In their first midweek matchup of the season, Alabama’s bats were nowhere to be found for most of the game. Eventually, the offense got going as the Crimson Tide escaped with a 3-2 road victory over Samford.
For seven innings, the Alabama offense was held to just one hit, frustrating a lineup that put up big numbers against Washington State a few days ago.
Samford’s bats weren’t having much luck, but their success came first as they got on the board with a two-run seventh inning.
In the eighth inning, Alabama’s bats finally came to life. Andrew Purdy took a pitch to the ribs to reach first, and Brady Neal followed up with a single down the right field line to set up runners on the corners.
Will Plattner did his job, driving a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Purdy to tag and score, cutting the Samford lead to 2-1. With two outs and Neal on first, Peyton Steele came to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw over the fence for a two-run home run to give the Crimson Tide a 3-2 lead.
Hagan Banks took the mound for Alabama and pitched two shutout innings to earn his first save of the year and seal the victory for the Crimson Tide. Despite allowing both Samford runs in his one inning of work in the seventh, Austin Morris recorded his first win of the season.
JT Blackwood started the game on the hill for Alabama and delivered six innings of two-hit shutout ball before getting pulled out of the game and receiving a no-decision.
Alabama will host Alabama State in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, February 18, at 4 p.m.
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