Alabama Baseball Knocks Off Top Ranked Tennessee

The No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team picked up its biggest win of the season thus far, defeating the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers 6-3 in Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday evening.

The SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week, Garrett McMillan made the start for the Tide tonight. In 110 pitches, he pitched 5.1 innings, earning seven hits, three runs, four walks and five strikeouts. McMillan is 4-2 on the season.

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The Volunteers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, however a hat trick of home runs changed the momentum of the game. Designated hitter Owen Diodati hit two blasts: the first in the top of the second inning to put the Tide on the board, and the second in the top of the fourth to give the Tide the lead. Shortstop Jim Jarvis hit a home run in the top of the third inning to tie things up.

Alabama had a huge three run fourth inning with hits from: centerfielder Andrew Pinckney, catcher Dominic Tamez and Jarvis. The Tide capitalized on the Volunteers miscues, including a fielding error, a walk, and a balk.

Tennessee's second baseman Jorel Ortega hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to two runs, but that is as close as the Volunteers would get to a comeback.

The Tide picked up three hits the rest of the game, but scored one more run in the top of the ninth inning after a double from Tamez and an RBI triple from first baseman Drew Williamson.

Relief pitcher Hunter Hoopes and Brock Guffey both took the mound, only allowing one hit and one walk on the night. Pitcher Dylan Ray closed out the game, picking up one hit and was credited with the save, his fourth on the season.

With this win, the crimson and white add to its winning streak which now sits at eight in a row.

Game 2 of the series is tomorrow, Saturday, April 16, 2022. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CST. Radio coverage can be found on Tide 100.9, or the Tide 100.9 app, which is free to download in the App Store.