Diodati's four hits propel Tide to win

Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) had four hits - including a home run - and scored three runs for the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday to lead them to a 9-3 win over Samford. Photo: Alabama Athletics

April 26, 2022

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama baseball scored in five of the nine innings on the way to a 9-3 win over Samford on Tuesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The win moves the Crimson Tide to 25-17 on the season.

Alabama jumped out front early, plating two runs apiece in the second and third frames to gain a 4-0 advantage after three full innings. Samford got on the board with one in the fourth, but the Tide answered with a run of their own in the sixth followed by a three-run seventh. Alabama added one more in the eighth with Samford plating a single tally in the eighth and ninth for the 9-3 final.

Eight of the nine Alabama starters recorded at least one hit on the evening, highlighted by a 4-for-4 effort from Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.). The junior homered and walked while adding one RBI and a team-high three runs. Caden Rose also finished a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI, one run and a team-high three walks. Andrew Pinckney, Dominic Tamez and Bryce Eblin all matched Rose with a two-hit effort, with Pinckney and Tamez tying for the team-high total for RBIs with two apiece.

Ben Hess (2-1) picked up the win on Tuesday. The freshman tossed a career-high six innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“It was good to see some hard contact up and down the lineup tonight. We also had a lot of baserunners, which was great to see. It took us a little while to bust it open, but I was really happy to see us be able to do it. We had good production from everyone in the lineup, so it was a great all-around effort by our offense. Now we have to have a good day of practice tomorrow and get ready for a tough series with South Carolina starting Thursday.”

How It Happened

T2 | Dominic Tamez started the rally with a one-out single. Owen Diodati followed with a walk before Tommy Seidl singled through the left side to score one. After a single to center from Bryce Eblin loaded them up again, Caden Rose singled to center to add another run. (2-0, Alabama)

T3 | A two-out double from Zane Denton was followed by a home run from Tamez to double the Tide lead. (4-0, Alabama)

B4 | The Bulldogs got on the board when the runner from third crossed on a groundout to second. (4-1, Alabama)

T6 | The Tide was able to load the bases with two down before a hit-by-pitch for Denton pushed another run across. (5-1, Alabama)

T7 | With the bases loaded and one down, Jim Jarvis sent a grounder to first to allow a runner to cross. Andrew Pinckney followed in the next at-bat with a two-run single to right. (8-1, Alabama)

T8 | Owen Diodati recorded a solo home run. (9-1, Alabama)

B8 | Maurice Hampton hit a solo home run for Samford. (9-2, Alabama)

B9 | The Bulldogs singled with one down before a wild pitch moved the runner into scoring position. A double followed, scoring one for Samford. (9-3, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

-Ben Hess tossed a season-high six innings in tonight’s game. His previous high for innings was four, which he had on two previous occasions and most recently in his last start on April 19 against UAB.

-Alabama totaled a season-high tying 15 hits in tonight’s game. The 15 hits match UA’s output against Troy on March 2.

-The Tide has now recorded double-digit hits in 23 games this season.

-Eight of the nine Alabama starters recorded at least one hit.

-With his 1-for-4 night, Drew Williamson has recorded a hit in eight straight games. Over that streak, the senior is batting .353 (12-34) with a double, one triple, two home runs, five RBIs, four runs scored and one walk.

-Williamson has reached base safely in 18 straight games dating back to March 27.

-Dominic Tamez has homered in back-to-back games after also homering in Sunday’s series finale with Georgia.

-Will Hodo recorded his first career home run in his pinch-hit opportunity.

-The pinch-hit home run is Alabama’s first since Caden Rose hit one against Samford on April 13 of last season.

Alabama will use Wednesday to travel before starting a three-game series in Columbia against South Carolina from Thursday through Saturday. Games one and two are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch with the series finale set for a 11 a.m. The first and third contests will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network with game two airing on SEC Network+.