Alabama Baseball Sweeps Missouri – Roll ‘Bama Roll

The Alabama Crimson Tide took out the brooms and swept the Missouri Tigers out of Sewell-Thomas Stadium this weekend, winning all three games in the series. The Tide improved to 35-10 overall and 12-9 in conference play. The hapless Tigers fell to 13-30 overall and an unbelievable 0-21 in the SEC. Bama had to mount a comeback to win on Thursday night 7-5, took Friday’s contest 7-3, and finished the weekend with a 12-1 run rule win in seven innings on Saturday.

Game One -Won7-5

Right hander Tyler Fay got his third start of the season in Thursday nights game one. Things could not have started any worse for the Tide. Missouri lead off man Jackson Lovich hit a slow roller for single, then Fay hit the second man in the order, Kaden Peer to put two men on. Keegan Knuston laid down a sacrifice bunt that Fay threw away, allowing Lovich to score and advancing runners to second and third. Cayden Nicholetto then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score the second run of the inning. Chris Patterson hit an infield single, followed by a Baltimore chopper by Gehrig Goldbeck that scored the third run. After a strikeout for the second out, Fay hit eighth batter Peyton Basler with a pitch to load the bases. Ninth place hitter Brady Picarelli poked a single to right to score two more runs. Lovich, batting for the second time in the inning, grounded out to end the inning. The Tigers scored five times on four weak hits, a sac bunt, an error, a sac fly, and two hit batters. Fay threw only 16 pitches in the inning despite facing 10 batters.

After the Tide went down in order in the bottom of the first, Fay settled in and had a perfect top of the second. Alabama cut into the lead in the bottom half. Brady Neal drew a one out walk and scored in front of a two home run by Will Hodo to make the score 5-2 after two innings.

Fay had a perfect third inning. The Tide missed out on a great opportunity in the bottom half of the frame. Justin LeBron and Kade Snell both singled with one out, and when Richie Bonomolo, Jr walked, the bases were loaded with one out. Consecutive strikeouts to Neal and Justin Torres left the bases loaded. Over the fourth and fifth innings Fay allowed only a single and a hit batter. A double play in the fourth and a pick off in the fifth eliminated both runners. Fay retired the first man in the top of the sixth, but when he walked Jedier Hernandez he was replaced in favor of Matthew Heiberger. It took Heiberger only seven pitches to end the inning with a strikeout and a ground out.

The Tide finally drew even in the bottom of the sixth. Neal and Torres hit back to back singles with one out. A ground out by Will Hodo advanced the pair to second and third base, bringing Garrett Staton to the plate with two outs. Staton crushed the first pitch he saw over the visitors bullpen in right center field to tie the game at five runs each. Coleman Mizell and Bryce Fowler followed with singles but were stranded when LeBron struck out.

Heiberger was back out in the seventh and faced only three batters. A ground out, a strikeout, and a caught stealing after a walk ended the inning. The Tide went down in order in the bottom of the seventh. Hagan Banks began the eighth inning on the mound for Bama. A walk and a single on a blooper to right field brought Tide closer Carson Ozmer out of the bullpen. Goldbeck put down a sacrifice bunt and was out at first, moving runners to second and third with one out. Pinch hitter Cameron Benson was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up force plays at each base. The strategy worked perfectly. Basler hit a ground ball to Hodo at first base and a throw to the plate secured the second out. Ozmer then struck out Picarelli to shut down the rally.

Torres and Hodo both walked to open the bottom of the eighth. Staton rapped into a double play, advancing Torres to third. Mizell then blasted a 3-2 pitch over the visitors bullpen for a two run home run and a 7-5 lead. Ozmer walked one in the top of the ninth, but struck out the side to end the game.

Alabama hit 10-33 in the game with four walks, six strikeouts, three home runs, one error, and left six men on base. Staton finished 2-4 with three RBI, his 6th home run, and a run scored. Mizell was also 2-4 with two RBI, his 5th home run and a run scored. Hodo was 1-3 with a walk, two RBI, and his 10th home run. The seventh, eighth, and ninth batters in the lineup combined for three home runs and all seven runs driven in. Ozmer improved to 4-0 on the season with the win.

Missouri finished 7-30 in the game with four walks, three hit batters, seven strikeouts, and left eight men on base. After four hits and five runs in the first the Tigers added only three hits and no runs the rest of the way. Patterson and Picarelli were both 2-4 in the game. PJ Green fell to 1-2 with the loss.

After a terrible start the Tide methodically battled back for the win. Fay, Heiberger, and Ozmer were all outstanding on the mound from the second inning on. Offensively Bama relied on the bottom of the order and the long ball take the win.

Game Two- Won 7-3

Big Riley Quick got the start in game two for Alabama vs Wil Libbert for Missouri. Things started a lot better for the Tide as Quick forced a ground out and notched two strikeouts in the top of the first. Bama got two out singles, from Kade Snell and Richie Bonomolo, Jr in the bottom half, but could not plate a run.

