March 5, 2022

By Alex Thompson

University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball leaned on the pitching staff for a second straight game to secure a 6-1 series-clinching win over Murray State on Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The Crimson Tide is now 8-4 on the season following the victory.

Antoine Jean (Montreal, Que.) was solid once again, contributing 4 1/3 innings of work for the Tide. Jean allowed one run on three hits and two walks with a season-high five strikeouts.

The Tide bullpen then took over, retiring 15 in a row across the final 4 2/3 innings. That number included a pair of strikeouts from Hunter Furtado with the bases loaded in the fifth to shut down the Murray State rally in what was a 2-1 ballgame at that point. Furtado (2-1) proceeded to throw 3 2/3 scoreless, hitless frames with three strikeouts for the win. Hunter Hoopes was next, retiring three straight in the ninth to send the Tide home with the win.

The Tide offense applied steady pressure throughout the afternoon, scoring in four of the eight innings, including one in the first and third and two runs apiece in the fifth and eighth frames. Eight of the nine starters recorded at least one hit on Saturday, led by Jim Jarvis’ 3-for-3 effort. Jarvis added a team-high two runs, a walk and a pair of stolen bases to his line. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Camden Hayslip. In his first collegiate start, the freshman went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

“We took a step forward today. I was really pleased with the effort after I challenged our position players going into the game. The wind was howling in and we hadn't really done a good job with team offense; we've been getting some hits, but we've been really inefficient offensively. But I thought we did some more things today besides just get hits. We had two stolen bases, two really nice bunts and put some balls in play with runners at third base and less than two outs, so I thought we took some steps forward there. Antoine (Jean) gave us a great start and I really thought the story the game was when Hunter (Furtado) came in in the fifth inning and punched those two guys out.”

How It Happened

B1 | Jim Jarvis singled to start the game and swiped his first base of the day to move into scoring position. The Tide shortstop advanced to third on an infield groundout and then came home in the next at-bat thanks to a sacrifice fly from Drew Williamson. (1-0, Alabama)

T2 | A leadoff walk and a double put a runner at third for MSU. A fielder’s choice then moved everyone up 90 feet, crossing the first run for the Racers. (1-1)

B3 | Williamson recorded his second RBI of the day with a single up the middle to score Jarvis once again. Jarvis mirrored his sequence from the first inning with a single and stolen base to get into scoring position before coming home on the Williamson base knock. (2-1, Alabama)

B5 | Caden Rose and Camden Hayslip got the rally started with a pair of singles to open the frame. A sac bunt moved the pair into scoring position for Tommy Seidl with the senior lining an RBI-single to center. The Tide drew a walk to load the bases and then, with two down, Dominic Tamez looked at ball four to push across the inning’s second run. (4-1, Alabama)

B8 | Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.) recorded an RBI-single with two on to get the Tide’s first run. One out later, Hayslip delivered an infield single to cross one more in the inning. (6-1, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

-Alabama’s duo of Hunter Furtado and Hunter Hoopes retired the final 15 batters of the game.

-The Crimson Tide finished with 11 hits and have totaled double-digit hits in seven games this season, including each of the last four contests.

-Eight of the nine starters on offense recorded at least one hit in the game.

-With his 1-for-2 effort, Drew Williamson has recorded a hit in 11 straight games. Over the streak, the senior is batting .372 (16-43) with five doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, six runs scored, three walks and one hit-by-pitch.

-Tommy Seidl stayed hot to extend his hitting streak to five games. With his 1-for-5 afternoon, the senior is batting .524 (11-21) with a double, one home run, three RBI, a pair of runs scored and three stolen bases in as many attempts.

The Crimson Tide will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at The Joe. The finale will feature a pair of left-handers with Alabama set to send sophomore Grayson Hitt to the mound while Murray State counters with Adrien Reese, a graduate student.