Friday, described the situation as “unbelievable.” Only two home runs were hit by the Crimson Tide in the game: one by right fielder Evan Sleight in the third inning and another by Petrutz in the eighth. “To score 13 runs and not hit the long ball [much], is kinda astounding.”
The offense, led by head coach Rob Vaughn, came together on a night when the pitching staff wasn’t at its best. The offense has embraced the pack mentality that the first-year captain brought to Tuscaloosa. Ben Hess, the starter, had a strong start to his performance, but the skilled South Carolina order ended up pursuing him in the fifth. He allowed four runs to be earned.
“The one thing this group does is when they get rolling, it’s a dang steamroller at that point,” stated Vaughn. Like a race to the bat rack, that is. The hits frequently occur in large clusters and reinforce one another.”
Into the bottom of the eighth inning, the score was tied. Alabama took the lead after Kade Snell, the designated hitter, doubled. After starting pitcher Dylan Eskew, Gamecocks pitcher Matthew Becker was the second man out. Becker had thrown a long inning. At last, the Crimson Tide caught up to him.
Once Sleight and shortstop Justin Lebron got to base, Snell—who also pitches—was going to try to cause some havoc. He chuckled, “I’ve made a lot of bad pitches.” “I know, kinda, what to hunt, and if I get that pitch, I just know just to stay through it.” After Sleight was hit by a pitch, he gave credit to Sleight for initiating the rally.
“Trust me, I know, if you leave a ball up in the SEC, it’ll get pounded,” Snell said. Two more run-scoring hits, one a huge fly by Petrutz, followed his hit. Petrutz declared, “[I’m] using my plan, like always.” “Talking to the other hitters and kinda understanding what those pitchers are gonna try to do to us.”
The Crimson Tide had equaled its run total with 13 hits when the final out was caught. Nine starters were hit by seven. The crucial third inning featured a run-scoring knock by Petrutz as well. It’s possible that Alabama is playing from behind in the final innings rather than tied if they don’t get consecutive at-bats in that period.
The players’ head coach praised them for their relentless attack at the plate and for not giving up on a lead. According to Vaughn, “that’s what really good teams do.” “They never give up. They never stop arriving. I may enjoy myself by simply sitting back and observing.” In the eighth, the Gamecocks (20-7, 4-4 SEC) lineup managed to score two runs, but it came too little, too late. The Alabama offense performed admirably once more.