The Alabama baseball team delivered a pair of four-run innings on Tuesday to defeat Troy, 10-5. With the win, the Crimson Tide improved to 19-33, while the Trojans dropped to 24-28.
Alabama reached the 10-run mark for just the fourth time this season and first since scoring 11 against South Carolina. The Tide bats totaled 11 hits in the game, with seven of the nine starters getting at least one hit. Austen Smith led the offensive outburst for the Tide, going 2-for-3 with his third home run of the season, two RBI, and two runs.
After dropping a weekend series to Kentucky, Alabama was mathematically eliminated from the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Despite not making it to the SEC tournament, freshman pitcher Ben Moore said he was happy with the Tide’s victory over Troy.
“We came out here tonight relaxed and played ball,” Moore said. “It was a lot of fun. Something we haven’t had out here in a while.”
The Tide’s season is coming to an end, with only a weekend series against Georgia remaining. A bittersweet realization came with the victory for the Crimson Tide, as six seniors careers are winding down.
Among them is centerfielder Taylor Dugas, a player described by his teammates and coaches as a team leader and role model.
“I’ve just realized after this last weekend that this is it,” Dugas said.
Catcher Brett Booth said the last three games will be played for Dugas as well as the other seniors.
“Five or six of these players won’t be here next year,” Booth said. “Guys like that – you really want to respect them. You want to respect the game.”
Dugas said he is just focused on ending his career with Alabama the right way.
“We want to finish strong,” Dugas said. “We’re still going to play our hearts out. The main thing is just finishing strong.”
The Tide’s focus now turns to making improvements for next season. With only a weekend series versus Georgia remaining, head coach Mitch Gaspard said the focus of the upcoming series will be on the Tide, not the opponent.
“Let’s try to play three clean games and lets finish this thing the right way,” Gaspard said. “Throwing more strikes, making more plays and trying to get big hits at the right time.
“I want the senior guys to leave here on a good note and a good weekend. Obviously that starts with Dugas. He’s been outstanding for four years. He still has a lot of goals that he can reach in the next three games.”
Alabama has used multiple freshman pitchers and young players in its lineup. Despite the team’s struggles, Gaspard said he is proud of his younger players for stepping up in tough situations.
“I’m proud of my freshman,” Gaspard said. “They’ve hung in there, they still want the ball and they continue to compete.”
The Tide returns to SEC play this Thursday, May 17, for game one against Georgia. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
