The Alabama men’s baseball team won its second game in as many days, moving to 23-13 on the season, as the Crimson Tide defeated Mississippi Valley State 10-0 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama got a stellar performance from its starter, Adam Windsor, as the lefty pitched a perfect five innings before being lifted in the sixth for Taylor Wolfe.
“We had a great day from Adam Windsor going five innings of no-hit ball,” head coach Mitch Gaspard said.
When asked if it was tough to pull the pitcher while he was performing at such a high level, Gaspard said the move was necessary because Windsor is one of only two lefties in the Tide’s bullpen.
“It was not hard,” Gaspard said. “It’s about a pitch count now and getting through the weekend. He’s our only lefthander in the bullpen without [Jonathan] Smart, and we are going to need him throughout the weekend.”
Though it is tough to leave a game while in the midst of perfection, Windsor said he understands Gaspard’s decision.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Windsor said. “I knew I was on pitch count and we have Tennessee this weekend. Just to give five good innings to the team, that’s all I can ask for.”
The Crimson Tide dominated the whole game, outhitting the Delta Devils 13-2. Alabama got its first two runs in the third when centerfielder Taylor Dugas tripled in designated hitter Brock Bennett, and on the next pitch scored from third on a wild pitch.
The Tide tacked on three runs in the fourth and four more in the sixth to make the game a blowout. The Tide has outscored MVSU 20-1, something that has the team optimistic heading into its series against the University of Tennessee the next three days.
“I’m pleased with the way we played the last two days,” Gaspard said. “I said going into the week these two games were as big as we’ve played, not just to win, but we needed to play well.”
Over the last two games, the Tide has started to use Bennett as its lead off, moving Jared Reaves to the two-hole and Dugas to third in the lineup. Gaspard said he is happy with the success the lineup change has brought, and he intends to keep the lineup that way from now on.
“So far, putting Dugas in that three-hole has presented him with more opportunities to drive in runs,” Gaspard said. “For the last two days that lineup has worked pretty well, and hopefully we have found something here that we can move on with.”
An interesting moment in the game occurred when the Tide’s regular designated hitter, Josh Rosecrans, took the mound in the eighth. The 6-foot-4 junior did not waste the opportunity to pitch, striking out all three batters he faced.
“We have had a lot of injuries, had a lot of guys go down, so I’m just trying to do everything I can to help the team win,” Rosecrans said.
Gaspard said he was impressed with what he saw from Rosecrans and plans to use him in the future.
“For me, that was the biggest thing of the day, because we were really searching in the bullpen,” Gaspard said. “I knew in the bullpen he’d been good, but when he roles out and every pitch is 91 with a swing-and-miss slider, that’s what you need in the back end of the game.”
The Tide’s next test comes tonight at 6:35 as the Tide continues SEC play against Tennessee.
“This is definitely one of the biggest ones,” Bennett said. “Every series is big in the SEC, but to get back on the right track this weekend would be nice.”
