The red hot Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team improved to 14-0 on the season by defeating a ranked Troy team 3-1 on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa. The 14-0 start matches the 2020 and 2023 teams as the 2nd longest winning streak to open a season in program history, and also tie the 3rd longest streak all time for Alabama. In the latest D 1 Baseball rankings Troy is 19th and Bama checked in at 23rd.
The pitching matchup was junior right hander JT Blackwood for Alabama against right hander Adam Falinski for Troy. Blackwood retired the first two batters he faced before allowing a two out double to Blake Cavill. A ground out ended the inning. In the bottom half Bama had a chance to take a lead. Justin LeBron, in the two hole, lined a ball off of Falinski’s backside that was 105 mph off the bat. Somehow Falinski was able recover and make a play to retire LeBron at first base. Coleman Mizell singled with two outs, and moved to 2nd when Jason Torres was hit by a pitch. A ground out ended the threat.
Blackwood again allowed a two out hit in the second, this time a single to Jimmy Janicki. A wild pitch moved the Trojans designated hitter to second, but a strikeout looking stranded Janicki on second. Falinski showed no ill affected from being hit and had a perfect second inning with a strikeout. Troy used some small ball to take the lead in the top of the 3rd inning. Jakob Wax dribbled a ball to third base and beat it out for an infield single. Wax moved to second on a single by Steven Meier, both advanced on a slow roller to the mound and Wax scored on a ground out to shortstop.
The Tide took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Richie Bonomolo, Jr walked to lead off the inning. After Bryce Fowler flew out deep to centerfield, LeBron strode to the plate. On a 2-2 pitch the nations leader in RBI quickly added two more to his ledger. On a hanging curve ball the star shortstop basically one armed the ball 383 feet with a 30 degree launch angle, and “only” 96 mile an hour off the bat for his 9th home run of the season, and his 33rd and 34th RBI. The blast provided the Tide all the runs they would need in the game.
Blackwood allowed a lead off single in the 4th, but a pop out and a double play started by Fowler in right field ended the frame. On a fly ball to right, Fowler deked the runner into running to second, then made the catch and threw a laser to Will Hodo at first base to end the inning. The Tide had a chance to blow the game open off of Falinski in the bottom of the inning. Hodo led off with single but was forced out on a fielders choice from Brennen Norton. Kade Snell laced a double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. A walk to Brady Neal loaded the bases for the red-hot Bonomolo, but a pop out ended the inning without the Tide able to score.
Sophomore left-hander Matthew Heiberger took over on the mound in the top of the 5th inning and hit the first batter he faced. A sac punt by Wax moved the runner into scoring position. Heiberger recorded ground out to shortstop and second base to quelch the scoring opportunity. Bama went out in order in the bottom half, and Heiberger returned for the 6th and retired the Trojans in order on only six pitches, including a strikeout. In the bottom of the 6th Bama added an insurance run. Hodo led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Norton. After Colby Frieda replaced Adam Falinski on the mound, the runners moved up on a fly out by Snell. Neal hit into a fielders choice to drive in a run for a 3-1 lead.
Heiberger remained on the hill in the 7th and 8th innings allowing only a walk and single with two more strikeouts. Frieda mowed down the Tide in the 7th and 8th also in perfect fashion, not allowing a base runner. Pitching coach Jason Jackson called on Tide closer Carson Ozmer in the top of the 9th to shut the game down. Ozmer earned his 4th save of the year striking out the side while only allowing a one out single.
Alabama hit 6-30 in the game with two walks, one hit batter, two strikeouts, and six men left on base. Hodo was 2-4 with a run scored, LeBron drove in two with his home run in a 1-4 night. Neal drove in the other run, and Mizell, Snell, and Norton had the other base hits. Heiberger was the winning pitcher after allowing only one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in his four scoreless innings. Blackwood set the tone in his four innings, allowing five hits, one run, no walks, and striking out two. Ozmer earned his fourth save on 14 pitches, with three strikeouts and allowing one hit.
Troy hit 7-32 with one walk, eight strikeouts, and left seven men on base. Janicki had two of the hits, and Cavill had the only run batted in. Falinksi was the loser and fell to 0-1 on the year.
This was an exceptional win for Alabama, beating an instate, ranked team, that has had a lot of buzz about being one of the top mid major teams in the country. The win was the Tide’s 9th straight against the Trojans, having last lost to them in 2016. Fowler’s 13 game hitting streak was snapped in the game. LeBron drove in multiple runs in a game for the 9th time this season and is tied for the national home run lead with nine, and leads everyone in RBI with 34. It is Justin LeBron’s world, we are all just living in it. Mizell has reached base in all 13 games he has played in this season. Snell has reached base in 11 straight games.
After the game Coach Rob Vaughn was complimentary of the pitching performance of all three of his arms that threw today. Vaughn was especially high on Heiberger, who has battled back from an injury to become a vital piece of the pitching staff. Vaughn said that “we have been able to out slug people for the first couple of weeks, but tonight is what most of the rest of our games will be like.” Vaughn was complimentary of Troy pitchers Adam Falinski and Colby Frieda saying “they have real stuff.” The second year coach went on to say “the way we won tonight is how teams that win in May and June win games.”
The Tide has started to catch the nations attention, and is now only one of six undefeated teams left in the Division One College baseball. The teams hot start and the superstar LeBron’s historic start is bringing eyeballs to Tuscaloosa. Vaughn said about his shortstop “his maturity is showing, he is a special player, and a really good player, doing it at the hardest position to play in baseball.”
Next up is a weekend series with Presbyterian College on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Start times are 6 pm, 4 pm, and 1 pm, and all will be available on SEC Network Plus. Expect the Tide to stay with the rotation of Zane Adams, Riley Quick, and Bobby Alcock in the series.
Roll Tide
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