Alabama’s opening game in the Tuscaloosa Regional went back and forth with the Crimson Tide eventually coming out victorious against Nicholls 4-3 with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
Nicholls started off the scoring in the top of the second inning with a solo homer from MaCrae Kendrick. Nicholls starting pitcher Jacob Mayer kept the Alabama offense in check for four straight innings before Alabama tied the score up at one apiece in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Ed Johnson, starting a three-inning span that the two teams would go back and forth answering score for score. Just a half inning later, Nicholls would retake the lead with a sacrifice fly of their own in the sixth. Once again, Alabama would answer, getting an RBI double from Drew Williamson to tie the game briefly. Both teams would exchange solo home runs in the seventh inning to tie the score at three where it would remain until the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth Alabama took their first lead of the game with a walk-off single from Jim Jarvis.
Alabama ace Luke Holman didn’t have his best performance but was able to go six innings, allowing two runs on five hits before giving way to the Crimson Tide bullpen. Kade Woods was first in relief for the Tide, pitching one and two-thirds innings, allowing one run and two hits before handing it over to Crimson Tide closer Alton Davis II, who recorded the win for Alabama. Davis threw one and one-third innings, striking out three batters and allowing zero hits and zero runs to gain the win.
Coming into Friday night’s contest, Alabama was averaging 5.8 runs over its last 10 games and was held under that average with just four runs scored, but the Tide's resilience to step up and answer every time Nicholls took the lead was vital to their success.
With the victory Friday over Nicholls, Alabama will move on to the winner’s bracket and face Troy Saturday night at 8 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.
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