Alabama baseball secured a 13-4 win over Alabama State at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide, now holding an 11-3 record, matched its program record with nine stolen bases and drew 15 walks in the game. The team was also hit by seven pitches, tying another single-game program mark.
John Lemm contributed two hits in four at-bats, including a double, three walks, a stolen base, and three runs scored. Justin Lebron went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, two walks, two steals, and two runs. Brady Neal had a pair of doubles among his two hits and drove in two runs while stealing one base. Brennan Holt stole three bases during his 1-for-3 performance that included two RBI and one walk.
On the mound for Alabama were several pitchers. Joe Chiarodo made his first collegiate start with two scoreless innings. Luke Smyers followed with another two shutout frames. Connor Lehman allowed three runs on a home run during his appearance. Anthony Pesci threw 2.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts—a new career-long outing—while Tate Robertson closed out the game.
“We had a good approach against (Jaxon) Baptist, I don’t think he got through the first,” said Head Coach Rob Vaughn after the game. “They put us on for free 22 times, I mean that’s hard to do. I think what got us in trouble last time playing these guys in a 2-1 game was leaving the zone, breaking down our swings. If they’re going to put us on for free 22 times then there should probably be more than 13 (runs) up there, but we lacked that bases-clearing double you could say. At the end of the day though, when it’s ball, ball, ball, ball, you almost get surprised when you do get that strike. A win’s a win, winning on the road is hard against anybody. We were in a dogfight with these guys two weeks ago and we got after them tonight, so there’s plenty of things this group has to continue doing to grow. We’re so far away from a finished product, but proud of the win and on to North Florida this weekend.”
The Crimson Tide’s nine steals tied its single-game record set previously against Mississippi Valley State in 2002; it has now successfully stolen at least one base in all but one of its first fourteen games this season without being caught once.
Other notable achievements include Jason Torres drawing four walks—a personal best—and Caleb Barnett recording his first career RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Alabama will next play North Florida at Sewell-Thomas Stadium starting Friday evening as part of a three-game series airing on SEC Network+.
