By: Nicholas Elliott

TUSCALOOSA, Ala-After overcoming a six-run deficit yesterday, Alabama Baseball completed the three-game sweep over High Point 4-2 with a great effort by the bullpen.

The Tide’s bats started out slow until the third inning and second time thru the order when Colby Shelton turned on a pitch and hit a solo home run to left field to put the Tide up 1-0 early.

The Tide continued to add runs with their patience at the plate in the bottom of the fourth, which led to a sacrifice fly from Bryce Eblin, then a wild pitch brought home another run.

Jacob Mcnairy’s outing was smooth sail until things got bumpy in the fifth allowing one run to score on a deep sacrifice fly to right and on a single up the middle, but was able to limit the damage to allow the Tide to sustain the lead and be in line for the win.

Ed Johnson continued his great weekend from the plate adding another run on an RBI single to left in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 4-2 advantage.

The Tide’s offense was able to draw nine walks, which was a season high, but left 11 runners on base, which the Tide were not able to capitalize on and extend the lead.

“We weren’t sharp offensively today, but they were not able to keep the ball in the zone and I felt we were forcing it at times and chased more then we typically do,” said Coach Brad Bohannon on his teams offensive woes today.

After Mcnairy got pulled in the top of the sixth, the Tide’s bullpen with yet another great day at the office went the rest of the way, and had three pitchers who all combined for seven-K allowing zero runs. The Tide bullpen is up to a 1.05 ERA on the season.

“I Kinda feel like our bullpen is a lineup where we have several guys who we feel really good about when they enter the ball game and we did not walk any batters today,” said Bohannon.

Mcnairy moves to 2-0 on the season earning the win going 5.0 innings on 55 pitches allowing two runs and tallying three-K. Riley Quick earned his first collegiate save as a member of the Crimson Tide.

It was Kade Woods though, who came in in the seventh and went 2.0 innings and tallied five-K who’s performance was exceptional out of the bullpen for the Tide.

“I worked hard over break and was told that to see the field and took that as a personal thing,” said Woods of how comfortable he is in the young collegiate career.

Shelton in his young collegiate career is up to a five game hit streak including hitting two home runs during that stretch batting .400 during it.

“I haven’t changed my approach much but have just been able to put good swings on pitches in the zone,” said Shelton of his approach during the hot streak at the plate.

Alabama moves to 8-0 on the season and plays Jacksonville State on Wednesday March 1st at 3 p.m. central at Sewell Thomas Stadium.

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