Diodati scores run, knocks in another in Tide win
Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) scored a run and knocked in another in the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 5-3 win over Binghamton on Sunday. Photo: Alabama Athletics
March 13, 2022
By Alex Thompson
University of Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball earned a three-game sweep of Binghamton with a 5-3 win in Sunday’s series finale.
With the win, the Crimson Tide is now 12-5 on the season.
Alabama got out front early with three runs in the first and added two more in the sixth. Binghamton chipped away at the Tide lead with single tallies in the second and third frames to go with a late run in the seventh but could get no closer than 5-3, the eventual final.
The Tide bats were led by Zane Denton and Dominic Tamez who each posted a multi-hit effort. Denton homered as part of a 2-for-2 showing that included a team-high two RBIs to go with one run and a pair of walks. Tamez led the offence with three hits, including a double, to go with one run scored.
Jacob McNairy (3-0) picked up the win with 2 2/3 innings of relief. The senior allowed one run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. He was followed by Dylan Ray, who picked up his second save thanks to 2 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings that featured a pair of walks and five strikeouts. The duo combined with starter Grayson Hitt, who punched out seven, to post a season-high 15 strikeouts. That total was the most in a single game by Tide pitchers since 2020.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
“I’m really happy with our performance today; it's hard to sweep anybody. I was really pleased with the way that we came out hot and scored again in the first inning for the third time in three games – really proud of that. We gave some at-bats away there after that first inning for three or four innings, but we did some good things on the mound. We struck out 15, which is a season high for us. I wasn't excited about the free passes, but I’m proud of our guys for doing enough to get a sweep and excited to catch a breath for a day before we play a really good Southern Miss team on Tuesday.”
How It Happened
B1 | Tommy Seidl got the Tide on the board with an RBI-double to score Jim Jarvis, who walked to start the inning. Seidl was followed by Zane Denton with the Tide shortstop clearing the bases in the next at-bat on a two-run home run. (3-0, Alabama)
T2 | The Bearcats got their first run of the afternoon on a two-out RBI-single. (3-1, Alabama)
T3 | Binghamton added one more thanks to a two-out sacrifice fly. (3-2, Alabama)
B6 | The Tide added two more in the sixth. Dominic Tamez led off the frame with a single before coming home one out later on an RBI-double from Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.). A groundout moved Diodati to third with the left fielder coming in to score in the next at-bat on a single from Will Portera. (5-2, Alabama)
T7 | A two-out RBI-double for Binghamton narrowed the gap. (5-3, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
-Alabama’s pitchers combined for a season-high 15 strikeouts in today’s game. The Tide’s previous high for strikeouts this season was 14, which came on March 4 against Murray State.
-The 15 strikeouts are the most by a Tide staff since March 6, 2020, against Lipscomb when UA struck out 24 batters over 13 innings. Alabama’s pitchers also had 15 that season against Harvard on March 1, which was a nine-inning affair.
-Grayson Hitt struck out a career-high seven batters in today’s start. His previous high for strikeouts was six against Xavier on Feb. 20.
-Hitt’s seven punch outs ties the Alabama team-high total by any one pitcher. Tide pitchers have struck out seven batters on four previous occasions, most recently Garrett McMillan in Friday’s series opener with Binghamton.
-Alabama totaled 10 hits and has now recorded double-digit hits in 11 of the 17 total games this season. That number includes eight of the last nine contests and four straight games.
-With his 1-for-4 afternoon, Jim Jarvis has recorded a hit in eight straight games. Over the streak, the junior is batting .394 (13-33) with a double, two triples, one home run, an RBI, nine runs scored, three walks, one hit-by-pitch and three stolen bases.
-Drew Williamson has reached base safely in 16 consecutive games.
Next up for Alabama is a trip to Hattiesburg to take on Southern Miss this Tuesday, March 15. First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Golden Eagles is set for 6 p.m. CT with the game airing on ESPN+.