By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Cody Estremera)
Coming into Columbia, Alabama was swept in its only SEC play this season. Friday the Crimson Tide made sure to change that, defeating No. 7 South Carolina 4-2.
The first innings have been a problem for the Alabama pitching staff in SEC play so far. In the Missouri series, the team allowed seven runs to start the game, and the trend continued, as South Carolina pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Both runs were scored before the Crimson Tide recorded an out.
After the first inning, the combination of Jake Walters and Garrett Suchey shut down the Gamecocks, allowing two hits the rest of the game. Walters finished with the win, going 5.1 innings, and allowing two runs with six walks and four strike outs. Suchey finished with the save. He went 3.2 innings and allowed only one hit, while striking out five.
Offensively, the Crimson Tide showed its power with a pair of home runs. The first came off the bat of Cody Henry in the top of the third inning, to cut the South Carolina lead in half. Henry would finish 2-for-3 on the night. Chandler Taylor hit the second home run, which game Alabama a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth.
The Crimson Tide would push one more across in the top of the ninth. Gene Wood reached first on an error the South Carolina first baseman. He then stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kyle Kaufman would single to right, scoring the insurance run.
“I’m just really proud of the way our team came out and played on the road against the No. 7 team in the country,” head coach Greg Goff said. “Our guys were resilient and competed all evening to put together a complete game across all 27 outs for the win.”
Game two starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Dylan Duarte gets the start for the Crimson Tide, while Wil Crowe starts for South Carolina.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
