Justin Lebron's 5-RBI Opening Day Powers Tide Baseball Over Bradley

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Alabama baseball snagged a hard-fought 10-6 win after overcoming a big three-run deficit in the first inning and a late surge by the visiting Bradley Braves in front of over 4,000 opening day fans Friday night in Tuscaloosa.

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Sophomore left-hander Zane Adams got the opening day start for Alabama and struggled in the first inning after a couple of walks put a pair of runners on.

This set up a home run into the right field student section by designated hitter Bobby Atkinson that cleared the bases to put the Braves up 3-0 in the game's opening half inning.

The Tide answered in the bottom half when shortstop Justin Lebron — one of the top prospects in his class — reached base on a walk and advanced to second. Lebron then scored on a two-out single from Jason Torres to put Alabama on the board.

Torres finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles and proved to be a big part of the Tide's offensive success to kick off the season.

Adams settled in his next time out and looked efficient, surrendering only an infield single.

Alabama got its first lead of the game in the bottom of the second when Justin Lebron reached base for the second time in as many at bats, roping a double to score three runs.

Lebron also roped another RBI double in the bottom of the 6th. His standout performance saw him finish 2-for-3 with 5 RBI, while also stealing a base in the sixth.

Tide second basemen Brennen Norton, a transfer from Jacksonville State, hit the first home run of the season for the Crimson Tide in the bottom of the fourth — a solo shot to extend Alabama's lead to 5-3. It would be the Crimson Tide's only long ball of the evening.

Alabama finished the night with 10 runs on 11 hits and no errors, while surrendering just three earned runs on six hits.

Adams secured the win and managed four full innings of work on the mound for the Tide, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.

Cullman native JT Blackwood took over mound duties in the top half of the fifth and retired the side in order.

Alabama used the offensive cushion to work seven different pitchers, including Tyler Fay, Connor Ball, Zach Kittrell, Ariston Veasey, Coulson Buchanan and Carson Ozmer.

That cushion was eventually carved down by the Braves, who clawed back with X runs scored in the top of the ninth to close the distance.

Ozmer entered the game with bases loaded, two out and the Braves one swing away from tying the game. He lived up to the moment, though, and ended the game with a strikeout in his lone third of an inning.

The Crimson Tide (1-0, 0-0 SEC) will take on Bradley for game two of the series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Saturday, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.

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