Diodati has three hits to help Tide to win

Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) went 3-for-4 with a stolen base to help propel the Alabama Crimson Tide to a 5-3 win over Texas A&M on Friday. Photo: University of Alabama Athletics (File photo)

April 9, 2021

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Tyler Ras gave Alabama 7 1/3 innings of three-run baseball to lead the Crimson Tide to a 5-3 win over Texas A&M on Friday evening at Blue Bell Park.

The series-opening win moved UA to 17-12 overall, including 3-7 in Southeastern Conference play.

Ras (5-1) picked up his team-high fifth win with Friday night’s standout start. The junior tossed 7 1/3 frames, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Ras then handed the ball over to Chase Lee. Alabama’s closer earned his third save of the season with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out one in the process.

The Crimson Tide’s offensive effort was led by Peyton Wilson and his 4-for-5 showing. Wilson added two RBI, a run scored and one stolen base to his stat line. Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) also posted a multi-hit game, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI, which was the go-ahead run on Friday.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“Tonight was a typical SEC Friday night game. Their starter was outstanding, and Tyler Ras matched him. We got some clutch hits and made a couple of great defensive plays for the win. This was just a really complete game by our guys against a good Texas A&M team.”

How It Happened

B1 | The Aggies doubled to start the game before Will Frizzell got A&M on the board in the next at-bat with a two-run home run. (2-0, Texas A&M)

T3 | Owen Diodati led off with a single and Caden Rose followed with a hit-by-pitch to put two on. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a perfect sacrifice bunt from Jim Jarvis. Peyton Wilson was next, with the sophomore evening things up on a two-RBI single up the middle. (2-2)

T6 | Alabama took the lead thanks to a two-out RBI-single from Diodati. The sophomore brought home Sam Praytor, who led off the sixth with a single and moved to second on an infield groundout. (3-2, Alabama)

T7 | Jarvis began the inning with a double to left and moved to third on a single from Wilson. One out later, Zane Denton sent a ball deep to right for a sacrifice fly to add to the Tide lead. (4-2, Alabama)

B8 | Frizzell homered for a second time on the night to make it a one-run game. (4-3, Alabama)

T9 | Wilson began the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on a sac bunt. A flyout to deep right field moved Wilson to third before a wild pitch allowed him to score. (5-3, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

-Tyler Ras tossed a career-long 7 1/3 innings in tonight’s start. His previous best for innings was six, which he had on four occasions, most recently against Ole Miss in game one of the March 26 doubleheader.

-Chase Lee recorded his 10th straight scoreless appearance this season and his 12th overall dating back to last season’s outing against South Alabama on March 3.

-Lee has posted 18 2/3 scoreless frames to start 2021 and 25.1 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to Feb. 29, 2020, against Harvard.

-Peyton Wilson matched his career-high total for hits with four on the night. Wilson has recorded four hits on two other occasions, most recently against Ole Miss on March 27 of this season.

-The four-hit night was Wilson’s 14th multi-hit effort of the season and his sixth in conference play.

-With his 4-for-5 night, Wilson extended his hitting streak to nine games. Across that stretch, the sophomore is batting .465 (20-43) with two doubles, a triple and three home runs to go with eight RBI, seven runs scored and four stolen bases.

-Wilson also extended his hitting streak in SEC play to seven straight contests. During that stretch, he is batting .500 (17-34) with two doubles, three homers, eight RBI, five runs scored and four stolen bases.

Alabama and Teas A&M return to the diamond Saturday afternoon for game two of the series. Saturday’s matchup will feature a pair of right-handers in Dylan Smith for the Crimson Tide and Bryce Miller for Texas A&M. Saturday’s matchup is scheduled for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network+.