February 18, 2022

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball opened the 2022 campaign in walkoff fashion as the Crimson Tide took down Xavier, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) walked it off for UA on a two-run home run that capped a four-run ninth inning.

The Tide trailed by three to start the ninth but a solo home run from Dominic Tamez to open the frame cut the lead to two. A double from Zane Denton put a runner on for William Hamiter, who followed with a double of his own to bring in Denton and make it a one-run ballgame. Diodati proceeded to hammer the first pitch he saw over the wall in right to send the Tide home victorious on Opening Day.

The Crimson Tide trailed all afternoon as the Musketeers took a 1-0 lead with a solo home run on the first pitch of the game. Xavier added another run in the third before the Tide got on the board thanks to a solo shot from Tamez, his first of the game, to make it a 2-1 ballgame. The Musketeers added a pair with a two-run home run in the sixth and held the Tide off the board until the ninth.

Tamez led the offensive charge with a 2-for-4 afternoon that featured a pair of solo home runs, two RBIs and two runs scored. Hamiter added a two-hit day of his own, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Senior Brock Guffey (1-0) worked two scoreless innings and recorded three strikeouts to pick up the win. Guffey followed Jacob McNairy who contributed one relief frame with two punch outs. Junior college transfer Garrett McMillan got the starting nod on Friday, tossing six innings with five strikeouts to open his Alabama career.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“Overall, I’m just proud of the fight that our team showed, and I would have said that even if we would have lost the game. The spirit in the dugout was outstanding. These kids love each other, love to play, and I think today is an example of how there is a human element to what we do. If you have relentless energy, you will be successful. This was a great team win, great way to start the season, and I’m really proud of our team.”

How It Happened

T1 | A leadoff home run from Luke Franzoni got the Musketeers on the board first. (1-0, Xavier)

T3 | The Musketeers added another run with a two-out double to right-center. (2-0, Xavier)

B4 | Dominic Tamez went yard for the Crimson Tide’s first home run of the new season. (2-1, Xavier)

T6 | The Musketeers started the inning with a single to left and brought everyone home on a two-run home run to extend the XU lead to three. (4-1, Xavier)

B9 | Tamez connected for his second roundtripper of the game, sending a solo shot to left to start the Tide rally. Zane Denton the followed with a double to right-center and was brought home on a William Hamiter double to left. Owen Diodati then sent the first pitch he saw into the Xavier bullpen to give the Crimson Tide the walkoff win. (5-4, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

-Alabama is now 5-0 in season openers under head coach Brad Bohannon.

-The Crimson Tide has won eight straight season-opening contests dating back to 2015.

-Dominic Tamez homered twice in today’s game. The junior catcher is the first Crimson Tide hitter to homer twice in the same game since Tyler Gentry against South Alabama on March 3, 2020.

-Tamez’ two home runs mark the first time a Tide hitter has homered twice on Opening Day since Owen Diodati did it on Feb. 14 against Northeastern to open the 2020 campaign.

-Alabama homered three times in today’s game and twice in the bottom of the ninth. The two-homer ninth marked the first time the Tide hit a pair of roundtrippers in the same inning since April 30 of last season when Peyton Wilson and Zane Denton went yard in a victory over Missouri.

-The Tide posted 19 multi-home run games in 2021, going 14-5 in those contests.

-Three Crimson Tide transfers made their Alabama debuts Friday afternoon, including Dominic Tamez, Tommy Seidl and Garrett McMillan.

Alabama will face Xavier for game two of the series on Saturday. The Crimson Tide calls on junior left-hander Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) while the Musketeers counter with righty Bryce Barnett, also a junior. Game two is set for a 2 p.m. CT start.