TUSCALOOSA, AL| It looked very bleak for the Crimson Tide baseball team on Sunday afternoon. Jim Wells' crew trailed 7-0 after 1/2 an inning and 10-2 after 3 innings to the 4th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in the rubber match of a three game set. That is the bad news.
The good news is that a baseball game last nine innings, and Alabama outscored South Carolina 9-0 in the later part of the game to shock the Gamecocks, 11-10 to win the series two games to one.
Sophomore 3B/DH Alex Avila hit two home runs and drove in a career high six runs to spark the Alabama comeback, but he was only one of the heroes on Sunday afternoon. After a dreadful start by Austin Hyatt, he lasted 2/3 of an inning giving up seven earned runs, Will Stroup entered the game and quieted the Carolina bats. Stroup, usually a 8th inning set up man for Alabama, pitched 7 2/3 innings limiting South Carolina to three runs, but more importantly working out of jams all afternoon to give the Tide a chance to comeback. Sidewinder Josh Copeland came on with runners on first and third with one out in the ninth to get out of the jam and collect the save for Alabama.
Alabama used a potent offense attack in Friday night's opening game and a huge eight run sixth inning to down the Gamecocks 10-5. New Friday starter and sophomore Tommy Hunter collected the win for the Tide. South Carolina won Saturday's game 4-1, scoring multiple runs late in the game to spoil starter Miers Quigley's quality start.
Alabama will host Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday at 6:30 in a makeup game from March 20. Tickets from the earlier contest may be used for admission.
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