Diodati adds two more hits to help Alabama to win
Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) had two hits, a run and an RBI on Wednesday to help the University of Alabama to a 10-3 win over Alabama State. Photo: University of Alabama Athletics
February 19, 2020
By Alex Thompson
University of Alabama Athletics Communications
Alabama Baseball Downs Alabama State, 10-3, on Wednesday Afternoon
The Crimson Tide used a pair of four-run innings to help secure the midweek win
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A pair of four-run innings helped Alabama baseball secure the 10-3 win over Alabama State on Wednesday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson Tide improves to 4-0 on the season.
Alabama jumped out to a four-run lead after one inning, added two in the third and then piled on four more in the bottom of the eighth to lock down the midweek victory. The offense combined to score a season-high tying 10 runs on eight hits and six walks, led by the Tide’s 5-6-7 hitters in junior Tyler Gentry and freshmen Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Zane Denton. The group combined for five of UA’s eight hits in addition to contributing five RBI and three runs scored.
Reliever Dylan Smith (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen thanks to 2.0 scoreless frames that included two strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Landon Green and redshirt junior Garret Rukes each worked a scoreless frame in the final two innings to ensure the victory.
How It Happened
B1 | Brett Auerbach led the game off with a walk. The senior then stole second to put himself in scoring position. After a strikeout and walk, Gentry doubled to score a pair and give Alabama its first runs of the game. Diodati followed, singling to left-center to put runners on the corners for UA. A wild pitch moved Gentry to home while Diodati advanced two bases to third. An infield groundout in the next at-bat crossed the freshman and ended the Crimson Tide’s scoring sequence. (4-0, Alabama)
T2 | A two-out single to right put the Hornets on the board. (4-1, Alabama)
B3 | T.J. Reeves walked to lead off the third and was followed by Drew Williamson to put two aboard with none down. A wild pitch moved the sophomores into scoring position and one out later, Diodati sent a single through the right side to score Reeves. Following an ASU pitching change, Denton sent a sacrifice fly to left to score Williamson and add a second run in the frame. (6-1, Alabama)
T7 | The Hornets drew a leadoff walk before sending a two-run home run over the wall in left to cut deficit in half. (6-3, Alabama)
B8 | Denton led off the frame with a double to center. ASU then went to the bullpen, but the new arm was greeted with an RBI-double down the line in left from freshman Myles Austin. After a wild pitch, fellow freshman Peyton Wilson dropped a ball in front of the Hornets’ right fielder to score Austin and increase the lead. With Wilson still on base, Jackson Tate sent a ball over the wall in deep left-center for the junior’s first home run of the season. (10-3, Alabama)