Not often does a team get a shot at redemption on the same day of a loss but when they do, chances are they’re going to do their best to make the most of it.
Alabama did just that with a 4-3 walk-off win in 10 innings over No. 2 LSU Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
But Sunday’s result carried more significance than just a big win over one of the top teams in the nation. It was the second result of the day for the Crimson Tide, who fell 8-5 in a historic 16-inning game – the longest game for Alabama since 1893 – that didn’t end until just past midnight on Sunday.
“First of all, I’d like to say I’m just really proud of our team particularly coming out after the ballgame last night [when we played] 16 innings,” head coach Mitch Gaspard said after the win. “To come back out with great effort today and that same kind of intensity we left the ballpark with last night, really we got just what we needed.”
The official game played on Sunday also helped Alabama avoid a three-game sweep, who in the series opener on Friday, came out on the losing end in a 5-0 decision after managing only three hits as a team at the plate.
Freshman second baseman Kyle Overstreet provided the Tide (24-18, 9-9 SEC) with the late-game heroics in Sunday’s win with a bases loaded RBI single to center field.
It was the only hit of the afternoon for the freshman, who has been the Tide’s most consistent batter over the last few weeks.
“I love coming up like that,” Overstreet said of his game-winning hit. “It’s what I play for.”
Freshman reliever Keaton Haack (1-1) picked up the win after getting the Tide out of the tenth inning unscathed in 2/3 innings of work.
Sophomore right-hander Spencer Turnbull (4-1) allowed six hits and two earned runs through nine innings, but gave up the tying run in the ninth to send it into extra innings. Tigers senior right-hander Joey Bourgeois (2-1) was credited with the loss for LSU.
“He’s just growing, you can see it,” Gaspard said on Turnbull’s performance. “Again, his confidence continues to grow. … He’s that guy where you’re going to like the matchup every Sunday when he’s on the mound.”
With the loss, the Tigers (37-4, 15-3 SEC) are now just 4-2 in its last six games after beginning the season 33-2.
The Tide, who has struggled to find wins this season in tough outings at the plate, managed just five hits in Sunday’s win.
“They’re a championship-built team,” Gaspard said about LSU. “They’re very well built. As I said, I’m proud of our guys because we did go toe-to-toe for the last 25 innings with them.”
After three scoreless innings from both teams through three innings, the Tide broke the game open with a two-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore right fielder Ben Moore and senior first baseman Austen Smith provided the runs with RBI singles that scored freshman center fielder Georgie Salem and Overstreet, respectively.
After LSU responded with a run in the fifth and seventh innings to tie the score at 2-2, freshman shortstop Mikey White reclaimed the Tide lead at 3-2 with an RBI single that scored senior catcher Brett Booth from third.
A sacrifice fly to left field plated an LSU runner from third to tie the game at 3-3 and ultimately send the game into extra innings.
The Tide will next travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play Southern Mississippi this Wednesday. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
