TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 17 Alabama opened the three-game series against Valparaiso with its third run-rule win with a 14-2 victory and moved to 6-0 on the season.
Evan Sleight set the tone for the Tide early in the game with a home run robbing catch in the top of the first. Offensively, the bottom of the order with Justin Lebron and Bryce Eblin started the barrage of runs in the bottom of the second with Lebron scoring an RBI-single and Eblin a two-RBI double. Gage Miller hit a no-doubt three run home run to his teammates in the bullpen in left.
“We are just trying to make plays for our pitchers to get our bats going, and it’s a lot of fun when the students in right are rooting for you behind you,” said Sleight.
Valparaiso gave Ben Hess some trouble in the second, scoring its only two runs of the game. Hess went 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, walking 2, striking out 5 and allowing 2 runs. Hess moved to 2-0 on the season with the win.
As they’ve done thru the first five games, the bats continued to put up crooked numbers after giving up runs when Miller hit a gap-splitting double to get two RBIs, followed by an RBI from TJ McCants and Mac Guscette.
Eight of nine starters were able to tally at least 1 hit, with Miller going 2-4 with a double and a homer with 5 RBIs. Will Hodo went 3-4 with a double and Guscette went a perfect 3-3 with an RBI and a double.
“I thought our offense did what we were capable of doing,” said head coach Rob Vaughn.
Tyler Fay and Sam Mitchell both got their first appearances out the bullpen, with Fay going 2 innings, allowing 1 hit with 1 strikeout. Mitchell threw 1 inning and was able to tally a 1-2-3 finish to close out the game.
Alabama will look to win its second series tomorrow with first pitch set for 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network +.
