No. 23 Tide Baseball Improves To 14-0 With Win Over No. 19 Troy

TUSCALOOSA, AL — No. 23 Alabama baseball (14-0, 0-0 SEC) is off to a start for the ages after a 3-1 victory over No. 19 Troy Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

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The 14-0 start for the Crimson Tide is the second-longest winning streak to start a season in program history. The win also marked the Tide's second win over a Top 25 opponent this season after defeating No. 12 NC State, 4-1, on Feb. 22.

The Trojans got on the board first in the third inning with a groundout after consecutive singles put runners in scoring position but it would be Troy's only run of the defensive showdown.

Alabama responded in the bottom half of the third with Richie Bonomolo Jr. coming home on a two-run homer by Justin Lebron to left-center, giving the Tide a 2-1 lead.

The Tide padded its lead with another run in the sixth inning thanks to Will Hodo and Brennen Norton leading off the frame with singles, before a deep flyout by Kade Snell moved Hodo to third.

Catcher Brady Neal then drove Hodo in with an RBI fielder's choice.

Hodo led Alabama’s offense with a 2-for-4 performance and a run scored.

Bonomolo Jr., Hodo, and third baseman Jason Torres have each reached base in all 14 games this season.

Cullman native JT Blackwood got the start on the mound for the Crimson Tidea and gave Alabama four strong innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out two.

Matthew Heiberger (1-0) came on in relief and tossed a career-high four innings, giving up just one hit and striking out three to secure the win.

Alabama closer Carson Ozmer slammed the door on the Trojan for a scoreless ninth, striking out three batters to earn his fourth save of the season.

Kade Snell also contributed with a double, while Brennen Norton and Coleman Mizell each added a hit.

"That's a top-25 matchup, and it lived up to the billing," Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said. "JT (Blackwood) was great to start, and Matty (Heiberger) really stepped up in big spots. Carson (Ozmer) finished it strong. It's good to see us execute in these tight games, which we’ll face more often moving forward."

Alabama will return to action Friday for a three-game series with Presbyterian College to conclude its non-conference slate.

Game one is set for Friday at 6 p.m., with SEC Network+ carrying the broadcast.

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