Jean strikes out six in Alabama win
ABC and Junior National Team alum Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) struck out six batters and allowed two runs in four innings in his third start of the season for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide won the game 6-3 over Harvard. Photo: University of Alabama Athletics (file photo).
March 1, 2020
By Alex Thompson
University of Alabama Athletics Communications
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball completed the series sweep of Harvard with a 6-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win moves the Crimson Tide to 12-0 on the year, the second-best start to a season in program history.
Alabama moved out front early with three runs in the second before Harvard got on the board with two runs in the third. The Crimson evened things up in the sixth with one run but a solo home run from sophomore T.J. Reeves in the bottom of the seventh put the Crimson Tide in front for good. Alabama added two more in the bottom of the eighth for a cushion on the way to the 6-3 win.
Reeves was tops in the RBI column for UA, finishing with two as part of his 1-for-4 afternoon that included the home run, a walk and one run scored. Senior Brett Auerbach led all hitters with a 2-for-5 showing, adding an RBI and one run scored. The duo joined five other starters, including Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.), in recording at least one hit on getaway day.
Alabama’s arms gave the offense time to get a lead once again. Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) got the start, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six. The freshman then handed it over to sophomore Jacob McNairy out of the pen. McNairy allowed one run on three hits while striking out a pair to keep things close before Brock Guffey (2-0) entered the game in the seventh. Guffey was dominant, with the junior allowing no hits and striking out seven across 3.0 frames for his second win of the season.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
“This was just another really good win for us today. When the wind’s blowing in, you're going to be in tight games and that was a good experience for us to be in, a tight game like that. Antoine (Jean) pitched well today, worked around some bad luck, some soft contact, and, obviously, I feel like I keep saying this but the bullpen was just awesome. (Jacob) McNairy and (Brock) Guffey were outstanding. We had a couple of games the last week and a half where we have gotten behind, and one of the big keys to winning those games is the bullpen coming in, giving our offense time to work and multiple guys have just been really, really good in that role. I’m glad to get the win, glad to get the sweep, and I’m excited to continue to move forward with league play around the corner."
Postgame Notes
-Alabama is 12-0 to begin the 2020 campaign which is the best start under head coach Brad Bohannon, surpassing the 2018 squad’s 9-0 start to the year. The 12-0 mark is now the second-best start to a season in program history. The Alabama all-time mark for wins to begin a season is 15 which was accomplished by the 1997 squad.
-Brock Guffey’s seven strikeouts are a new career-best total. His previous high for strikeouts in a game was three, which he had accomplished on multiple occasions, most recently against LSU on April 26, 2019.
-Guffey’s 3.0 innings of relief match his career-high inning total. The junior also tossed 3.0 frames against LSU on April 28, 2019.
-The Crimson Tide hitters have now hit at least one home run in 10 of 12 games with multiple homers in four of those contests.
-Kolby Robinson’s hitting streak came to an end at nine games. Across those nine games, Robinson batted .375 (14-36) with four doubles, seven RBI, seven runs scored, two hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.
Next up for Alabama are a pair of midweek matchups against in-state foes. First, the Crimson Tide will welcome South Alabama to The Joe on Tuesday, March 3 before the Lions of North Alabama travel to Tuscaloosa the next day on Wednesday.