By: L. Clay Pruitt

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Crimson Tide came out slow in game 2; however, they did secure the win 6-2. Can’t say the same for the third game as Columbia came out hot scoring 15 runs before the fifth inning. Columbia won the game 15-3

 

Game 2

Ben Hess started the game for The Tide. Hess led the team in a three up, three down Columbia half of the inning. He also recorded his first of many strikeouts of game one.

 

Jim Jarvis recorded Bama’s first hit of the game with a single to center in the bottom of the second. Columbia’s Jack Kail hit a single of his which scored Skye Selinsky. Andrew Pinckney had a sliding catch on the right field line to end the inning and get a roaring applause from the crowd.

 

Colby Shelton got Bama on the board with a two-run homer, which scored Will Portera. Columbia loaded the bases and Ed Johnson took that personally. Johnson smashed a grand slam into left field, well beyond the 320 feet mark. This scored Drew Williamson, Pinckney, and Caden Rose. Johnson finished running the bases with four RBIs. This gave The Tide a 6-2 lead.

 

Alabama finished the game with six hits and no errors. Columbia finished with seven hits and no errors. Ben Hess was credited with the win. He went five innings with seven strikeouts, and one walk on 89 pitches. Hess only gave up one run.

 

Game 3

Columbia’s offense once again shows out and scored 15 runs to Alabama’s three. The Lions started off game three of the series hot when they scored 15 runs in the first four innings off of 13 hits.

 

The Lions used their first at bats of the game to feed in three runs. All three runs were scored on doubles. Weston Eberly started off with a double to left center that scored Andy Blake. Griffin Palfrey got jealous and wanted a double of his own, so he hit one. His hit scored two, Hayden Schott and Eberly.

 

The next big inning for The Lions was the top of the fourth. Columbia scored five runs in this inning. Cole Hage started things off for The Lions with a sac fly which scored Anton Lazits. Then Eberly hit his second double and recorded his second and third RBIs of the game. Palfrey also hit a single and recorded his fourth and fifth RBIs of the game. Andy Blake joined the RBI party with a double down the left field line. This gave Blake three RBIs for the stat sheet.

 

The score was 15-0 at the end of the fourth. Alabama went through two pitchers in the fourth. Alton Davis II replaced Jacob McNairy, Braylon Myers replaced Davis II and finished the inning.

 

Alabama responded in the bottom of the fourth with three hits of their own but only one run. Pinckney hit a sac fly to right field and Colby Shelton scored. Will Hodo also hit a sac fly in the fifth. While William Hamiter hit a sac fly in the sixth. The final score was 15-3.

 

“You gotta give Columbia credit, they really took it to us that second game. They did a great job at doing what we did the first 14 games, being the aggressor,” Coach Brad Bohannon said.

 

Alabama tallied up eight total hits, seven runners left on base, and one error. Columbia finished with 17 hits, 12 runners left on base, and no errors. Jacob McNairy was given the loss.

 

The Crimson Tide moved on to 15-2.  Their next game will be against South Alabama March 14th at 6:30 p.m. CT.