Alabama Infielder Comes up Clutch Against Former Ball Club

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Crimson Tide entered the top of the seventh cruising past the Samford Bulldogs, leading 10-2 through the first six frames of the evening.

Then disaster, almost, struck; the Bulldogs' offense rattled off seven runs, six of which came before an out, to cut the Alabama lead to 10-9.

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An inning and a half later in the bottom of the eighth, still leading 10-9, Garrett Staton, a former Samford Bulldog, dug in with one out and Will Plattner 90 feet away at third base.

The ex-Bulldog came through for the Crimson Tide, lining a 2-2 pitch into left center for a clutch RBI single to push the lead to 11-9.

Staton ended the game with one hit, one RBI, two runs, and two walks in his first game against his former squad. "It was just a lot of fun playing against those guys," Staton said, "I just tried to keep it business the whole time until after the game, I enjoyed it with them, especially after a victory. I try to prepare the same every day, just being ready to go and to keep a mindset, on and off the field, at working the hardest and trying to be my best at everything I do. Keep pushing every day."

Since returning to the Crimson Tide batting order following finger surgery on February 20, the redshirt senior has been stellar, tallying six RBIs and two extra-base hits over four games starting.

Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn applauded the talented infielder postgame: "It's an elite bat. It's an RBI producer, he runs off a really good at-bat, he does everything," Vaughn added," He's kinda a jack-of-all-trades defensively, shoot, I threw him into left field the other day."

Garrett Staton and the Crimson Tide return to action this weekend as they travel to Auburn for another ranked road series in SEC play.

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