The Alabama baseball team, perhaps suffering some residual bat fatigue from a run-rule win against Alabama A&M on Tuesday night, started slowly in the second game of the series against the Bulldogs on Wednesday — but when the runs started, they accumulated in a hurry.
The Crimson Tide slugged five home runs, including two by first baseman Hunter Alexander, rolling to a 14-0 victory at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The contest wa shortened to seven innings by the 10-run rule.
“It was great to see all the hard contact for two days,” said Alabama coach Brad Bohannon. “Connor Stutts (who hit his second home run in two games) hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunities so far and to see the way he responded is a great example to the rest of the team. You stay ready and you never know when your opportunity is going to come.”
Bulldog starter Blaine Milam (0-6) held Alabama in check for the first four innings, allowing only a scratch run in the third inning as UA catcher Matt Malkin scored on a fielder’s choice by Joe Breaux.
The home run derby started in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Stutts slugged his second three-run home run of the midweek series to start the seven-run inning and chase Milam from the game. Three Bulldog relievers were ineffective and Alexander added the first of his two home runs, a three-run blast, later in the innings to extend the Alabama lead to 7-0.
The onslaught continued in the bottom of the sixth inning as UA added six more runs on three home runs. Those include Alexander’s second homer of the game, as well as a solo shot by Chandler Taylor, his sixth of the season, and a two-run home run by Malkin. The Crimson Tide catcher also had three singles and went 4-for-4 in the game.
Freshman Brady Greene (1-0) was the winning pitcher, working three scoreless innings after coming on in the second inning.
Alabama (15-3) opens Southeastern Conference play with a three-game home series against Georgia beginning on Friday.
“We couldn’t be in a better place,” Bohannon said. “We’re thrilled to be 15-3 and we are ready for a new challenge and playing Georgia will definitely be a challenge.”
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
