Alabama closed out the Frisco Classic with a 7-5 loss to Dallas Baptist in 12 thrilling innings, finishing the weekend 2-1 and moving to 11-1 on the season.
“We competed, but we weren’t good enough to win tonight,” said head Coach Rob Vaughn following the loss.
Dallas Baptist struck first in the top of the second on a double steal that had allowed Luke Heefner to score from third. Tournament MVP Evan Sleight tied it up with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, which was number three on the season. TJ McCants followed up with a two-run single to give Alabama the lead. McCants extended the hitting streak to 12 games and has a team high 21 RBIs.
Both teams exchanged home runs in the third and fourth inning with Alex Pendergast for the Patriots with a solo home run to left. Freshman Justin Lebron continued the great success from the plate with a two-run moonshot to left center in the fourth, which was number three for the young phenom.
Dallas Baptist cut into the lead in the top of the fifth with a solo home run by Grant Jay and tied the game up in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run by Chayton Krauss. Both teams had chances to take the lead, with the Tide stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and in the top of the eighth the Patriots had bases loaded with one out until Matthew Heiberger silenced with two quick strikeouts on six pitches.
“Elite job from Matty and he gave us a chance to win,” said Vaughn on Heiberger.
In extra innings, both teams went back and forth with putting donuts on the scoreboard until the twelfth when Jay hit home run number two of the game with another solo shot followed by an RBI single from Krauss. Alabama had a chance to walk it off with the go-ahead batter at the plate with Lebron but striking out.
Greg Farone got his third start of the season and had another solid outing in 4.0 innings of work, allowing two runs, on five hits and striking out three.
Kade Snell, Pierce George, Heiberger, Caulson Buchanan and Braylon Myers were the pitchers out of the bullpen in regulation and extras, as a group combining to pitch eight innings, allowing five runs, on seven hits with 13 strikeouts. Buchanan got credited with the loss.
Alabama will return to Tuscaloosa with a quick turnaround, playing in state foe Jacksonville State on Tuesday with first pitch at 4 p.m. Central on the SEC Network +.
