Alabama Baseball Takes Series Against the Stetson Hatters
With the series tied 1-1 against the Stetson Hatters (11-6), the Alabama Crimson Tide (14-3) came out on top after a seven run inning in the bottom of the third.
“I thought we made some progress offensively today… plenty to work on, but pleased with the weekend,” said head coach Brad Bohannon on the series. “I’m excited to be 14 and three.”
Stetson was first on the board in the final game of the series. Two walks and a single set the Hatters up for success in the top of the first. Alabama’s starting pitcher, Antione Jean, threw 12 pitches. Stetson’s Banks Griffith was able to get hold of the thirteenth and score Nick DiPonzio on a two-out RBI-single.
Stetson’s right-handed pitcher, Jovan Gill, kept Alabama’s bats quiet. Gill struckout three and threw 38 pitches to the whole lineup and saw Peyton Wilson twice through two innings.
The bottom of the third inning was where the Crimson Tide’s bats lit up. After William Hamiter got thrown out at first, Sam Praytor drew a walk and quickly stole second. Drew Williamson didn’t waste any time as he singled to center in five pitches which pushed Praytor across the plate to start the seven run inning.
Williamson stole second with Zane Denton at the plate. Denton grounded out and Williamson advanced to third. Owen Diodati drew a two-out walk to get a runner on base for Alabama.
The bottom of the lineup, Andrew Pinckney, Jim Jarvis and Caden Rose, was able to string together three back-to-back singles to extend Alabama’s lead to 4-1.
“There were a lot of singles,” said Bohannon. “But they were solid contact.”
Rose stole second for the second time of the game and Peyton Wilson drew a walk to put runners on first and second.
Cole Stallings took the mound for Stetson after Gill gave up four runs. William Hamiter stepped up to the plate for the second time in the inning. He swung at the first pitch and sent it down the left field line for a two-out RBI-double extending Alabama’s lead to six.
“One of the things we always try to talk about is better fastballs,” said Hamiter. “I’m all off speed pitches so I knew I could go fastball [and I got the] perfect first pitch fastball.”
Wilson scored on a wild pitch to end the inning.
Stetson hit a two-run home run in the fourth and scored on a ground out in the seventh, those ended up being the last runs for the Hatters as Jacob McNairy was able to keep Stetson at bay.
The Crimson Tide added to its lead in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI from Praytor who would end the inning by crossing the plate on a wild pitch to put Alabama up 9-4.
Landon Green closed out the ninth for the Crimson Tide going three-up-three-down to end the game with a score of 9-4 for Alabama.