Alabama Ties Program Best Season Start in Win Over Presbyterian

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 23 Crimson Tide took down Presbyterian 10-0 to take the series opener. Friday's win tied the program's best record to start the season at 15.

Alabama starter Zane Adams earned the win for the Crimson Tide. The southpaw threw six innings, a season-high for Alabama, five hits, zero earned runs, and 10 strikeouts.

Adams began his night strong, dropping the top of the Blue Hose order via an array of pop outs and fly outs.

The Crimson Tide couldn't take advantage of Adams' strong pitching in the first, going down in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom half of the frame.

The second was a similar recipe as the first inning for Adams. The southpaw picked up his first K of the evening in the first at-bat against left fielder Ryan Ouzts, then forcing two groundouts to end the inning.

The second inning, as usual, was explosive for Alabama.

Jason Torres knocked a leadoff single to begin the inning, followed by a Will Hodo double to put runners in scoring position with no outs for Brennen Norton. Norton capitalized, ripping a double to center field to score Torres; advancing Hodo to third to make the Alabama lead 1-0.

The following at-bat, Kade Snell was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Brady Neal. Neal reached first via an error by the Presbyterian first baseman, scoring Hodo and Norton to extend the Crimson Tide advantage to 3-0.

Richie Bonomolo Jr. added on one more via a sac fly, followed up by a Justin Lebron double down the left field line two at-bats later to push the Tide lead to 5-0 in the second.

A Coleman Mizell fly out ended the inning, but the damage was done, and the Blue Hose didn't have enough firepower to overcome it.

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Adams continued to deal in the third, striking out the side to push his total to four on the night.

The Crimson Tide couldn't add any insurance runs in the third.

Adams' perfect game bid ended in the fourth, as the southpaw allowed a leadoff double to begin the inning. Adams worked around it, picking up two more Ks and a groundout to end the fourth.

A series of walks and hit by pitches loaded the bases for Lebron, who ripped a loud single through the right side of the infield to extend the 'Bama lead out to 6-0. The following at-bat, Mizell knocked an RBI fielder's choice to add another run, making the Tide lead 7-to-zip.

In the fifth, Adams allowed two early singles, putting two runners on base with no outs. Adams again worked around the damage, pulling the strings on two strikeouts and a flyout. Adams' fifth inning of work marked the longest outing from a Crimson Tide pitcher this season.

The Crimson Tide added one more run in the home frame of the fifth via a Neal single through the right side to make the Tide advantage 8-0.

Adams kept the ball in the sixth inning, picking up another strikeout before allowing two more singles. Following a mound visit, Adams picked up two more outs to keep the shutout into the sixth.

The Blue Hose defense kept the Alabama offense off the scoreboard in the sixth, allowing a two-out Torres walk and a Hodo single, preventing them from crossing home plate.

In the top half of the seventh, Alabama reliever Zach Kitrell entered the game in relief for Adams. Kitrell picked up two outs and a walk before reliever Connor Ball entered the game to pick up the final out of the inning.

In the home half of the seventh, a Justin Lebron single to left field scored Kade Snell to extend the Alabama lead out to 9-0.

With the winning run 90 feet from the plate, Torres ripped a single through the right side to end the game early in the seventh.

Alabama retakes the field Saturday as they look to win the series against Presbyterian.

For more Alabama Baseball, Basketball, and Football content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.