Diodati, Jean propel Crimson Tide to rout over Charleston
ABC and Junior National Team alum Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) pitched five scoreless inning to pick up his first win of the season for the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday. Photo: University of Alabama Athletics (file photo)
March 7, 2021
By Alex Thompson
Alabama Crimson Tide Athletics
Crimson Tide Offense Erupts for 21 Runs in Baseball’s 21-3 Win at College of Charleston
Alabama came back from a shutout on Saturday to post 21 runs on a season-high 20 hits
CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 23 Alabama baseball downed the College of Charleston, 21-3, in Sunday’s series finale at The Ballpark at Patriots Point. The victory on getaway day clinched the series for the Crimson Tide and moved UA’s overall record to 10-2.
The Crimson Tide bounced back from a shutout on Saturday to score a season-high 21 runs, the most by an Alabama offense since 2019. Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Sam Praytor tied for the team lead with four RBIs apiece while Will Patota and Andrew Pinckney were close behind with three each. Diodati’s four came on a grand slam while Praytor delivered a single and a bases-clearing double for his four as the foursome accounted for 14 of the Tide’s 20 RBIs.
Alabama’s bats produced a season-high 20 hits and saw 13-of-14 players in the game record at least one hit. Leading the way was Pinckney, who finished 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to go with his three RBI in his first career start.
Montreal native Antoine Jean (1-0) highlighted the Alabama effort on the mound. The Crimson Tide starter picked up his first win of the season with five scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and issued two walks while punching out four across his 68 pitches.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
"I’m very pleased with the way we responded today. Thirteen different players got at least one hit, and it was great to see us score 17 runs that weren’t all the result of a home run. Hopefully, we can build off today’s effort and carry this offensive momentum into next week.”
How It Happened
T2 | Owen Diodati drew a four-pitch walk and was followed by a single from Andrew Pinckney. Jim Jarvis delivered in the next at-bat, singling up the middle to score Diodati from second for the first run of the day. (1-0, Alabama)
T3 | Alabama’s offense exploded for 10 runs to put the game out of reach. Peyton Wilson began the inning with a walk and William Hamiter joined him on base with a liner to center that was misplayed by the Charleston defender, allowing both runners to move into scoring position. Sam Praytor followed with an RBI-single to center to push across Hamiter. After a pair of walks to load the bases, Diodati cleared them by sending a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right-centre for a grand slam. The Tide then loaded the bases again before Praytor sent a bases-clearing double down the left field line to cross three more. Drew Williamson immediately followed with a single to right to cross Praytor and cap the inning’s scoring. (11-0, Alabama)
T4 | With two on and two down, Hamiter singled to left-center to score one more. (12-0, Alabama)
T5 | The Tide added five more in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Will Patota came in to pinch-hit and promptly drew a walk to push a run across. Pinckney then doubled to right-center to score two more before pinch-hitter Bryce Eblin singled to left for an RBI. After a hit-by-pitch, Wilson singled through the right side to add one more. (17-0, Alabama)
B6 | College of Charleston got on the board with an RBI-double. The Cougars then added one more with an infield single and a balk that crossed the inning’s final run. (17-3, Alabama)
T8 | A two-out single to left from Jackson Tate added one more. (18-3, Alabama)
T9 | With two on and two down, Patota doubled to right to score a pair of runs. Patota came home in the next at-bat as Pinckney found an open area in left-center for an RBI-single. (21-3, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
-The Crimson Tide offense posted 21 runs in today’s game. The 21 runs matches the Tide’s output at Samford on April 9, 2019.
-Alabama scored 10 runs in the third inning, the most by the Crimson Tide in any single inning this season. The 10 runs in the frame are the most in an inning since UA posted 10 against UAB on Feb. 28, 2007.
-The Crimson Tide recorded 20 hits in today’s contest. The 20 hits are the most by an Alabama offense since UA totaled the same amount against Nicholls State on Feb. 24, 2016.
-Thirteen of the Tide’s 14 hitters recorded at least one hit on the afternoon, including all nine starters. All 14 hitters reached base safely in the game.
-Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) recorded his second grand slam of the season. The sophomore also notched a grand slam against McNeese on Feb. 21.
-Sam Praytor finished 2-for-3 on the day to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Across that time, the Tide catcher is batting .294 (10-34) with four doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, seven runs, six walks and a hit-by-pitch.
-Jim Jarvis extended his hitting streak to eight games thanks to his 1-for-2 effort. The sophomore is batting .375 (9-24) with a double, three RBI, five runs, three walks, a pair of hit-by-pitch and a stolen base across the current streak.
Alabama returns home this week to begin a five-game homestand, first with South Alabama on Tuesday, March 9. The Crimson Tide and Jaguars are set for a 6 p.m. C.T. start on SEC Network in UA’s first nationally televised game of the season. Alabama will then host Jacksonville State on Wednesday at The Joe, scheduled for a 6 p.m. start on SEC Network+.