BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Alabama baseball continues its undefeated streak in midweek series this season after the Tide's 11-7 victory over Samford on Tuesday. The win was highlighted by a strong eighth inning in which the Tide scored three runs to secure the game.

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Alabama found themselves off to an early lead with the Tide bringing home two runners in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI single down right field by Alabama’s center fielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. to advance the Tide’s shortstop Justin Lebron home to give the Tide the first run of the ball game.

Shortly after this, Kade Snell advanced home from third base due to a wild pitch that went over the catcher’s head, which gave the Tide a two-run lead with Alabama failing to add any more runs to end the inning due to Samford’s starting pitcher Brooks Rice retiring Brady Neal and Jason Torres to conclude the top of the first inning.

Samford responded in the bottom of the first when the Bulldogs’ second baseman and leadoff batter, Jeffrey Ince, sent a solo shot to center field to start Alabama’s starting pitcher, Bobby Alcock’s, day off. 

Alcock faced a challenging situation as the bases were loaded due to the right-handed pitcher walking two batters and allowing Cade Carr, Samford’s catcher, to hit a single to left field. However, Alcock remained resilient, finishing the inning with two strikeouts and a flyout. As a result, he limited the Bulldogs to just one run, stranding three runners on base by the end of the first inning.

In the top of the second inning, Alabama first baseman Will Hodo hit a solo home run over right-center field, extending the Tide's lead to two runs and bringing the score to 3-1.

Garret Staton, who was with Samford just last year before transferring to the Crimson Tide this past offseason, hit a double out to left-center field, which led to Lebron driving Staton home with a RBI single to left field, giving Alabama a three-run lead with the Crimson Tide unable to score any more runs in the inning, leaving the Tide’s star shortstop stranded at first base but not before Alabama made it a 4-1 ball game.

Alcock's outing came to an early conclusion when Aeden Finateri was called in from the bullpen to relieve him after Alcock walked his third batter of the game. Finateri faced his first batter and successfully induced a 6-4-3 double play, preventing Samford's Brayden Broome from advancing into scoring position. Finateri then struck out Harris to end the inning, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless in the second inning.

Samford struck back in the third inning, erasing the Tide’s advantage after the Bulldogs’ left fielder, Jake Souders, knocked a two-run home run over left center field to cut the Tide’s lead down to one run. Following Souders’ home run, Samford’s center fielder, Michael Gupton, knocked a double to left center field to bring home Parker McDonald to tie the game at four runs. Samford was unsuccessful in adding any more runs after the Tide converted another double play, and Finateri retired Broome to end the third inning, but not before the Bulldogs made it a 4-4 ball game.

Alabama was able to regain the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Bonomolo Jr. picked up his second RBI of the game when he singled to left center field to bring home Bryce Fowler and give the Tide a one-run advantage going into the bottom of the fourth inning after Alabama failed to capitalize with bases loaded.

Staton added to the Tide’s lead in the top of the fifth inning when he hit a two-run home run over right center field to give him his fifth home run of the season and his 20th RBI of the season. This also gave Alabama a three-run lead going into the bottom of the fifth. 

Samford once again answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning, making it a tied game by the end of the inning, thanks to a single by Gupton to drive McDonald and Souders home. The Bulldogs' pinch hitter, Gatlin Pitts, tied this game up when he brought home Gupton when he doubled down the left-field line.

Alabama’s star shortstop put the team back in the lead by scoring after a wild pitch from Samford’s Trey Sanders, who had previously walked Lebron earlier in the inning. Following this, Sanders walked both Neal and Torres. Hodo then came to bat and hit a single to right field, bringing Bonomolo Jr. and Neal home. This made the score 10-7 going into the ninth inning.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hagan Banks of the Crimson Tide took over on the mound for Austin Morris, who earned the win in Alabama's game tonight. This victory improved Morris's record to 3-0 for the season. Banks struck out all three Samford batters, retiring the side.

Kade Snell added an insurance run for the Crimson Tide when he singled up the middle, bringing home Lebron and giving the Tide a four-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Alabama's star closer, Carson Ozmer, came out from the bullpen to do what he does best: finish games. Ozmer pitched a scoreless inning, securing the victory and marking Alabama's 32nd win of the season.

Stat Leaders

• Hits- Richie Bonomolo Jr and Justin Lebron (3)
• RBIs- Will Hodo (3)
• Runs- Justin Lebron (3)
• HRs- Garret Staton (Two-run HR) and Will Hodo (One-run HR)
• K's- JT Blackwood and Hagan Banks (3)

Alabama will improve to 32-10 on the season and 9-9 in SEC play, with the Tide remaining a perfect 12-0 record in their midweek series matchups this season. The Crimson Tide will be back at Sewell-Thomas Stadium this weekend for their series against Missouri, with game one scheduled for Thursday, April 24, with the opening pitch set for 7:00 p.m. CT.

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