Canadian Diodati homers twice to help Alabama to 10-0 win
Great Lake Canadians alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) homered twice on Friday to lead the University of Alabama to a 10-0 win over Northeastern. Photo: Alabama Athletics
February 15, 2020
Official Press Release from University of Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball blanked Northeastern, 10-0, on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium thanks to major contributions from the Crimson Tide's freshmen. The win improves UA to 3-0 on Opening Day under head coach Brad Bohannon.
Alabama's offense rallied for 10 runs on 12 hits and nine walks. Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) shined as the freshman notched two home runs to go with a team-high three RBI and four runs scored. He also added a pair of walks to his line.
On the mound, freshman Connor Prielipp, redshirt freshman Landon Green and sophomores Tyler Ras and Dylan Smith combined to blank the Huskies. Prielipp (1-0) got the win, as the freshman tossed 4.0 innings of one-hit baseball with seven strikeouts. Ras followed with 3.0 innings while Green and Smith each worked one frame to secure the victory. The group totaled 11 strikeouts while allowing just four hits on the afternoon.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon:
"The first thing that I would like to say is what an awesome crowd, especially out in right field. I thought the student turnout was outstanding. It was awesome for (Owen) Diodati hitting a couple of souvenirs out there. This was a really good first day for us. We certainly weren't perfect, but a lot of guys contributed. Connor (Prielipp) did a great job with getting us a start on the mound, and we had a lot of hard contact throughout the lineup. I'm just really pleased to get off to the good start."
How It Happened
B1 | Sophomore T.J. Reeves was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With the runner in scoring position, junior Tyler Gentry doubled down the third base line to bring in Reeves for the Crimson Tide's first run of the year. (1-0, Alabama)
B2 | Diodati led off the frame with a walk and moved into scoring position one out later on a wild pitch. A pair of walks pushed the freshman to third before a passed ball on strike three allowed Diodati to cross the plate, doubling UA's lead. (2-0, Alabama)
B3 | Drew Williamson led things off with a triple off the wall in center. The sophomore crossed one batter later when freshman Zane Denton sent a liner through the right side. Following a Northeastern pitching change, Diodati sent a shot deep to right for a two-run home run. (5-0, Alabama)
B7 | The Crimson Tide added four more. A bases-loaded walk by freshman Jim Jarvis brought in the first run before a NU pitching change. Senior Brett Auerbach followed with a single up the middle cross another tally. One out later, pinch-hitter Jackson Tate singled through the left side to give the junior an RBI and add to the Tide lead. A sacrifice fly from freshman Peyton Wilson in the next at-bat brought in Alabama's final run of the frame to push the lead to nine. (9-0, Alabama)
B8 | Diodati recorded his second home run of the night, a solo shot to right. (10-0, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
-Owen Diodati recorded Alabama's first home run of the season. The freshman sent a two-run shot to right in the bottom of the third.
-Diodati homered twice in today's game. The two-homer performance was the first by a Tide hitter since Gentry and Reeves each homered twice at Samford last season on April 9.
-The freshman designated hitter also recorded four runs. Diodati's four runs scored are the most by a single player since Keith Holcombe had four against Valparaiso on Feb. 18, 2018.
Alabama and Northeastern return to the field on Saturday for game two of the series. The Crimson Tide will look to sophomore right-hander Connor Shamblin for the series win while the Huskies call on junior righty Sam Jacobsak to even things up.