March 14, 2021

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A seven-run third inning proved to be more than enough for the win as No. 23 Alabama downed Stetson, 9-4, on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win clinched the series for the Crimson Tide and moved the team’s overall record to 14-3 on the season.

Stetson got out front for a third straight game, crossing a run in the top of the first, but that would be the last time the Hatters held a lead on Sunday. The Crimson Tide answered with a seven-run third inning to put the game out of reach. Stetson battled for two in the fourth and one in the seventh, but a two-run eighth by UA ensured the series-clinching win.

Alabama’s offence came from all across the lineup on Sunday. Eight of the Tide’s nine starters recorded a hit on the day with five of those eight posting multi-hit efforts. William Hamiter and Andrew Pinckney led the charge with three-hit efforts. Hamiter went 3-for-4, including a two-RBI double, and added one walk while Pinckney finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, one run and a stolen base. Pinckney’s stolen base was one of the Tide’s season-high six on the afternoon.

Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) also had a single and a run for the Tide.

Montreal native Antoine Jean (2-0) picked up his second win of the season. The sophomore worked six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with a career-high tying six strikeouts. Jean was followed by Jacob McNairy and Landon Green, who combined for the final three frames.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“This was a really good day for us, good weekend for us. We certainly made some mistakes, and there’s plenty we need to get better at, but it’s really nice to come out and win a series against a very good Stetson team.”

How It Happened

T1 | The Hatters struck early, scoring one in the first. A bases-loaded single to centre brought in the game’s first run. (1-0, Stetson)

B3 | With one down, Sam Praytor was hit by a pitch. A stolen base put him in scoring position for Drew Williamson, with the Tide first baseman singling to centereto make it a 1-1 ballgame. Williamson then stole second himself and moved to third on an infield ground out. A walk followed, and with runners on the corners Andrew Pinckney singled to left to score one. Pinckney’s RBI-single was the first of three straight with Jim Jarvis and Caden Rose following suit in the next two at-bats. Rose then joined Jarvis in scoring position with a stolen base and a Peyton Wilson walk loaded them up. With the bases juiced, William Hamiter hammered a two-run double to add to the lead. The Tide crossed one more on a wild pitch that brought Wilson home from third to cap the seven-run inning. (7-1, Alabama)

T4 | Stetson rallied for a pair of two-out runs. A single put a runner on before a two-run home run to left cleared the bases and cut the Tide lead to four. (7-3, Alabama)

T7 | A one-out single and double in consecutive at-bats put two in scoring position for the Hatters with a force out at second in the next at-bat bringing in a run. (7-4, Alabama)

B8 | Alabama added to the lead with a pair of runs in the eighth. Back-to-back singles started the inning and placed runners on the corners. A fielder’s choice from Praytor with runners on the corners pushed across the first run. A single and another fielder’s choice placed men at the corners once more with a wild pitch scoring Praytor from third to cap the day’s scoring. (9-4, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

-Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) set new career-high total for innings pitched with six in today’s game. His previous high for innings was five, which he had on two separate occasions, most recently in last weekend’s start at the College of Charleston on March 7.

-The sophomore’s also set a new career-best mark for total pitches with 101. His previous high for pitches in a start was 93 against Wright State on Feb. 27 of this season.

-Jean recorded six strikeouts on the day to tie his career-high total. He also punched out six on two previous occasions with the most recent one coming against Lipscomb on March 8 in his final start of last season.

-Alabama stole a season-high six bases in the game. Those six stolen bases are the most in a single game under head coach Brad Bohannon and the most since at least 2014.

-Eight of the nine Alabama starters recorded at least one hit on the day. Five of those eight totaled multi-hit efforts.

-Seven of the nine starters tallied at least one run scored.

-Jim Jarvis got aboard in today’s game and has now reached base safely in 15 straight games dating back to Feb. 21.

-Zane Denton’s hitting streak came to an end at eight games. Across that stretch, Denton batted.333 (11-33) with two doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, nine runs, six walks and one hit-by-pitch.

Next up for Alabama is a midweek matchup at Troy on Tuesday, March 16. The Crimson Tide and Trojans are set for a 6 p.m. CT matchup at Riddle-Pace Field.