In the top of the second Quick allowed a one out double to Chris Patterson before Brock Daniels came to the plate. At this point Alabama coach Rob Vaughn came out of the dugout to let the umpires know that Daniels was not listed on the 30 man active roster that the Missouri staff had turned in prior to the series start. After a lengthy meeting of the umpires that included crew chief Joseph Smith going into the umpires dressing room to retrieve the paperwork. Once things were settled Daniels was called out for being ineligible there were now two outs and a runner at second. A ground out to shortstop ended the inning.

The Tide stranded two more runners in the bottom of the second in Will Hodo and Coleman Mizell, who had both walked. Quick worked around two singles in the top of the third, highlighted by two strikeouts. Bama got on the board in the bottom of the third. Justin LeBron walked and scored in front of Snell’s seventh home run of the season. Bonomolo singled and stole second and Brady Neal walked with still no outs in the inning. A strikeout and a ground out followed. Jason Torres walked to load the bases but Mizell struck out looking to leave the bases loaded.

Over the fourth and fifth inning Quick faced only seven batters, walking one and adding two strikeouts to give him a career high of seven strikeouts. The Tide looked to put the game away in the bottom half of the fifth. Bonolmol, Neal, and Staton all singled to load the bases. Hodo was hit by a pitch to drive in a run. After Torres struck out Mizell doubled to score two runs. Bryce Fowler grounded out to score another run and make the score 6-0 heading to the sixth inning.

Quick began the sixth inning with a ground out by Kaden Peer before hitting Keegan Knutson with a pitch. Quick induced a fly ball from Cayden Nicolotte for the second out before reaching his predetermined pitch count of 85 pitches. Austin Morris was brought in to replace him and gave up an RBI triple to Chris Patterson, a run scoring single to Pierre Seals, and a bad bounce single to Jedier Hernandez before finally ending the inning on a ground out to first base with the score now 6-2 in Bama’s favor.

The Tide had a chance in the bottom of the sixth to add some insurance when Snell had a walk and Staton had a single and a balk by Missouri pitcher Ben Smith. However a strikeout ended the inning with the score still 6-2.

Braylon Myers took over on the hill for Bama in the top of the seventh. Myers walked Gehrig Goldbeck to lead off the inning. Goldbeck stole second base and moved to third on a fly out by Jackson Lovich. Kaden Peer hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to cut the lead to 6-3. A ground out to first base ended the inning. Alabama added an insurance run in the bottom half when Torres blasted a lead off home run off of Smith.
In the eighth and ninth innings Myers found his grove, allowing one single while notching strikeouts for all six outs.

Alabama hit 11-35 in the game with six walks, nine strikeouts, two home runs, a double, a hit by pitch, a stolen base, and 11 men left on base. Bonomolo was 3-5 with a stolen base and a run scored. Snell was 2-4 with a walk, two RBI, a home run and run scored. Staton hit 2-5 and Mizell drove in two with his 1-3 night with a double. Staton added two hits in five tries. Quick was the winner, going 5.2 innings, allowing three hits, one walk, one hit batter, one run, and compiling a career high seven strikeouts, and improved to 6-2 on the season. Myers earned the three inning save, his second, allowing one hit, one run, one hit batters, and striking out six.

Missouri hit 7-33 in the game, walked twice, had one hit batter, one triple, one sacrifice fly, and a stolen base. Patterson was 2-4 with a triple, RBI, and run scored. Pierre Seals, who was the replacement for the ineligible player, made the most of his chance going 2-2 with a run driven in. Libbert was the loser and is 2-3 on the season.

The Tide never felt in trouble during the game, but just never could quite put it totally out of reach. Several scoring opportunities were squandered with too many strikeouts and otherwise non productive outs. Quick and Myers were outstanding on the mound.

Game Three- Won 12-1 in seven innings

Left hander Zane Adams seem rejuvenated after moving into the third starter role last week in the LSU series. He was even better in Saturday’s game, pitching a complete game- the run rule was in affect and the Tide was in seven innings. Sam Horn, coming off of Tommy John surgery, started for Missouri.

Adams has at times been plagued by slow starts in the first inning. Not the case today. The sophomore hurler needed only 10 pitches to record two strikeouts and ground ball back to the mound. Bryce Fowler walked to lead off the bottom of the first off of Horn but the Tide could do nothing else.

Adams had an even quicker inning in the second, retiring the side in oder on only six pitches. Then the Tide offensive exploded in the bottom half. Brady Neal led off the inning with an opposite field double into the left field corner. Garrett Staton singled to put runners on the corners. Will Hodo then crushed a 2-2 pitch deep over the right field fence for the 3-0 lead. Jason Torres then sent a 1-1 pitch into orbit as he smoked his 10th home run of the season out into the street behind the left field fence. The inning was far from over.

