Crimson Tide Stave Off Wild Jax State Comeback

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —The Alabama Crimson Tide held off a wild Jacksonville State comeback, winning 20-11, advancing to a perfect 9-0 on the season.

To open his postgame press conference, Rob Vaughn addressed the viral and controversial postgame photo following Sunday's comeback thriller over OSU

Vaughn added that he had been in contact with Ohio State head coach Justin Haire to apologize. Vaughn stated that Haire is one of his closest friends.

Alabama reliever Zach Kitrell earned credit for the win today, while the loss was placed on Jax State starter Brady Thomas.

The Crimson Tide started off quick in the first, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a Will Hodo three-run jack to right-center.

The Gamecocks swung back in the bottom of the second with a home run of their own, as DH Carson Hornug sent a solo shot to straightaway center to cut the Alabama lead to 3-1.

Alabama poured it on in the second inning, tacking on a whopping 13 runs, the most in an inning for the Crimson Tide since April 9, 2019.

The inning got started by a towering Brady Neal two-run blast over the heads of the Right Field Ragers, followed by a three-run Justin Lebron jack to left field, giving the Crimson Tide a quick 8-1 lead with no outs in the second.

After Lebron's homer, designated hitter Coleman Mizell came up with one of his own, blasting a solo shot to right-center to push the Crimson Tide lead out to 9-1.

Jason Torres knocked a base hit to left field, reaching second on a double and third on a wild pitch. Hodo would send the third baseman back to the dugout with a single through the right side of the infield for Alabama's first non-homerun RBI of the day, extending Alabama's lead to 10-1.

The following at-bat, Brennen Norton reached first via hit by pitch, advancing Hodo to second. A Kade Snell infield grounder gave Alabama their first out of the inning, advancing Norton and Hodo to second and third, respectively.

A Brady Neal walk set up a bases-load chance for Richie Bonomolo Jr. The center fielder worked another walk to tack on another run for Alabama, pushing the lead into the ten-run rule territory.

With bases still loaded, Alabama leadoff man Bryce Fowler blew the inning wide open with his second grand slam of the season to push the Crimson Tide lead to 15-1.

Justin Lebron put the cherry on top of the inning with a solo shot down the left-field line to extend the Alabama lead to 16-1.

After a quiet third inning, the Gamecocks would begin to respond, tacking on four runs in the top of the fourth. Two via a Sam Silas double and two more from a Coltom Hegwood single.

The Gamecocks hung a second straight zero in the bottom half of the frame to set up another four-run inning led by an Ace Williamson three-run homer to right field. The Gamecocks would shut out the Crimson Tide in the bottom half of the fifth for the third consecutive inning.

Headed into the sixth, the Gamecocks were banging on the door, threatening to put Alabama on the other side of their comeback Sunday.

Alabama's Tyler Fay tossed a shutout in the top of the sixth. However, the Tide offense couldn't tack on any insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth.

The seventh inning was a similary story as the fourth and fifth for the Crimson Tide. Jax State tacked on two runs, while Alabama failed to respond in the bottom half of the frame.

In the eighth, Alabama reliever Braylon Myers dropped the Gamecocks in 1-2-3 fashion in a clutch inning of relief for the Crimson Tide.

The Tide lineup came up clutch in the bottom half of the eighth, tacking on four runs to, in all likelihood, put the game to bed.

Reliever Packy Bradley-Cooney entered the game for Alabama to close it out, allowing a lone walk in the ninth to end the game.

Alabama is back in The Joe this weekend against NDSU.

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.