Staton has been Big for the Tide Since Returning From Injury

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Crimson Tide baseball team is having an amazing season. As of their 8-6 win over Oklahoma Friday night, Rob Vaughn's team stands at 24-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play. Garrett Staton, Alabama's second baseman, played an important role in the Tide's victory Friday in the Seniors' second game back since undergoing surgery after breaking his index finger on February 18th in the first inning of Alabama's 12-2 win over Middle Tennessee.

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Staton has been lethal since returning to the starting lineup for Alabama's 4-3 victory over North Alabama on Tuesday, March 25th. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the second baseman drove in two runs with a double into center field, giving the Tide their first lead of the game.

The redshirt senior contributed significantly to Alabama's game-one victory over Oklahoma on Friday. Staton drove in Crimson Tide third baseman Jason Torres with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning, giving Alabama its first run of the game.

Staton, who returned to the starting lineup two games ago, went 2-5 at bat with three RBIs and two doubles in the Tide's victories over North Alabama and Oklahoma this week.

When asked what Staton contributes to the team, Vaughn said, "Veteran." The head coach went on to add how delighted he is with the senior's speedy recovery, noting, "He hasn't been able to swing a bat until a week and a half ago." The senior second baseman has a.400 batting average in his first two games back.

Alabama's head coach discussed having a seasoned player like Staton who has postseason experience, stating, "He's old, he's experienced. The moment just doesn't get too big for him, and you trust sending it with guys like that." That appears to be the case, as the Senior came through for the Tide in both of their wins this week, including a win over North Alabama in which the Tide's bats struggled, with Staton's two RBIs coming in a win in which Alabama batted an average of .167, the lowest the Crimson Tide had batted all season.

Vaughn went on to talk about the type of person and character Staton has and how some players in the transfer portal talk about their former teams, with Vaugh saying "Like so many times man, when you talk to these kids in the transfer portal, they just dog the place they were at." with Alabama's head coach saying that Staton was nothing like that." Vaughn continued, "Like he was super respectful of Samford and their staff and his experience."

Staton and the Crimson Tide will prepare for game two of their three-game series against No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday, March 29th at Sewell Thomas Stadium, with the opening pitch scheduled for noon CT. The Crimson Tide have a chance to sweep the Sooners with a win tomorrow after winning game one 8-6 on Friday.

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