The 23rd ranked Alabama Crimson Tide traveled up I-20 to Jacksonville to take on the JSU Gamecocks, a return trip after last weeks game. Last Tuesday the Tide slugged six home runs and defeated the ‘Cocks 20-11 in Tuscaloosa. This Tuesday, with a strong wind blowing in all game, Bama won 11-1, and did not hit any home runs. Under normal conditions a minimum of five balls would have left the yard off the bat of Alabama players.
Georgia Tech transfer Aeden Finateri toed the rubber for the Tide in is first start in Crimson and White. The Gamecocks countered with Grayson Knight. Coleman Mizell and Justin Torres both collected two out singles for Bama in the top of the first, but the inning ended when Mizell was thrown after over running second base. In the bottom of the first Finateri allowed a one out double and a two out walk, but ended the threat with a ground ball force out at 2nd base.
The Tides Will Hodo blasted a ball to deep right field to start the 2nd inning, but with gale force wins blowing in, the ball ended up just short and was gathered in by the right fielder. Kade Snell lined a two out single but Bama could do no further damage in the frame. Finateri had a quick 1-2-3 2nd inning on only 10 pitches as the teams felt each other out.
Alabama finally broke through in the top of the 3rd, but left a lot of meat on the bone. The blistering hot Richie Bonomolo singled to start the inning, and moved up on a passed ball. Bryce Fowler singled Bonomolo to third, and Justin LeBron walked to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Jason Torres walked to drive in a run, but two pop outs ended the uprising with only one run scoring.
The Gamecocks were able to tie the game up in the bottom of the inning. Finateri allowed a lead off single and after a strikeout, a double and a walk to load the bases. Pitching coach Jason Jackson made the call to the bullpen, summoning senior right hander Braylon Myers. Myers hit the first batter he faced to force in a run, but got a web gem from Bonomolo and catcher Will Plattner to end the inning. On a fly ball to center field, Colton Hegwood tagged up and tried for home. However Bonomolo had a different notion, and on a perfect throw to Plattner at home plate Hegwood was out. JSU coach Steve Bierser asked for a review of the play, saying Plattner was blocking the plate without the ball. After a several minute delay the call was upheld.
In the top of the 4th the Tide added two more runs. Snell ripped a double to lead off and after a pitching change, scored on a Plattner single. Bonomolo singled, and when Fowler hit a long fly ball to center field, Plattner moved to third. Bonomolo then stole second base. LeBron grounded out to short for an RBI as Plattner scored.
Myers tossed two more scoreless innings in the 4th and the 5th, walking two, allowing one hit, and striking out two. Bama added another pair in the 6th inning. Plattner lined a one out double down the left field line and moved up when Bonomolo reached on an error. Fowler singled in a run, and LeBron drove in another on a fielders choice. Left hander Tate Robertson took over for Myers in the bottom of the sixth and only allowed a walk.
The Tide scored in the 7th when Hodo singled, stole second, and raced home on a chopped infield single by Snell. Robertson had a perfect bottom half on only eight pitches. Bama added another solo run in the top to the eighth. Bonomolo walked to lead off and stole second base. With one out LeBron hit a fly ball toward right field that the wind played havoc with. The ball was blown several yards and landed in no mans land, scoring Bonomolo and landing LeBron on third base with his first triple of the year, pushing the lead to 7-1 for the Tide. Mizell followed with a rocket single to score another run. Torres crushed a ball to deep right field that the wind held in the park. Mizell tagged up and was gunned out at second for a double play to end the inning.
Robertson had another eight pitch inning in the bottom half with a strikeout, a ground out, and a fly out. The Tide kept piling on in the top of the ninth. Hodo was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Brennen Norton, playing against his former team, reached on an infield single. Snell was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Plattner hit another drive that would have led the park under normal conditions, put was hauled in for a sacrifice fly. Fowler singled in run and the bases remained loaded for LeBron. The nations leader in RBI, drew a walk to drive in his fourth run of the night and 32nd of the year. Mizell hit a long fly ball to center field that sent Bonomolo racing home. Fowler also tried to advance to third, but a perfect throw nullified that idea. Initially it was ruled that Bonomolo reached home prior to Fowler being tagged out. After another long review the call was overturned and the run did not count.
Ariston Veasey was the Tides fourth pitcher of the night, taking over in the bottom of the ninth. After a lead off walk the hard throwing right hander struck out the next three batters swinging while flashing 94- 95 mile an hour fastball.
The SEC’s top hitting team, the Tide finished 15-39 from the plate with five walks, three hit batters, and struck out five times while leaving 10 mean on base. Bonomolo was the catalyst with a 3-4 night, three runs, two stolen bases, and a walk. Snell was 3-4 with a double, two runs, and a run driven in. Fowler finished 3-6 with two runs driven in. Plattner had a big night drive in two runs with his 2-4 game with a double and a sacrifice fly. Mizell was 2-6 with an RBI and has now reached base in all 12 games he has played in. LeBron was 1-4 with four RBI, two walks, a run, a sacrifice fly, and a stolen base. Myers was the winner with his 2.2 scoreless innings, and is now 2-0 on the season.
JSU collected only four hits in 30 tries, with six walks, seven strikeouts, and nine men left on base. Hegwood had a pair of doubles for half of the Gamecocks safeties. Knight was the losing pitcher and fell to 1-1 on the year.
The first true road game and the Tide took care of business against a good Jacksonville State team. Alabama has been averaging 2.4 home runs per game with 29 long balls in their first 12 games. The larger ball park and the wind didn’t allow Bama to add to that total, however, two doubles, a triple, and four stolen bases helped show the team can score in many different ways. The aggressiveness causes a lot of good things to happen, but can also backfire, as there were three base runners thrown out by the Gamecocks. In a spot start, Finateri did a nice job for the Tide. The bullpen was fantastic. The trio of Myers, Robertson, and Veasey, combined for 6.2 scoreless innings with only one hit allowed, four walks, and six strikeouts.
There will be no rest for the Tide as the host 19th ranked Troy today (Wednesday, March 5th) at 4 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Trojans are off to an 11-1 start and defeated Mississippi State last week. Alabama holds a 30-12 lead in the series all time, and has won the last eight contests. The last Troy victory over the Tide was in 2018. Neither team has named a starting pitcher for the game.
Roll Tide
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