Canadians Diodati, Jean lead Alabama to comeback win
ABC and Junior National Team alum Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) pick up his first win of the season for the University of Alabama on Sunday. Photo: University of Alabama Athletics
February 16, 2020
Official University of Alabama Athletics Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite falling behind early, Alabama baseball battled back for a 6-3 win over Northeastern on Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The sweep pushed the Crimson Tide's record to 3-0 after Opening Weekend.
Northeastern jumped out front early, taking a 3-0 lead after one frame. Alabama answered with two in the home half of the first, tied things up with a single tally in the second and took the lead with a pair in the bottom of the third. The Crimson Tide did not relinquish its advantage from that point and added one more in the fifth to secure the series sweep of NU.
The Huskies got to Montreal native Antoine Jean (1-0) early, but the freshman then settled in, retiring nine of the final 11 batters he faced before exiting the game in line for the win. Jean recorded 4.0 innings of work, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned) with a walk and two strikeouts for the win.
Sophomores Jacob McNairy and Chase Lee followed to combine for 5.0 shutout frames, allowing just one hit between the two with each right-hander striking out four batters apiece. Lee worked the final two frames to pick up his first career save.
Alabama's bats continued their hot hitting, tallying 12 hits for a third straight game. The Crimson Tide offense was led once again by freshman Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.). The designated hitter finished a perfect 3-for-3 and a double short of the cycle. Diodati added a team-high three RBI and matched the team-best mark for runs scored with two. Fellow freshman Jim Jarvis, along with senior Brett Auerbach, also contributed multi-hit efforts with two knocks apiece. Auerbach's line included a double and a home run to go with an RBI, two runs scored, a pair of walks and a stolen base.
Postgame Notes
-The Crimson Tide swept the Northeastern Huskies. Alabama has now swept two of its three Opening Weekend opponents under head coach Brad Bohannon and hold an 8-1 mark in those three series to start the new year.
-Alabama totaled 36 hits across the three-game series. The 36 hits are the most in a three-game set since UA produced 39 hits across the weekend with Washington State from Feb. 23-24, 2018.
-Tide pitchers allowed only 13 hits all weekend. The 13 combined hits allowed are the fewest a UA staff has given up in a three-game weekend series since 2015 when Alabama allowed only 11 hits over three games against Maryland Eastern Shore from Feb. 13-15.
-Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) finished 3-for-3 with a single, a triple and a home run, coming up a double short of the cycle.
-Diodati wrapped up his weekend as the team leader in hits (6), home runs (3), RBI (8) and runs scored (6). He batted .667 (6-9) over that stretch, the highest average on the Tide.
-Five of Diodati's six hits went for extra bases.
-With his 1-for-5 day, sophomore T.J. Reeves has now reached base safely in his last 13 straight games dating back to May 4 of last season.
-Brett Auerbach started at three different positions on the weekend. The senior began his weekend in center, moved to catcher on Saturday and finished things up at third base in today's series finale.
Alabama will use Monday for an off day before heading back to the diamond for a pair of midweeks. The Crimson Tide will first host Troy on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a 3 p.m. CT matchup before welcoming the Alabama State Hornets to The Joe on Wednesday, scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.