TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite trailing after six, Alabama baseball completed the comeback with a combined three runs across the seventh and eighth innings to down Missouri, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide’s win completed the series sweep and moved UA to 28-15 on the season, including an 11-10 mark in Southeastern Conference play.
Missouri hopped out front first for a third straight day, scoring one run apiece in the first and second frames. Alabama was unable to get much of anything going against Mizzou starter Zach Hise until the Tide finally broke through for one in the seventh. Hise finished his day with 7.0 innings of one-run baseball, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out six.
Following Hise’s exit, Alabama was able to strike for two to take the lead in the eighth. Jim Jarvis and Peyton Wilson each singled to start the inning, forcing a sacrifice bunt situation. William Hamiter laid down the bunt, but the Tigers elected to throw to third with the ball going into left field to allow Jarvis to score and Wilson to move to third. Zane Denton then capitalized on the opportunity with a sacrifice fly to bring in Wilson and put UA in front, 3-2, the eventual final.
Alabama’s bullpen shined after an early exit from the starter for a second game in the series. The foursome of Hunter Ruth, Jake Eddington, William Freeman and Chase Lee kept Mizzou scoreless across 7.0 innings, allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out six. Freeman (2-1) picked up the win thanks to 2.0 hitless frames with two punchouts while Lee notched his sixth save of the season and second of the weekend with a 1-2-3 ninth.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
“This was a big win for us. It’s really hard to get sweeps in this league. Not sure we played our best game today – certainly made some mistakes and didn’t execute in some key situations, but I’m really proud of our kids for overcoming that. I’m really pleased with the pitching staff. We pitched five guys today and two of them – William Freeman and Chase Lee – had already pitched earlier this weekend. You go into any SEC game and you know you’re only going to give up two runs, you’re going to sign off on that in a heartbeat, especially on Sunday. I’m just really proud of all five of those guys that pitched and battled today.”
How It Happened
- T1 | Missouri got on the board first for a third straight day, using a two-out RBI-single to take the early lead. (1-0, Missouri)
- T2 | With two Tigers in scoring position, a groundout to first allowed one more to cross. (2-0, Missouri)
- B7 | Zane Denton led off the inning with a double before a walk to Sam Praytor put two aboard. Following a Missouri mound visit, Drew Williamson came through with an RBI-single over the head of the second baseman. (2-1, Missouri)
- B8 | Jim Jarvis began the inning with a single before a perfect bunt from Peyton Wilson put two on. William Hamiter then dropped down a sacrifice bunt but an errant throw to third allowed the tying run to score and pushed everyone into scoring position. The Tide then went in front on a sacrifice fly from Zane Denton. (3-2, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Today’s win was Alabama’s 16th comeback win of the season. The Crimson Tide has won a total of 28 games so far.
- Alabama swept Missouri for the first time in series history.
- The series sweep over an SEC opponent was Alabama’s first since 2017 when UA swept Auburn at Auburn from May 6-7, 2017.
- It was the first SEC series sweep at home for the Crimson Tide since March 28-30, 2014, when Alabama swept then-No. 9 Ole Miss at The Joe.
- Alabama’s bullpen was key to the Tide’s success this weekend. The Crimson Tide used five arms to contribute 13.0 innings of scoreless baseball. The relievers allowed only six hits and a .140 average against while striking out 14 compared to one walk.
- The bullpen earned two of the Tide’s three wins while combining for three saves in the series.
- William Freeman picked up his second win of the series, also earning the W on Friday.
- Chase Lee notched his second save of the series after closing out Friday’s game.
- William Hamiter has now reached base safely in 19 consecutive games dating back to April 2.
- ATTENDANCE: 1,656
Alabama will take the week off before traveling to Nashville for a three-game set with Vanderbilt. The series opens at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday night followed by a 2 p.m. start on Saturday. Things wrap up on Sunday at 1 p.m. with all three games airing on SEC Network+.
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