The 17th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide overcame devastating injuries to sweep the South Carolina Gamecocks in a three game series this weekend in Columbia, SC. The Tide lost superstar shortstop Justin LeBron in the 7th inning of the 1st game, and lost leading hitter catcher/outfielder Brady Neal in the second inning of game two. Both are in concussion protocol. The loss of the two stars is on top of missing preseason projected starters Logen Devenport, Sam Christiansen, and Coleman Mizell for the whole
season, and with closer Kaden Humphrey logging only 1.2 innings pitched before Tommy John surgery ended his campaign. Several seldom used and under performing players had to stip up, and they did. Bama won game one 8-3, took game two 9-6, and game three ended with the Tide holding on for a 7-6 victory. Alabama improved to 35-17 overall and 16-11 in the SEC while South Carolina fell to 22-30 and 7-20 in conference play.
Game One-Won 8-3
Tyler Fay took the mound for the Tide against Amp Phillips for the Gamecocks. The Tide hit the ball hard in the first with Justin LeBron and Brady Neal both hitting line drives hauled in by outfielders. Bryce Fowler dumped a single into left field before Eric Hines flew out to deep centerfield. Fay struck out the lead off man in the bottom half, walked the second man, struck out the third, hit the fourth, and retired the side on a long fly out to left field.
Bama took control in the top of the 2nd inning with a big two out rally. With two outs Luke Vaughn blasted an 0-1 pitch deep over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. Peyton Steele and Brennan Holt both drew walks to bring LeBron to the plate. LeBron drove the first pitch over the left field wall for a three run home run, his 13th of the year. Fay retired the Gamecocks on six pitches in the bottom of the 2nd on a strikeout and two ground outs.
The Tide went down in order in the 3rd and the 4th innings before USCe got on the board in the fourth. Talmadge LeCroy led off with a double and scored in a two out single by KJ Scobey. In the top of the 6th Bama missed a chance to blow the game wide open. Hines led off with a triple but was caught off third base when Johnny Lemm hit a ground ball to first base and Hines got caught in no man’s land. Jason Torres followed with a single, but a pop out and strikeout ended the frame.
Fay cruised through the bottom half of the 6th despite hitting a batter, recording two more strikeouts. The Tide lost LeBron in the top of the seventh. With one out LeBron hit a ground ball to third baseman Dawson Harman. Harman fielded the ball, double pumped, and threw wildly to first. First baseman Will Croddock made a leaping grab of the throw and swiped down sharply, clotheslining LeBron across the head and neck. The star shortstop went down hard, and stayed down for several minutes. After working with the training staff, LeBron stayed in the game. Brady Neal laced a single to right and LeBron raced to third and realized something wasn’t right. Jojo Williamson replaced LeBron as a pinch runner and scored on a groundout by Fowler to make the score 5-1. Fay finished his night with a scoreless 7th inning, departing after 93 pitches while allowing only two hits, two walks, and one run, while striking out 10 batters.
The Tide added insurance in the top of the eighth. Lemm walked and scored when Vaughn lifted his second home run of the game. Steele followed with a single and moved to third on a single by Williamson. The hit was the first of Williamson’s career. Steele scored on a wild pitch for the team’s 8th and final run of the game.
Sam Mitchell took over for Fay on the mound in the 8th and allowed two runs on two hits and two wild pitches before striking out the side. After Alabama went down in order in the 9th, Mitchell retired the Gamecocks in order in the bottom half to secure the 8-3 win.
Alabama hit 9-37 in the game with four walks, a triple, three home runs, with eight strikeouts, and six men left on base. Vaughn was the big stick with a 2-4 game with two home runs, two runs scores, and three RBI. LeBron was 1-4 with his home run and three driven in. Six other players had one hit each. Fay improved to 8-3 with the win. The Tide improved to 33-17 and 14-11 in league play.
South Carolina finished 4-31 in the game with two walks, two hit batters, 13 strikeouts, and five men left on base. Phillips fell to 3-7 with the loss. The ‘Cocks fell to 22-28 overall and 7-18 in the SEC.
Game Two- Won 9-6
Zane Adams took his normal “Zaturday” slot in the rotation against Brandon Stone for the Gamecocks. The Tide jumped out early in the first. Bryce Fowler led off the game with single and advanced to third on a one out single to right field by Eric Hines. Johnny Lemm drove Fowler home with a fielders choice ground ball. Adams had a quick bottom of the 1st with two strikeouts and a ground out to hold the 1-0 lead. Bama catcher Brady Neal was hit in the mask with a foul ball and went down for a several minutes before staying in the game.
