By: Nicholas Elliott
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- Coming off a three-game sweep over the weekend Alabama baseball continued its winning ways on the diamond getting a four RBI day from Drew Williamson at the plate in a 7-4 victory
After dominating the Spiders this past weekend, Alabama started slow giving up a lead-off to Troy Baunsgard to take 1-0 lead for Tennessee Tech. Early hits help put pressure on Luke Holman, who was getting his first start of the season for the Tide. Holman was able to escape the jam early getting a rollover double play to end the early threat from the Golden Eagles. Both teams could not capitalize on early opportunities to score as Williamson hit into a double play to score Jarvis to tie it back at 1-1 in the first.
Both the Tide and the Golden Eagles had scoring chances in the second, but were both not able to capitalize to take the lead.
Colby Shelton hit his first career homer as a member of the Crimston Tide with a solo shot in the bottom of the third to the students in right field to get a 2-1 lead. Williamson continued to produce runs for the Tide hitting a bloop single to extend the lead to 3-1.
The Golden Eagles kept flying as John Dyer cut the lead to one with a solo shot. Holman’s day was over was not his best stuff, but was able to be efficient and did not let up a big inning, which are very crucial in these midweek contests.
Williamson’s day got better and better at the plate hitting a two-run homer to right to open the door for the Tide in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 5-3.
Another inning another Williamson RBI up to five in the contest scoring Caden Rose on a single to right field in rout to a 6-2 lead. in the bottom of the sixth.
The Tide pitching staff could not put away the Golden Eagles as Theo Bryant IV singled to left to cut the deficit to three. The Golden Eagles were not done hitting a sac fly to cut it to two runs, but the work of Braylon Meyers, who entered the game with one out with the bases loaded was able to escape the inning giving up one and keeping the lead at two for the Tide.
“When I come into a ballgame in tight situations like that I always focus on getting the first batter out” said Meyers
Will Hodo had the knockout punch for the Tide hitting a towering homer to right center to make it a three run lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Meyers closed out the ball game with a one-two-three inning to earn the save on a 7-4 win for the Tide.
Andrew Pinckney continued his hot start from the dish going 2-2 with a triple, a single and two walks.
“Be ready at all times for whatever pitch I see” Pickney said
Pickney up to batting .833 so far this season, and has done it at all for the Tide.
It was a combined effort from the Tide pitching staff using five pitchers to cover the innings and combined for four strikeouts.
“You can give up a single and a solo home run and minimize the damage and still win the game” said Coach Bohannon.
Williamson lead the Tide behind at the plate going 3/4 with two singles, a homer and tallying four RBI with Andrew Pinckney right behind him going 2/2 with a triple and a single with two walks. Hagan Banks earned the win for the Tide going 1.1 innings allowing two runs on two hits with one strikeout.
Alabama up to 4-0 on the season and look to closeout a five game homestand tomorrow versus UT-Martin at 3 central on the SEC Network + before heading out west this weekend to face Pepperdine.