Coleman Mizell was hit by a pitch bringing Tony Neubeck out of the bullpen to replace Horn. On the second pitch from Neuback, Bryce Fowler smoked his fifth home run of the season, a laser shot into the third deck of the right field plaza. Justin LeBron singled and stole second base before scoring on a double by Kade Snell. Richie Bonomolo, Jr stroked a double of his own to score Snell. Neubeck settled down and retired the next three batters on two strikeouts and a ground out. In the frame the Tide sent 12 men to the plate, hit three home runs, three doubles, and two singles while scoring eight times.

Adams sat for about 30 minutes during Bama’s big inning and Tiger catcher Mateo Serna made him pay. Serna hit a wall-scraping home run over the left field fence, just out of the reach of the leaping Snell. Jackson Lovich had a two out infield single, but was cut down trying to steal by Neal on a perfect throw to LeBron. `

The Tide added some insurance in the bottom of the third with a two out rally. Fowler singled and moved up when LeBron walked. Snell lifted a bloop single into right field to drive in one, and Bonomolo hit a sharp single to score another, making the score 10-1 in Bama’s favor.

Adams allowed a one out single in the fourth, but still needed only 10 pitches to end the inning. The Tide added another run in the bottom half when Hodo crushed his second home run of the game and 11th long ball of the season. Adams crushed through the fifth and Bama added one more run in the bottom half. Snell singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Neal.

In the top of the sixth, Adams had his only walk of the game, but a strikeout, ground out, and fly out kept the Tigers off the board. The Tide went out in order in the bottom half, with the only thrill being pinch hitter Peyton Steele just missing a home run on a long blast to right field.

With a pitch count of only 73 entering the ninth, Adams was allowed to throw the complete game. A lead off single was all he allowed and he wrapped up his first collegiate complete game, throwing 86 pitches, allowing five hits, one run, one walk, and five strikeouts. With the win Adams improved to 6-2 on the season.

This game was more what was expected in the match up of the two teams.

The Tide hit 15-33 in the game with two walks, one hit batter, nine strikeouts, and six men left on base. Bama hitters had four home runs and three doubles among their hits. Hodo was 2-4 with two home runs and four runs driven in. Snell was 3-4 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. Fowler was 2-3 with a walk, two runs , two RBI, and his fifth home run. Bonomolo was 2-4 with a double and two driven in as all nine starters had at least one hit and eight of the nine scored at least one run. In the series the Tide hit 36-100 for a .360 average, had 12 walks, two hit batters, 24 strikeouts, left 23 men on base, blasted nine home runs, and four doubles.

Missouri hit 5-24 in the game, drew one walk, struck out five times, and left three men on base. Serna provided the only run for the Tigers on his home run. Bama pitchers held the Tigers to 19-87 for a .218 average, walked seven men, hit five batters, recored 25 strikeouts, and stranded 19 men on base. Mizzou had one double, one triple, one home run, and one stolen base in the series.

Who Did What ?

*Kade Snell 6-12, home run, four RBI, double, walk, three runs

*Richie Bonomolo, Jr 5-12 double, two RBI, stolen base, walk, run

*Will Hodo 3-9, three home runs, seven RBI, two walks, hit by pitch, four runs

*Coleman Mizell 4-9, home run, four RBI, double, two runs, walk, hit by pitch

*Brady Neal 4-11, double, four runs, two walk, RBI

*Bryce Fowler 4-13, home run, three RBI, walk, two runs

*Garrett Staton 5-13, home run, three RBI, three runs

*Jason Torres 3-9, two home runs, two RBI, two walks, four runs

*Zane Adams W (6-2) CG, 7 IP, 5 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, one run allowed

*Riley Quick W (6-2) 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batters, 7 strikeouts

*Carson Ozmer W (4-0) 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

*Braylon Myers S (2) 3 IP, 1 hit, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 HBP, 6 strikeouts

The Tide did what they were supposed to do, sweep a very bad team. Missouri is on a historic race to be the first team to go 0-30 in SEC play. At times the Tide has played down to competition, and there was a little of that in the first two games. Game three was more indicative in the difference in the two squads. Other than the sloppy first inning of game one the Tide played clean baseball. The starting pitchers did their job, combining for 18 inning pitched, allowing 16 hits, with three walks, 13 strikeouts, and only four earned runs. The bullpen arms were called on for only seven innings of work, and allowed eight hits with four walks, and struck out 12 while allowing only two runs. Snell and Bonomolo are continuing to carry the offense, and it was nice to have Hodo and Torres to bust out after a couple of slow weeks. Staton is getting better and better as he recovers from surgery on his finger. Mizell had missed a couple of weeks with a groin issue and is rounding back into form. Neal has bounced back after a very slow start to the season. LeBron, who carried the team for weeks, has cooled off at the plate but has remained a defensive wizard, and will no doubt get going again at the plate.