Alabama Annihilates Arkansas in Series Opener
The Alabama baseball team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 12-1 on Friday night to take the first game of the series.
Right-handed pitcher Ben Hess started on the mound for Alabama. He pitched 4.0 innings, recording two hits, one run, one earned run, two walks, and five strikeouts.
The Tide got on the board first in the second inning with an RBI single by designated hitter Dominic Tamez.
The Razorbacks tied up the game in the third inning with a solo home run by center fielder Tavian Josenberger.
After that, it was all Alabama.
The Tide scored three runs on three hits in the fourth inning. Third baseman Colby Shelton started things off with a solo home run, followed by a single by left fielder Tommy Seidl, and catcher Mac Guscette capped off the scoring with a two-run home run.
Alabama had a huge five-run inning in the fifth off of six hits. Second baseman Ed Johnson hit a leadoff single, first baseman Drew Williamson hit a two-run home run, right fielder Caden Rose and Tamez hit back-to-back singles, shortstop Jim Jarvis hit a two-RBI single, and center fielder Andrew Pinckney hit an RBI single.
Right-handed pitcher Hagan Banks came in for relief in the fifth inning. He pitched 4.0 innings and recorded zeros across the board and struck out five batters.
The Tide added insurance runs down the stretch. The first was in the seventh inning and came off the bat of Johnson, who hit an RBI single. The last two runs came in the ninth inning after Williamson drew a walk and right fielder William Hamiter hit a two-run home run.
Left-handed pitcher Connor Ball came in to close the game, recording one hit and two strikeouts.
Arkansas' bats were ice cold, recording only three total hits, while the Tide was crimson-hot, recording 22 team hits.
Game 2 of the series is on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. CT. Coverage will be on Tide 100.9 FM and the Tide 100.9 app which is free to download in the App Store.