The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team opened up the season with a three-game sweep over the Bradley Braves over the weekend in Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide won their 11th consecutive opening game on Friday 10-6, clinched the series on Saturday with a 19-3 win, and completed the weekend sweep on Sunday with an 11-4 victory.
Here’s a recap of the weekend series.
Game One:
Alabama rallied from an early three-run deficit to lock up a 10-6 opening day victory over Bradley at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
A three-run home run in the first inning gave Bradley an early lead, but the lead would not last long. The Crimson Tide responded with 10 unanswered. The Braves, however, did not go down without a fight, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth while loading the bases with two outs to bring the tying run to the dish. Alabama closer Carson Ozmer ended the threat with a strikeout to complete the win.
Game Two:
The Crimson Tide offense showed up once again on Saturday afternoon, plating 19 runs to get the 19-3 victory over the Braves. The win gave Alabama a 2-0 record to start the season and clinched the weekend series against Bradley.
All nine starters for the Crimson Tide got at least one hit on the day as Alabama as a team combined for 16 hits and 13 walks on Saturday.
The Alabama offense was led by Garrett Staton, who went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and a team-high six RBI.
Redshirt sophomore Riley Quick got the win for the Crimson Tide, pitching just three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four in a limited pitch count start.
Game Three:
Alabama ended a successful opening weekend by defeating Bradley 11-4 on Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep.
For a third straight game, the Crimson Tide offense achieved double-digit runs and hits, recording 11 runs and 12 hits. Third baseman Jason Torres led the way for the Alabama offense, going 3-for-4, driving in five RBI and falling just a double short of the cycle.
"Our guys rang the bell all day with consistent at-bats and every guy out of the bullpen did their job,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “I'm really happy with the effort and thought it was a complete weekend. It was good to get out there and play a different jersey for a couple of days, but now we'll get some rest and turn our attention to Middle Tennessee."
Alabama will host Middle Tennessee in a midweek matchup on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The game can be streamed on SEC Network+.
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