April 23, 2021

Ras Dominates in 10-1 Win at Kentucky ... Crimson starter allows one run in seven innings, fanning six

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tyler Ras was dominant on Friday night as the Crimson Tide junior’s impressive start helped the Alabama Crimson Tide to a 10-1 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. The series-opening win at Kentucky Proud Park moved UA to 24-13 on the season and 8-8 in Southeastern Conference play.

Ras (6-1) picked up his team-high tying sixth win with 7.0 innings of one-run baseball. The junior worked a career-high 99 pitches, striking out six and allowing only three hits while issuing zero walks. He was followed by Hunter Ruth, with the Tide reliever tossing 2.0 scoreless frames with three punch outs to secure the win.

Alabama’s bats totaled six extra-base hits – none of which were home runs – racking up four doubles and two triples on the way to 10 runs. The Crimson Tide’s effort at the plate was led by Owen Diodati who finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and one run scored. Matching Diodati in RBI were William Hamiter and Sam Praytor. Hamiter tripled and added a team-high tying two runs to go with his RBI while Praytor finished 1-for-4.

Diodati had a run-scoring double in the second for the game’s first run and delivered a run-scoring single to right for the fourth run of the seven-run seventh. He is now hitting .267 with two doubles, a triple, nine homers and 26 RBIs, while racking up a .874 OPS in 37 games.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“It always starts on the mound. Tyler Ras was outstanding and then Hunter Ruth was exciting for two really quality innings there in relief. Those guys did a great job throwing nine innings, allowing no walks, using multiple pitches and moving the ball around the strike zone well. Both guys were outstanding.”