The Alabama Crimson Tide is one win away from hosting a Super Regional next week. After defeating Alabama State 21-3 on Friday night the Tide defeated South Carolina Upstate 7-5 on Saturday night. The game scheduled for 6 p.m was delayed until a 7:36 start time because of potential rain. That rain didn’t come until the third inning of the game, but the teams played through it. SCU defeated Oklahoma State 8-5 on Friday. OSU defeated Alabama State 8-7 in 11 innings on Saturday and will play Upstate Sunday
afternoon at 2 p.m. The Tide awaits the win of that game for a 7 p.m. CT game on Sunday.
In Saturday’s game Alabama junior left hander Zane Adams faced off with fellow left hander Chris Torres for USC Upstate. The Tide was designated as the visiting team under the NCAA Regional Rules, but were allowed to use their normal dugout and bullpen. In the 1st Bama got a two out single from Brady Neal and a walk to Jason Torres, but could not push a run across. Adams also worked around a walk and single in the bottom half of the frame. Neither team threatened in the 2nd inning.
In the to top of the 3rd the Tide broke through. Justin LeBron lined a one out single to centerfield and stole second base. After Neal struck out for out two, Torres blasted a double into the left field corner to score LeBron. Johnny Lemm was hit by a pitch to bring freshman slugger Eric Hines to the plate. In a steady rainfall the big Tuscaloosa native muscled a ball the other way over the right field fence for a three run home run and a 4-0 Bama lead. The Spartans used a one out double, an error, and a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-1.
Alabama matched that run in the top of the 4th inning. Bryce Fowler blasted a two out triple off the center field wall, his second three bagger in the last two games. LeBron stroked a single into left field to scored Fowler, then stole second base for his 40th stolen bag of the year in 41 attempts. A strikeout stranded the shortstop there. Upstate cut into the lead in the bottom half, with some help from some shoddy Tide defense. After a lead off single by Trey Bentley, Adams threw the ball away on a pick off attempt allowing Bentley to advance to second. A single and a sacrifice fly brought the Spartan’s centerfielder home. Wylie Waters then singled to put two runners on, but a nifty double play started by a ground ball to Adams, who threw to LeBron, who fired to first, ended the inning.
Bama added to the lead in the top of the fifth. Torres drew a walk and moved to third on a single by Lemm. Lemm, the Tides primary catcher, suffered a hand injury in Friday nights win and was doubtful to play. However after treatment and a special glove he was able to fill the DH role on Saturday night. Hines struck out before Brennan Holt was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Luke Vaughn lined out to bring Peyton Steele to the plate. Steele worked a full count walk to drive in Torres, making the score 6-1. Fowler grounded out to end the inning. Adams worked around two two- out walks in the bottom half to hold the score.
The Tide got their last run of the game in the of the sixth. Leading off, LeBron slammed his second home run in as many days over the left field wall, his 16th of the season. Adams was back out for the bottom half and after allowing a lead off single before using a line out and two strikeouts to end his outing with a 7-2 lead. Adams allowed six hits, three walks, two unearned runs, and struck five.
Vaughn was hit by a pitch and Fowler singled in the 7th, but the Tide couldn’t score either man. Matthew Heirberger replaced Adams and was also victimized by his teams defense. Henry Zenor reached on an error by Holt at second base, and advanced on a walk. Holt and LeBron combined for a double play that moved Zenor to third base. Johnny Sweeney then smoked a home run to right field to cut the lead to 7-4. At this point all four Spartan runs were unearned.
Torres and Lemm both singled in the 8th, but a double play rapped into by Hines ended that threat. Heiberger allowed a bloop single just out of the reach of LeBron in the bottom half. The Tide went down in order in the 9th to set up the nerve wracking finish. After a ground out by Zenor, Maloy Heaghney laced a single. Tyler Lang hit a ball in the hole at shortstop where LeBron made the play and laser throw to retire him a first base, and Heaghney advanced to second. With two outs Torres fielded a ground ball at third base and appeared to hesitate on the throw, that sailed wide, putting runners on the corners. Bentley slapped a double into the left field corner to score one and push Sweeney to third base. Chase Kroeberger, into the game as a defensive replacement, just missed throwing Bentley out at second on the play. Bama challenged the safe call, but did not win the challenge. With the tying runs in scoring position and the winning run at the plate, Jake Armsey smoked a ball to deep centerfield that Fowler hauled in a few feet from the wall to end the game with the Tide on the good end of the 7-5 score.
Bama hit 11-37 in the game with four walks, four hit batters, a triple, a double, two home runs, two stolen bases, struck out seven times, and left 11 men on base. The biggest issue was the Tide committed six errors. Bama did turn three key double plays.LeBron finished 3-5 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases, as well as several highlight reel plays at shortstop. Fowler was 2-5 with a triple and a run, Torres hit 2-3 with two walks, two runs, and a run driven in. Lemm was 2-4 with a hit by pitch and a run. Hines drove in three with hit 9th home run of the season. Adams improved to 7-4 with the win after not allowing any earned runs. Heiberger earned his 5th save of the season year with his three inning outing. Heiberger allowed four hits with one walk, one strikeout, and two runs-both of which were unearned.
South Carolina Upstate hit 10-36 with four walks, one home run, two doubles, one sac fly, and left 1o on base. Bentley and Armsey led the way with hits each. Wyatt Land, the second Spartan pitcher, was the loser and fell to 1-2 on the year. USCU used three pitchers two innings each and one for the last three frames.
The win improved the Tide to 39-19 on the year, and on the cusp of reaching Super Regional play for the second time since 2023. One more win this weekend, weather it comes tonight or in a winner take all game on Monday, would put Bama as a Super Regional host for the first time since 2006. The defensive woes that had improved over the last several games, reared its ugly head again last night. Four of the six miscues were throwing errors, and that needs to be cleaned up. It is a testament to the pitching staff to only allow five runs-all unearned- with that type of play behind them. LeBron is playing like the best player in the country right now and drew praise from Carolina coach Kane Sweeney, calling the shortstop “one of the most explosive players I’ve seen in person, and honestly kind of fun to watch. I wish we weren’t playing against him tonight, but he is definitely a really good baseball player.” Fowler has been the spark for the Tide for much of the season and has continued that during this Regional run. The Tide will play the winner of the Upstate and Oklahoma State winner at 7 p.m. tonight. The Cowboys and Spartans will faced off at 2 p.m in an elimination game.
Roll Tide
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