Alabama Takes Game One from No. 1 Tennessee

TUSCALOOSA, Ala — No. 12 Alabama (22-1, 4-0) took game one in their SEC home opener against No. 1 Tennessee (20-2, 3-1), 6-5.

Alabama starter Zane Adams earned the win on the mound for the Crimson Tide. The southpaw dealt 6.1 innings, scattering six hits and allowing four earned runs (five in total) while punching out six over 95 pitches.

The Crimson Tide's Justin Lebron led the charge offensively, notably ripping a three-RBI double in the second that pushed the Alabama lead out to 5-3.

Alabama southpaw Zane Adams earned the ball to open the series Thursday night. In his first inning of work, Adams retired the first two batters he faced. Tennessee center fielder Hunter Ensley worked a two-out walk, setting up first baseman Andrew Fischer to punish a 3-0 pitch from Adams, launching out 425 feet to draw the first blood of the series.

Adams picked up the final out of the first via a fly out.

In the home half of the first, DH Coleman Mizell worked a two-out walk, but the Crimson Tide were unable to capitalize.

In the second, Adams began to find a groove, forcing soft contact from the Tennesee lineup. However, an error from third baseman Jason Torres allowed the UT leadoff runner to reach safely, followed by a wild pitch that advanced him to second.

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Adams picked up a groundout and a strikeout the next two at-bats. With two outs, another error from Jason Torres allowed Tennessee to plate a run, giving the Volunteers a 3-0 lead. Another fly out forced by Adams ended the top of the frame.

Whatever the Alabama lineup is doing in the second inning, it's working. The Crimson Tide were able to load the bases via a leadoff single by Will Hodo, a Brennen Norton HBP, and Kade Snell reaching safely with a bit of help from Tennesse second baseman Manny Marin.

With bases loaded and no outs, catcher Will Plattner came through for the Crimson Tide, working a walk to put the first run on the board for the Crimson Tide.

The following at-bat, Richie Bonomolo Jr. worked a second consecutive walk to tack on another run, cutting the Vols lead to 3-2.

Two at-bats later, Justin Lebron ripped a bases-clearing double to put the Crimson Tide ahead 5-3 in the second.

Alabama threatened to add more in the second, but UT starter Liam Doyle snuffed out the Crimson Tide attack.

Both Adams and Doyle settled into the game in the third inning. Doyle allowed a lone run in the frame on a Bonomolo Jr. RBI groundout that pushed the Alabama lead to 6-3.

The game fell relatively quiet outside of a Bonomolo Jr diving catch in center field and an emphatic home run robbery by Bryce Fowler to light a fire under the Crimson Tide and Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Matthew Heiberger entered the game for Zane Adams in the seventh with one out and two on base. Two runs crossed, one via a comebacker that nailed Heiberger in the foot and the other on a sacrifice flyout. Heiberger forced the final out with a flyout to right field.

Both runs were credited to Adams.

In the bottom of the frame, the Crimson Tide were retired in order.

At the top of the eighth inning, UT put two runners on base via a Heiberger hit by pitch and a walk. With two on and no outs, Heiberger forced a line drive to Lebron, who caught Tennessee's Manny Marin too far out from first base, whipping the ball over to the glove of Will Hodo for a clutch two outs.

Closer Carson Ozmer promptly entered the game, fanning the first batter he faced to send the game to the bottom half of the eighth.

Looking to tack on insurance runs, UT reliever Dylan Loy silenced the Crimson Tide bats, retiring in order for them to hold the Tennessee deficit at 6-5.

After forcing a Dean Curley leadoff groundout, Ozmer allowed a one-out infield single by Jay Abernathy to put the go-ahead run at the dish for Tennessee. Abernathy attempted to steal second but was gunned down by catcher Will Plattner for the second out of the ninth.

Tony Vitello opted to challenge the call, but the play stood and the Volunteers were down to their final out.

Ozmer forced a Hunter Ensly to pop out to right as Sewell-Thomas erupted as the Crimson Tide took game one against No. 1 Tennessee.

The Crimson Tide retakes the diamond Friday at 6 p.m. as they eye a series win over Tennessee.

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.