Alabama Takes Care of Business on Opening Day

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) handled the Bradley Braves (0-1) 10-6 to put Opening Day 2025 in the win column.

Alabama starter Zane Adams earned the win, while the loss was attributed to Bradley starter Travis Lutz.

Alabama southpaw Zane Adams opened the season on the mound for the Crimson Tide. The Porter, Texas native hit a couple of speed bumps in the first inning, walking the two and three-hole hitters for the Braves, which set up an early three-run shot by designated hitter Bobby Atkinson to give Bradley a shockingly quick 3-0 lead in Tuscaloosa.

Bradley left fielder Cole Luckey would single to left field before a double-play ended the top half of the inning.

The Tide looked to respond and did just that, as a one-out Lebron walk set up an RBI single from Miami transfer Jason Torres to cut the Bradley lead to two. However, the inning would end on a Kade Snell infield popout.

Adams would calm down in the second, allowing two singles and having a relatively smooth inning.

The Tide would pounce on the Braves in the bottom of the second. A pair of walks from LSU transfer Brady Neal and JUCO transfer Bryce Fowler and a single from Garrett Staton loaded the bases for Justin Lebron. Lebron took advantage, ripping a liner over CF Weston Gingerich's head for a bases-clearing double.

Lebron would promptly get caught stealing. However, the damage was already done, and the Tide held their first lead of the 2025 campaign, 4-3, and they wouldn't look back.

Adams would continue to deal, while the Tide offense would continue to attack.

Get our free mobile app

In the bottom half of the fourth, Jax State transfer Brennen Norton would deliver the first home run of the 2025 season for Alabama in the first at-bat of the inning. Sending Lutz's pitch 366-feet off of the scoreboard in left field. Tide advantage, 5-3.

A pair of singles from Neal and Richie Bonomolo Jr. would set up a golden RBI opportunity for Fowler in the fourth. The Tide's leadoff man would pull through, knocking a single to right field, scoring Neal and advancing Bonomolo Jr. to third. Lebron would knock a sac-fly to right field, scoring Bonomolo for the third run of the inning. A Hodo flyout would put an end to the inning. 7-3 Alabama.

Adams' afternoon would be over in the fifth, finishing his first start of the season with 4.0 IP, five hits, three earned runs, and two walks as JT Blackwood would take the mound for Alabama. Blackwood would drop the Braves 1-2-3 to end his lone inning of action Friday evening.

The Tide would be held scoreless in the fifth, but so would Bradley in the top of the sixth, as relievers Connor Ball and Tyler Fay would tag-team the inning.

The Crimson Tide would continue to pour it on in the bottom of the sixth via an array of two-out walks and singles, including a Lebron double that scored Fowler — marking Lebron's fifth RBI of the night. 10-3, Alabama.

The following two frames would be scoreless, keeping the score at 10-3 in favor of the Crimson Tide.

Ariston Veasey would come into the game at the top of the ninth to close it out. However, the sophomore would allow one run while loading the bases, prompting Vaughn and Jason Jackson to make a call to the bullpen and bring out Coulson Buchanan.

Buchanan would allow a two-RBI single and then a walk; prompting another pitcher change for the Tide.

Closer Carson Ozmer would take the mound with bases loaded and two outs. The UPenn transfer would strike out Cole Luckey in four pitches to give Alabama their first win of 2025.

The Tide take the field again at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

For more Alabama Baseball, Basketball, and Football content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.