Alabama got a two out single from Peyton Steele and a hit by pitch to JoJo Williamson in the second. Fowler smoked a ball down the first base line that Gamecock first baseman Will Craddock made an outstanding play on to save a double and two runs.
In the bottom of the 2nd Adams ran into trouble. During warmups Neal began feeling the repercussions of his hit of the mask and had to leave the game in favor of Will Plattner. Dawson Harman led off with a long drive to right field wall that Steele got a glove on but could not haul in. Harman strolled into second with a double. Two fly outs to center field followed. Ethan Lizama drew a walk on a fortuitous ball four call bringing Jake Randolph to the plate. Randolph line the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a home run and a 3-1 lead. Luke Yuhasz followed with a single and scored on a triple by KJ Scobey. Scobey hit a low liner to center field that Fowler made a diving attempt on, but when he missed the ball rolled to the wall for a three bagger. Adams struck out the next man to hold the deficit to 4-1.
Plattner lead off the third with a single but a fly out and double play ended the frame. Adams settled im and had a perfect bottom half with two strikeouts. Bama tied it up in the top of the fourth. Jason Torres drew a 3-2 walk to lead off the inning. After two deep fly outs by Luke Vaughn and Brennan Holt the Tide rallied. Steele lined his second single of the game, bringing his high school teammate, Williamson, to the plate. On a 0-1 pitch Williamson blasted a no-doubt home run deep over the right field wall to tie the game at four apiece. Adams had a perfect bottom half with another strikeout.
Stone was still on the mound for the Gamecocks to being the 5th inning. Plattner singled for his second hit of the game to lead off the frame. Hines added his second hit and Stone was replaced by Logan Prisco. Lemm smoked a 3-2 pitch to right field for a three run home run and a 7-4 Tide lead. Bama got two more base runners on in the inning when Brennan Holt reached 0n an error and Steele collected his third hit of the game, but the inning ended when Holt was thrown out at the plate on a close play.
Adams allowed a two out double to Tyler Bak in the bottom of the 5th, but stranded him there after a pop up to end the inning. In the top of the 6th Fowler blooped a double to centerfield and scored in front of Plattner’s second home run of the season, giving the Tide a 9-4 lead. Adams was back out for the 6th, striking out the first two men before allowing a solo home run to Patrick Evans. A ground out ended the inning, and Adams day.
Bama went down in order in the top of the 7th and a Matthew Heiberger replaced Adams in the bottom half. Heiberger walked a man and allowed a single, but used a double play on a pop out and a ground out to end the threat. Neither team did anything in the 8th and the Tide went down in order in the ninth. Hagan Banks replaced Heiberger in the bottom of the inning and after a walk and a double, the ‘Cocks scored on a sacrifice fly by KJ Scobey before a strikeout and fly out ended the game with the Tide on top 9-6.
Alabama hit 14-40 in the game with two walks, one hit batter, six walks, and six left on base. Bama hit two home runs and one double while striking out six times. Plattner took advantage of his time and hit 3-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. Hinds was 3-4 with a walk and run scored. Steele had a three hit game at 3-4 with a walk and run. Williamson hit 2-3 with a hit by pitch, home run, three RBI, and a run. Fowler was 2-5 with a double and scored twice. Lemm drove in four with his 9th home run of the year and a ground out. Adams struck out nine 0ver six innings and earned the victory to improve to 6-3 on the season.
South Carolina hit 9-34 with three walks, a hit batter, 11 strikeouts, six left on base, with two home runs, three doubles, a triple, a sac fly, and one stolen base. Stone was the missed and fell to 5-4 on the year.
Game Three- Won 7-6
Star freshman right hander Myles Upchurch took the mound on Sunday for the Tide against lefty Alex Valentin for the Gamecocks. Upchurch is having an outstanding rookie season for Alabama. Bama jumped out to an early lead. Bryce Fowler led off the game with a single and moved to third on a double by Eric Hines. Johnny Lemm laced a double in the left centerfield gap to score both runners. After Jason Torres line out to centerfield, Brennan Holt lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Lemm for the third run of the inning. A fly out ended the inning. Upchurch allowed a one out single and stolen base in the bottom half but ended the frame with a line out and strikeout to hold the 3-0 lead.
Neither team did much in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Holt singled for Bama in the 4th and stole second base, but was stranded after three straight outs. Upchurch worked around a one out single and two walks in the bottom of the fourth with a line out and a ground out ending the inning with the base loaded.
The Tide added to their lead in the top of the fifth. Peyton Steele led off with a walk, and moved to second on a one out single by Hines. Lemm was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Torres hit a sacrifice fly to score Steele and Hines scooted home on an error for a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th Upchurch loaded the bases with not outs before a fly out and two strikeouts stranded the bases jammed. In the top of the 6th Bama padded the lead. Jojo Williamson and Steele drew one out walks. Fowler lined a ball past diving first baseman Will Craddock for a run scoring double. Hines blasted a sacrifice fly to deep center to bring Steele home for a 7-0 lead.
