May 21, 2022

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama’s offensive explosion led the Crimson Tide to an 18-5 win over fifth-ranked Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The victory in the regular-season finale clinched the series for the Tide and moved UA to 29-25 overall and 12-17 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama used 11 hits and a season-best 11 walks to post a season-high tying 18 runs on Saturday. The Tide scored six apiece in the second and fourth innings while adding one in the third and five in the fifth. Arkansas got the early lead with two in the first and added one in the fourth to go with another pair in the sixth but could get no closer for the 18-5 final.

The Tide offence stayed patient in game three, drawing 11 walks by day’s end. Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) contributed four of those free passes with Jim Jarvis and Drew Williamson each drawing a pair of walks themselves. The duo of Jarvis and Williamson was joined by Dominic Tamez for the team lead in runs scored with three apiece. Bryce Eblin and William Hamiter led UA in RBIs, combining for nine total. Eblin recorded a team-best five RBIs as part of a 1-for-4 showing that included a grand slam and two runs scored, while Hamiter added four RBIs and finished 2-for-4 with a home run and one run.

Montreal native Antoine Jean (4-1) picked up the win. The junior tossed three relief frames, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts for the Crimson Tide. Arkansas starter Jaxon Wiggins (6-3) suffered the loss, working 1 1/3 innings and allowing five runs on two hits and two walks to go with a pair of punchouts.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“This was a great day at the park for us. I’m really proud of our kids. After yesterday, it would have been really easy to come out flat and go through the motions, but we played really well. Grayson (Hitt) gave us a good start, all the guys out of the bullpen were sharp and, obviously, we got a ton of production up and down the lineup. To win a series against a top-10 team was big for us. We talked yesterday about trying to build momentum for Hoover, which we need, and that’s what we did today.”

How It Happened

T1 | The Razorbacks used a pair of one-out singles to score two. (2-0, Arkansas)

B2 | Drew Williamson led things off with a walk and moved into scoring position on a single from Dominic Tamez. Owen Diodati followed with a single to right-center to get the Tide on the board. After the inning’s first out was recorded, a pair of wild pitches to Jim Jarvis moved everyone up two bases, eventually scoring Tamez. A walk to Jarvis put runners on the corners for Bryce Eblin with the sophomore dropping down a sacrifice bunt that led to a play at the plate as Diodati slid in safely for another run. A walk to Caden Rose loaded the bases before a 3-1 groundout from William Hamiter scored one more. Another wild pitch allowed the fifth run of the inning to cross with a double to left from Andrew Pinckney adding one more in that same at-bat. (6-2, Alabama)

B3 | A wild pitch with the bases loaded crossed one for the Tide. (7-2, Alabama)

T4 | Cayden Wallace sent the first pitch he saw over the wall in left for a solo homer. (7-3, Alabama)

B4 | Hamiter led off the inning with a solo homer. Back-to-back singles from Pinckney and Williamson brought Tamez to the dish with a fielder’s choice scoring Pickney. A walk to Diodati loaded them up for Denton, who was hit by a pitch to push a run across. An error in Jarvis’ at-bat kept everyone safe and scored Tamez. Then, with two down, Hamiter singled through the left side to widen the gap with two more. (13-3, Alabama)

B5 | The Tide loaded the bases to start the fifth with Denton sending a sac fly to center to add one. After a single loaded them up, Eblin went opposite field for a grand slam. (18-3, Alabama)

T6 | Braydon Webb hit a two-run home run for the Hogs. (18-5, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

-Alabama’s series win over Arkansas at home is the Tide’s first since April 1-3, 2011. The Crimson Tide took two-of-three from the Hogs in that series.

-The series win is the Tide’s first against the Hogs since May 13-15, 2016, when Alabama swept Arkansas in Fayetteville.

-The Crimson Tide’s 18 runs are the most scored against Arkansas in the history of the matchup. The previous high was 17 which came in a 17-9 win in Fayetteville on March 21, 2014.

-Alabama’s 18 runs are its most in an SEC matchup since the Tide scored 17 at Arkansas on March 21, 2014.

-The Tide drew a season-high 11 walks in today’s game. The 11 walks are the most by an Alabama offence since last season against Samford on April 13 when UA accumulated 16 free passes.

-Alabama recorded 11 hits in today’s contest. The Tide has totaled 10-or-more hits in 29 games this season, including all three games against Arkansas.

-All nine starters contributed at least one run on Saturday.

-Eight of the Tide’s nine starters recorded a hit.

-Seven of UA’s starters contributed at least one RBI.

-Bryce Eblin hit his first career grand slam and the Tide’s third this season. Drew Williamson recorded a grand slam at Ole Miss on April 9 with Zane Denton registering his own on May 10 at Jacksonville State.

-With his 1-for-2 day, Drew Williamson has now recorded a hit in eight straight games. Over the streak, the senior is batting .333 (10-for-29) with a double, one home run, eight RBIs, seven runs scored and six walks.

-Caden Rose has reached base safely in 14 straight games dating back to April 25 against Georgia.

-Jim Jarvis has reached base in 12 straight games dating back to April 28 at South Carolina.

The Crimson Tide will now await the 2022 SEC Tournament seeding. Alabama is scheduled to play on Tuesday, May 24 in Hoover with a time still to be determined.