Alabama Takes Game Two in First Leg of Double Header

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama (6-1) takes down Rhode Island (0-6) 8-5 in the first half of their second consecutive Saturday double header.

Alabama starter Zane Adams earned the win, his second of the season. The southpaw tossed six innings, scattering five hits and only allowing two runs. Adams also picked up six strikeouts and walked zero batters. Reliever Evan Steckmesser picked up the save, tossing 2.1 hitless innings with three strikeouts.

The Crimson Tide got on the board first thanks to a second-inning Justin Osterhouse sacrifice fly to score John Lemm from third, giving Alabama a 1-0 advantage.

The Rams promptly answered in the top of the third. Catcher Jayden Tolentino tied the game up fast with a leadoff solo shot for his first-ever collegiate hit to pull Rhode Island even at one apiece.

Following a strikeout, Rhode Island worked a pair of singles to put runners at the corners for right fielder Jack Hopko. The senior knocked a sac fly into left field to give the Rams their first lead of the weekend, 2-1.

Brennan Holt led off the bottom of the inning with an infield single and promptly reached third thanks to some nifty base running on a Bryce Fowler groundout. However, Alabama couldn't take advantage, as Justin Lebron and Brady Neal both struck out to leave Holt stranded 90 feet away.

Adams dug his heels in in the fourth, retiring all three Rams batters in 1-2-3 fashion, including two strikeouts.

The Alabama batting order responded in the bottom half of the frame. A one-out John Lemm hit by pitch set the table for Luke Vaughn to launch his second jack of the year to push the lead back in favor of Alabama, 3-2.

The Tide tacked on two more in the frame thanks to a two-RBI bases-loaded single by Fowler, extending the Alabama lead to 5-2.

Adams continued to pitch lights out in the fifth and sixth, not allowing another Ram to reach safely.

Alabama added one more in the fifth via a Steele warning track sac fly.

Adams finished his day in the seventh, only allowing two earned runs and five hits while striking out six and walking zero Rhode Island batters.

Sam Mitchell entered in relief, and the Rams jumped on him quickly. After a leadoff groundout, Rhode Island worked a pair of baserunners to set up a three-run jack from Tolentino — the freshman's second of the game — to cut the Crimson Tide lead to 6-5.

Mitchell picked up a swinging strikeout for the second out of the inning before Alabama called in Evan Steckmesser from the bullpen to pick up the final out of the inning, also via a swinging strikeout.

Alabama earned one of those runs back thanks to a John Lemm leadoff solo shot, the Australian's first with the Crimson Tide, to push the lead to 7-5 in favor of the Tide.

Steckmesser remained in the game in the top of the eighth for Alabama, dropping the Rams 1-2-3 in his first full inning of work Saturday.

Looking to tack on some more insurance in the bottom of the eighth, Holt led the frame off with a five-pitch walk. A Fowler bloop single and Lebron fielder's choice push Holt to third. Jojo Williamson enters to pinch run for Holt — making his first appearance of the season. With runners on the corners, Neal lays down a sac bunt to bring home Williamson from third to extend the Alabama lead to 8-5.

Evan Steckmesser remained in the game to close the door on the Rams' upset bid, retring the Rhode Island lineup in order to pick up the 8-5 win for the Tide.

Game two of the twin bill and the series finale begins at approximately 5:30 PM.

For more Alabama Baseball, Basketball, and Football content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.