Diodati homers in Tide loss

Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) belted his 11th home run of the season on Saturday for the Alabama Crimson Tide in their 6-2 loss to Vanderbilt. Photo: Alabama Athletics

May 8, 2021

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama baseball suffered a 6-2 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field.

Following game two of the series, the Crimson Tide sits at 28-17 on the season and 11-12 in Southeastern Conference play.

Vanderbilt got out front early with a pair in the first and one in the second. Alabama was able to get on the board with one in the top of the fifth, but the Commodores countered with two in the home half to widen the gap. The Crimson Tide added one in the seventh but Vandy was able to answer with a run of their own to keep the Tide at a distance for the eventual 6-2 final.

Ontario Blue Jays alum Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) went 2-for-3 with a walk for the Commodores.

The win went to Patrick Reilly (4-1) with the Vandy starter tossing seven innings of two-run baseball. Reilly gave up two hits and issued two walks while striking out nine for the series-clinching win. Alabama starter Dylan Smith (2-6) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“(Vanderbilt) got off to a good start on us, and our at-bats weren’t good the first two-thirds of the game. They outplayed us today – they outpitched us and had better at-bats. We’re going to have to play better tomorrow to get out of here with a win.”

How It Happened

B1 | The Commodores got on the board with two runs in the first. A leadoff single followed by a stolen base and an error put a runner on third. After a walk and flyout, a groundout to first brought in the man from third. The ‘Dores doubled in the next at-bat to bring in one more. (2-0, Vanderbilt)

B2 | A solo home run from Troy LaNeve added another run for VU. (3-0, Vanderbilt)

T5 | Davis Heller drew a two-out walk to extend the inning. Jim Jarvis followed with a double to right-center to score Heller all the way from first. (3-1, Vanderbilt)

B5 | Carter Young added to the lead with a two-run home run. (5-1, Vanderbilt)

T7 | Owen Diodati narrowed the gap with a solo shot, his 11th home run of the season. (5-2, Vanderbilt)

B7 | A two-out single followed by a double to left-center got the run back for Vandy. (6-2, Vanderbilt)

Postgame Notes

-Dylan Smith struck out seven in today’s outing and has punched out five-or-more batters in every start this season.

-Smith totalled six innings of work and has tossed five-plus frames in seven starts as a junior.

-Jim Jarvis extended his hitting streak to six games with a 1-for-3 effort. During his streak, the sophomore is batting .350 (7-20) with two doubles, one triple, four RBI, six runs scored and a pair of walks.

The two teams wrap up the series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. C.T. start in the weekend finale. Neither team has yet to announce a starter.