To this point, theAlabamabaseball season has been a seemingly never-ending search for consistent offense. WhenAlabamawas most desperate for a win, after going 1-2 in its only home tournament of the year, the offense seemed to fall in its lap.
Two hits started off a fortunate bottom of the ninth for the Crimson Tide, which also contained two walks, a batter being hit by a pitch and a timely error by Samford’s defense. The inning would end with right fielder Ben Moore hitting into a fielder’s choice as pinch runner Andrew Miller beat the throw to home plate to score the game-winning run, giving Alabama a 6-5 win over Samford.
“We had some good fortune there in the ninth inning,” Gaspard said. “I thought it started off with two good at-bats from Booth and [first baseman Jon Kelton], and before you know it, you have a shot at it.”
Alabamaremained within striking distance of the lead after a clutch performance by the bullpen. After starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull exited after pitching three innings, Adam Windsor, Jay Shaw and Chazz Otwell picked up what Turnbull left, allowing two earned runs in their collective five innings pitched.
“I thought our bullpen did a good job,” Gaspard said. “The game could’ve gotten away from us early after they scored three in the first.”
The bullpen’s performance was exactly what Gaspard wanted to see: previously unutilized pitchers asserting themselves as legitimate contributors. The performance was a sharp turnaround for Shaw and Windsor, who entered the game with ERAs of 8.10 and 27.00 respectively and collectively allowed 16 hits in four innings pitched.
Otwell’s performance, his first outing since Feb. 29, was a definitive resurgence act.
“We’ve had some guys that have been consistent for the last week and a half or so, but tonight was new guys,” Gaspard said. “That adds to the number of guys going in, and that’s what we wanted to see.”
Alabama (8-9) was willing to accept the turbulent, improbable win, after notching three less hits than Samford and leaving two more runners-on-base. This is the second win in a row in as many nights for the Tide, after beating Southern Miss 8-3 Tuesday night. Southern Miss beat Alabama 14-2 earlier in the season.
“Being able to spring back-to-back wins against two really good opponents is really what we needed right now,” Gaspard said.
The Tide is hoping to take the favorable swing in momentum to its opening series in Southeastern Conference play, on the road against the No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks.
“We’re starting to get some momentum, starting to find out stride a little bit,” senior center fielder Taylor Dugas said. “Even though we’re not swinging the bat extremely well, we’re finding ways to win.”
Gaspard added, “Anytime you leave after a win like this, you feel a whole lot better than if you had 14 hits and didn’t win. I still feel like the offense will come, but overall the bottom line is to win the game. We’ll take it however we can get it. We just want to win ball games right now.”
