Alabama looks unbeatable in midweek games. Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium was no different.
The Crimson Tide offense came out on fire, scoring eight runs in the first inning on its way to a 15-0 seven-inning victory over Alabama A&M.
Alabama added six more runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth.
The victory improved Alabama’s record to 5-0 in midweek games, where it’s outscored opponents 46-4.
“Don’t jinx us,” Crimson Tide coach Brad Bohannon said. “I think this group has been consistent. They’re pretty much the same guys every day they come to the park.”
Cobie Vance led off the first inning and popped a ball up to the pitcher’s mound. Due to some defensive confusion, the ball dropped and Vance was safe at first and it sparked the team.
“That’s not how I wanted to start the game, but it worked, it got the offense going,” Vance said. “That’s what we pride ourselves on, running hard on anything hit. You never know what can happen once you put it in play. Fortunately for me this one fell and it counted as a hit.”
Vance reached base four times and was one of five Alabama players with multiple hits. He batted twice in both the first and fifth inning.
Every starter reached base at least once and the team finished with eight extra-base hits.
“They did a great job,” Bohannon said. “Right out of the gate, a lot of hard contact. It was a great night for us, up and down the lineup.”
Connor Stutts, in his first career start at Alabama, hit his first home run of the season in the fifth. Chandler Taylor connected for a homer, his fifth.
On the mound, Mason Duke pitched a career-high six shutout innings. He struck out four and walked one to earn the win. Duke has thrown 14 scoreless innings this season.
Brock Guffey closed out the seventh inning with a strikeout to preserve the third Alabama’s shutout.
“He (Duke) could have pitched the seventh,” Bohannon said. He’s in pretty good pitching shape, but we needed to get Brock some work.”
Alabama and Alabama A&M play again Wednesday, first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
