It took 28 games — exactly half of the season — for the Alabama baseball team to find a groove.
And when the Crimson Tide found its groove, it started demonstrating the dominant performances that gave them a preseason outside shot at a College World Series berth: They took the momentum of a 9-5 win over South Alabama Tuesday night into a weekend sweep of the No. 23 Auburn Tigers, winning by a combined score of 20-12.
Now, Alabama is trying to keep the momentum going for the second-straight week, starting with a home game against UAB tonight, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
The last meeting between the Tide and the Blazers was a defensive struggle, with the Blazers taking a 1-0 win in the bottom of the 12th inning at Regions Park in Hoover on March 27.
“We never really could get that big hit,” junior Brett Booth said. “We had a ton of hits, a ton of opportunities, but never could get that one big hit.”
Alabama outhit the Blazers 10-6, but still faltered under pressure, stranding runners on base in the second, third, fourth, fifth, tenth and eleventh innings. Alabama is hoping to get that proverbial big hit against UAB in round two of the matchup, and its newfound confidence is the big proponent of the Tide’s hopes.
“Confidence is rising,” Booth said. “You feel like you can get that big hit, make that big pitch or make that big play in the field. Everything is turned around now.”
Booth’s teammates echoed his sentiments.
“To me, it’s mostly confidence,” senior Jared Reaves said. “You go out there and put up some hits and score some runs and really beat somebody, we get it rolling.”
Alabama will be helped by the play of senior centerfielder Taylor Dugas, who was recently named the Southeastern Conference Co-Player of the Week. Dugas earned the honor by compiling a .529 batting average last week, hitting a double, two triples, a walk-off home run and seven RBIs.
A win over UAB in tonight’s game would set the Tide up for more weekend success, as was the case last week.
“It’s the same as taking it from South Alabama to [last] weekend,” Reaves said. “People always say you win with pitching and defense, and when you hit the ball, that’s when you really put it on people. That’s kind of what we can plan on doing.”
