The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Troy Trojans 7-3 on Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Tide improved to 15-3 on the season and the Trojans fell to 6-10. The Tide used two hits each from Justin LeBron and Johnny Lemm and a home run from Jason Torres to power the win.
Right hander Bobby Alcock started on the mound for the Tide, one of five pitchers for Bama. Troy countered with left hander Chase Cartron, one of eight hurlers used by the Trojans. Alcock struck out two and walked one in
the top of the 1st inning. A perfect throw from Lemm eliminated the base runner trying to steal. In the bottom of the 1st Cartron hit the first two batters, Bryce Fowler and Justin LeBron. Fowler and LeBron pulled off a double steal. A Luke Vaughn sacrifice fly scored Fowler for an early 1-0 lead.
Alcock allowed a lead off single to Jimmy Janicki in the 2nd, but a strikeout and a double play ended the frame. The Tide took control in the bottom half. Dylan King took over on the mound for the Trojans in the 2nd inning. Torres led off with à laser shot over the left field wall for his 3rd home run of the season. Justin Osterhouse and Peyton Steele both walked and King was replaced by Hayden Smith. Smith walked Brenna Holt to load the bases. A Fowler ground ball forced turned into a force out at the plate. LeBron then lined a single to plate two runs. A strikeout and fly out ended the inning with Bama ahead 3-0.
In the top of the 3rd, Alcock quickly retired the first two batters before running into trouble. Drew Nelson and Zaid Diaz then singled before Josh Pyne lined a double into the left field corner. Nelson scored but Diaz was gunned down at the plate in a throw from Osterhouse to LeBron to Lemm, ending the inning and making the score 4-1 in favor of Alabama. Evan Steckmesser replaced Alcock in the 4th and tossed two scoreless innings. The Tide added a run in the bottom of the fifth. Vaughn walked with one out and moved to third on a double by Lemm. Torres lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Vaughn.
Sam Mitchell was next in the hill for Bama, taking over in the 6th inning. Troy closed the margin on a two run home run off the bat of Janicki, making the score 5-3 in the Tides favor. Alabama got one back in the bottom half. Steele was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Fowler. Mitchell issued a one out walk in the top of the 7th and was replaced by Matthew Heiberger. Heiberger walked the first man he faced, but fanned the next two to stymie the threat.
Bama added the last run of the game in the bottom half of the seventh. Neal was hit by a pitch and raced home on a double by Lemm. Torres follows with a walk, but the next two batters were retired to end the inning. Heiberger walked Janicki with one out in the 8th, but a double play ended the inning. The Tide loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half when LeBron singled, stole second, then went to third on a throwing error. Neal and both walked before a strikeout ended the inning’
Hagan Banks took the 9th inning for the Tide. Things got interesting after a one out error and a walk put two runners on. Banks notched a strikeout and induced a pop up to end the game with Bama on top 7-3.
Alabama hit 5-26 in the game with seven walks, five hit batters, three sacrifice flys, three stolen bases, two doubles, one home run, and left 10 men on base. LeBron finished 2-4 with a hit by pitch, two RBI, and two stolen bases. Lemm was 2-5 with two doubles and a run driven in. Torres had the only other hit for the Tide with his home run, and added a sacrifice fly for his second RBI and a walk. Vaughn and Fowler both drove in runs with sacrifice flys. Alcock was awarded the win and is 2-o on the season.
Troy hit 5-31 in the game with five walks, one hit batter, 10 strikeouts, and left seven on base. Cartron fell to 0-1 with the loss. Janicki led the offense with a 2-3 night with two runs driven in.
SEC play opens for Alabama this weekend as they travel to Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a three game series. The Tide needs to clean up their defense and be more efficient on offense as league play begins. Bama has drawn a lot of walks and hit batters to help them score runs. Those opportunities are likely to be cut down with SEC pitchers on the mound, so more hits will be needed. The games this weekend are schedule for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, and noon CT on Sunday. All will be available on the ESPN app. The Tide will stay with their weekend rotation of Tyler Fay, Zane Adams, and Myles Upchurch.
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