Heading into the bottom of the third Alabama and Alcorn State were tied at zero. Freshman Walker McCleney led off with a single. He moved over to third coming off a Kyle Kaufman single and an error by Alcorn State’s shortstop D’Vennio Warner. A single by Chandler Taylor would score McCleney, leaving the bases loaded for Cody Henry.
Henry saw just one pitch and hit it over the left field wall for a grand slam, on the way to a six-run inning for the Crimson Tide.
“I’ve had a certain approach that I have been working on,” Henry said. “I’ve been working on seeing the ball and seeing it deep.”
Henry finished 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Chandler Avant extended his hitting streak to 11 games as he went 2-for-5 with a grand slam of his own. The two grand slams tied a team record of grand slams in a game, set back in 1992.
Overall the Alabama offense caused problem for the Alcorn State pitching staff. The Crimson Tide scored 18 runs and collected 13 hits on the way to a 18-1 win in seven innings. All but one of the 14 players that batted reached base and all but two recorded a hit.
“I just can’t say enough about how excited I was to see our guys come out today and really put some great swings on the ball,” head coach Greg Goff said.
Alabama was held scoreless for the first two innings before the six run third, followed by a pair of three-run innings and a six-run inning in the sixth. Henry accounted for all three runs in the fourth inning.
Deacon Medders started his third career game, and finished with his first career win. He went on to allow one run in five innings of work. He also managed to get four strike outs.”
“It felt great to get that first win under my belt,” Medders said. “Walker [McCleney] got it started with a huge diving play, that allowed me to settle in.”
Medders is a Tuscaloosa native so he had some of his family and friends in town to watch the win.
Patrick McMahon started for the Braves. He lasted just four innings after allowing nine runs, seven earned, and nine hits.
Alabama next travels to Starkville, Miss. when it takes on the No. 11 Mississippi State Bulldogs.
