Alabama baseball withstood a late rally by Samford to secure an 11-10 victory on Wednesday, improving their record to 22-7 on the season.
The 13th-ranked Crimson Tide took an early 3-0 lead with two runs in the first inning and one run in the second. They extended their lead with two more runs in the top of the fifth before Samford scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Alabama scored four runs in the sixth inning, but Samford responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alabama added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, heading into the bottom of the ninth with an 11-5 lead.
In the ninth inning, Samford reduced the lead by half with a three-run homer from Cullen Horowicz. The Bulldogs continued their rally because of an Alabama fielding error and followed it with a two-out double that scored another run. Samford added one more run with an RBI single and had the tying and go-ahead runners on base before Tyler Fay sealed the win with a strikeout.
Fay earned his first career save by recording the final out in the ninth, while Kade Snell was credited with the win. Snell pitched four scoreless innings, allowing four hits, one walk and striking out three in his start.
Alabama's offense tallied 11 runs on 13 hits, with all nine starters recording at least one hit. Gage Miller led the offensive charge, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs, and two walks. Ian Petrutz and TJ McCants also homered, with Petrutz finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs, and one walk, while McCants added an RBI and one run scored.
"We'd like to play a little cleaner than we did today," head coach Rob Vaughn said after the sloppy win. “We have to keep showing up and doing the little things right to play more consistently so the game comes easier to us. But, finding a way to win on the road is never easy, especially against a good team like Samford. Thankfully the boys were able to get it done."
The Crimson Tide return to action on Friday night when they begin a road series with the Kentucky Wildcats. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, then 11 a.m. CT on Sunday.
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