Dominant Outing from Hess Propels Alabama to Series Win

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated LSU 4-3 on Mother's Day afternoon to win their last home series of the season.

The story of the afternoon was Ben Hess' stellar outing on the mound. Hess tossed 104 pitches, only allowing two hits and one run, while striking out ten to shut down a Tigers' offense that posted 13 runs over the series' first two games.

Alabama starter Ben Hess started the game on fire, striking out the side on 13 pitches in the first inning.

LSU's Samuel Dutton would also make quick work of the Alabama bats in the bottom of the inning, dropping the top of the Tide order in 1-2-3 fashion.

Hess returned to the mound and promptly struck out Ashton Larson in three pitches. The following at-bat, Hess walked Steven Milam on ten pitches; however, Milam was caught stealing second the following at-bat. Hess then forced a quick groundout to Justin Lebron to end the inning.

The middle of the Crimson Tide order would jump on Dutton in the second, loading the bases for William Hamiter. Hamiter would single to center field to score Kade Snell, prompting LSU head coach Jay Johnson to take a long walk to the mound. Johnson would go pull Dutton, opting to go with Aiden Moffett on the mound early in the second.

A passed ball to second baseman Max Grant scored McCants, followed by an RBI groundout from Grant, increasing the Crimson Tide's lead to 3-0.

Hamiter would attempt to score on another wild pitch, but an unlucky bounce off of the wall would allow LSU catcher Brady Neal to tag Hamiter out at the plate.

Hess would continue to shut down the Tigers in the top of the third, striking out Paxton Kling and forcing a double play.

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The Tide added one more in the third via a Will Hodo sac fly to extend their lead to 4-0.

Hess would allow his lone run in the top of the fourth off of an Ashton Larson RBI fielder's choice, reducing Alabama's lead to three.

Following Larson's RBI, both teams entered a standoff, thanks to excellent pitching from Hess and the LSU bullpen.

Hess exited in the seventh, being replaced by Alton Davis II. The southpaw forced the final out of the seventh on an Ethan Frey lineout.

A quick single and hit by a pitch from Davis II set up a Tommy White RBI single through the left side of the infield. Tyler Fay entered the game and allowed one run via a Jared Jones groundout.

Despite a McCants bunt single, the Tide couldn't add insurance in the bottom of the eighth.

After a leadoff single, Alabama pitching coach Jason Jackson would put in Braylon Myers to close out the game. Myers earned two quick outs before striking out Jake Brown to end the game, handing Alabama the series win.

Alabama will look to take care of bitter in-state rivals, the Auburn Tigers, next weekend in the Plains.