The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team continued their winning ways, claiming their 7th straight victory on Tuesday afternoon. The Tide beat Belmont 3-1 to improve to 22-12 while the Bruins fell to 21-12 with the loss. Freshman Ben Hess continued as the starter on Tuesday and notched the first victory of his career with four closed innings. Hess had to use 28 pitches in the first inning, walking two but striking out three. In the second, Bama’s defense saved Hess from a run. Jack Capobianco hit a one-out double and moved to third on wild pitch. Jackson Campbell hit a fly ball to right field and Capobianco challenged William Hamiter’s arm trying to score. Hamiter fired a pitch that catcher Dominic Tamez had to jump to trap and went down and got the tag on the runner. A review was required to uphold the appeal and it went in favor of Tide. Hess had perfect innings in the 3rd and 4th with four strikeouts. The Tide got on the board late in the third with two runs. Bryce Eblin started with a single and moved to second on a hit and a run when Tamez failed. Jim Jarvis blistered a single down the middle to tackle Eblin. Jarvis advanced on a disallow and scored on a Zane Denton hit. Denton attempted to stretch his safety into a double but was ejected to end the inning. Another freshman right-hander, Luke Holman, followed by Hess. Hess finished his outing pitching four innings allowing one hit, two walks and striking out seven men on 66 pitches. Holman allowed a brace but escaped the 5th without further damage. Bama tackled his last run at the end of the 5th. Tamez started with a single and advanced on a Jarvis sack bunt. Denton did his thing and picked him to make it 3-0. Holman was hit for a single to start the 6th and another single put two runners up. With two outs and a 2-0 count on Logan Jarvis coach Brad Bohannon called Hunter Hoopes out of the bullpen. Jarvis ended up walking down a 3-2 pitch but Hoopes induced pitch to block loaded bases. Hoopes allowed a single to start the 7th but Tommy Seidl forced out the runner trying a double and the next two batters fell in order. Hunter Furtado took over in 8th for the Tide. Two walks, a stolen base and a rushing out put the Bruins on the board. Yet another freshman, Braylon Myers, (no relation) took over in the 9th and allowed a two-out single, but struck out two to earn his first career stoppage. The tide hit 8-29 on a windy, windy day. Bama drew three walks, struck out five, and left six men on base. Belmont finished 6-31 with five walks, 11 strikeouts and eight left on base. Denton was the big stick with a 2-3 night with two drive-thrus and a walk. Jarvis was 2-3 with a run, an RBI and a sack bunt. Belmont had the only two extra hits of the day, doubled by Capobianco. Nice midweek win heading into the weekend in Knoxville to take on the number one Tennessee Vols. The three freshmen who pitched all did a great job. Hess is improving through and through and striving to be a helper in the weekend road series. The defense played a clean game and ejected two base runners. Denton made several trick plays at third base. The team is focused and playing at a high level at the moment. Earlier in the year, the Tide could very well have lost this game. The Tide heads to Knoxville on Thursday for the Easter Weekend Series. I believe the SEC might be the only conference not to have a Thursday-Saturday playoffs this week. Friday’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. Saturday, the match will take place at 5:00 p.m. CT and Sunday at noon. All games can be seen on the SEC Network Plus. RTR Bama Baseball Fever, catch it
