TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama baseball team moved to 2-0 within the confines of Sewell-Thomas Stadium this week, as they notched a comfortable 9-2 win against the Alabama State Hornets.
The Tide (5-0) used a versatile pitching performance and 14 hits to down the Hornets (1-4). Freshman Hagan Banks made his collegiate pitching debut, going two full innings and allowing only a walk. The winning pitcher, Hunter Ruth, followed Banks with two shutout innings of his own.
Six pitchers came to the mound for Alabama on the day, and only one gave up an earned run.
The home team scored early, in the 2nd inning, with shortstop Jim Jarvis crossing the plate first on a wild pitch. Caden Rose scored Will Hodo for the second run of the frame. The Crimson Tide rushed out to a 5-0 lead before Alabama State answered in the sixth with an RBI. The final Bama run of the game belonged to Jarvis, courtesy of a David Heller single.
It was also yet another multi-homer game for Alabama; Jim Jarvis hit his first of the campaign, a two-run shot in the third inning, which made it 4-0. Drew Williamson added an encore in the sixth to turn a 5-1 score to a 7-1 score.
Alabama State leadoff man Jabronski Williams had both Hornet runs. Trenton Jamison batted him in twice. The visiting starter, Nate Palmer, went 1.1 innings, surrendered two runs, and was credited with the loss.
Bama pitching coach Jason Jackson had high praise for the team and his staff in the aftermath of the game.
“This group’s been great about being able to handle their business and they showed that again today,” he said. “You worry about it being a little bit of a trap game with a fun weekend ahead.”
“I’m sure there were some jitters,” he added about his pitching staff, “but they all kinda reeled it in and attacked the strike zone… I was proud of them.”
Alabama travels to Austin to take on No. 1 Texas starting Friday.
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