Upchurch was back out for the 6th and quickly retired the first two batters. Craddock hit a double into the left field corner and scored on a single by Ethan Lizama. After another single, Upchurch struck out KJ Scobey to end the inning, and his day with a 7-1 lead.
The Tide went down quickly in the 7th, and South Carolina transfer Ashton Crowther took over on the mound for Bama in the bottom half. It took Crowther only five pitches to retire the Gamecocks. Alabama was down in order in 8th before the Cocks made things interesting in the bottom half of the inning. Dawson Harman grounded out leading off before things turned. Tyler Bak hit a little dribbler between the mound and third base for an infield single. Crowther hit the next batter. On a potential double play ball Williamson tossed widely to second base allowing a run to score and putting runners on 1st and 3rd base. A sacrifice fly cut the lead to 7-3 before KJ Scobey homered to left to cut the margin to 7-5 before a ground out ended the inning.
Alabama tried to add some insurance in the 9th inning. Lemm walked to lead off and moved to second on a single by Torres. Holt put down a bunt that forced Torres out at second. A double play rapped into by Luke Vaughn ended the inning with the 7-5 score still intact. Hagan Banks took over for the Tide on the mound in the bottom of the ninth. Jake Randolph led off with a ground ball to shortstop that Holt booted for an error. Talmadge Lecroy flew out for the first out, but a balk by Banks moved Randolph to second base. Harman limed a single up the middle to score Randolph and cut the lead to 7-6. Matthew Heiberger was brought in to nail down the game. Bak struck out looking and Craddock ground out to Torres at third base to give the Tide the win.
Alabama hit 8-31 on the day with five walks, three hit batters, three sacrifice flies, four strikeouts, three doubles, a stolen base, and left eight on base. Hines led the way at 2-e with a double, sacrifice fly, an RBI, and two runs scored. Fowler was 2-5 with a double, run scored, and one driven in. Lemm was 1-2 with a double, three walks, two RBI, and a run scored. Steele hit 1-2 with two walks and two runs. Upchurch improved 7-3 with the win after going 6 innings, allowing six hits with three walks, five strikeouts, and only one run allowed. Heirberger earned his third save of the year.
USCe finished 9-37 with three walks, two hit batters, one home run, one double, one stolen base, a sacrifice fly, struck out six times, and left 10 on base. Scobey was 1-5 and drove on two with his home run. Valentin fell to 1-4 with the loss.
The Tide secured their fourth sweep of the SEC season, adding South Carolina’s scalp to Florida’s, Auburn’s, and Vanderbilt’s. The series win was also Alabama’s fifth in conference play and gave the team at least 16 SEC wins for the second straight season. The last time the Tide won 16 SEC games in back to back years was 2008-2009 under legendary coach Jim Wells. Bama hasn’t won as many as 19 conference games since Wells team won 20 in 2006. With Ole Miss at home this week Bama could reach 19 wins in league play. Alabama is almost certainly locked in as a host for NCAA play, and a good weekend could give the team a top eight seed which would mean hosting for Super Regionals as well- provided they win their Regional. Although South Carolina is a currently a bottom feeder in the SEC, sweeping any team on the road is impressive. Even more impressively doing so without the teams two best players, in Justin LeBron and Brady Neal, for two games. I’m not always sure how they do it, but this team just keeps finding ways to win. (Mostly it is the starting pitchers and the three main weekend bullpen arms, TBH.)
Who Did What?
*Eric Hines 6-13, triple, double sac fly, RBI, 3 runs
*Bryce Fowler 5-15, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs
*Peyton Steele 5-9, 4 walks, 5 runs
*JoJo Williamson 3-7, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 runs, walk, HBP
*Will Plattner 3-8, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 runs
*Johnny Lemm 2-11, 4 walks, 2 runs, HR (9), double, 6 RBI
*Luke Vaughn 2-13, 2 HR (7), 3 RBI, 2 runs
*Justin LeBron 1-4, HR (13) 3 RBI, run
*Tyler Fay W (8-3) 7 IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
*Zane Adams W (6-3), 6 IP, 6 hits, 1 walks, 9 strikeouts, 5 runs
*Myles Upchurch W (7-30 6 IP, 6 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 run
*Matthew Heiberger S (3) 2 appearances, 2.2 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs
Next up final series of the year with Ole Miss at home on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Game’s one and two will be at 6 p.m. CT and the finale will be a 2 p.m. CT. Saturday’s game will be on the SEC Network while the other two will be available on the app.
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