TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama Baseball uses a big second inning with the bats to finish with its third consecutive weekend sweep on an 11-3 win over North Dakota State to continue to remain as one of seven teams in Division I to still be undefeated with the Tide moving to 12-0.
“I really challenged the guys yesterday after the game and I thought they responded. We had a lot more urgency on the game today and our focus was really good,” said head coach Rob Vaughn.
Bobby Alcock toed the rubber for today’s game and despite giving up the RBI in the first on a double in the ga to start the game, and was able to tally his season-high on strikeouts with seven on the game in four innings. Alcock gave up a solo shot down the right field line in the fourth inning to Will Mann with his first hit of the season in six starts. Alcock’s final line was 4.0 4H 2R 7K on 76 pitches, and got the all-important pitcher’s win. Alcock continues to ramp up before SEC play starts in two weekends.
“They’ve been real good in the second inning,” said Vaughn on the second inning barrage.
Offensively, the Tide seems to wait until the second inning to wake up the bats with Jason Torres, who has his third home run on the weekend, with a solo blast to left center field and now has four on the season. The Tide continued to swipe bags with five steals on the game and manufactured two with a double steal, leading to two errors and two runs. Justin Lebron continues to put up video game numbers with his eighth home run on the season on a 3-1 fastball down the chute that led to a no-doubter grand slam to left center field and now has 28 RBIs.
“You get more shocked when he doesn’t do it at this point,” said Vaughn on Lebron’s start to the season.
The Tide piled on in the eighth with a little bit of small ball with runs on a single by Coleman Mizell, sacrifice fly by Lebron and a fielder’s choice by Bryce Fowler.
Mizell and Ritchie Bonomolo Jr. led the way with three-for-5 days at the plate. The Tide had nine hits on the day and nine walks, making them the top three in the country in walks on the season.
The bullpen bounced back after a tough day yesterday with Austin Morris, Tyler Fay, and Coulson Buchanan all working 5.0 combined with 4K as a group. Fay continues to lead the Tide out of the pen with appearances and has yet to allow a run this season. Buchanan worked the ninth after not pitching for over a week and struck out the side.
Next up for Alabama is a midweek visit to Jacksonville State on Tuesday, followed by a home game versus ranked opponent Troy at Joe on Wednesday.
