Alabama Survives Blazers in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala — No. 17 Alabama escapes another upset in Birmingham, taking down UAB 6-3 off of the back of three home runs to win their 17th game of the year.

Execution plagued the Crimson Tide once again Tuesday. Alabama left 13 runners on base and a .154 batting average with runners in scoring position prevented the Crimson Tide offense from capitalizing on their 15 hits Tuesday. A nasty three wild pitches plus an Aiden Moza throwing error helped the Blazers score a couple of runs with ease. Alabama needs to clean up their execution before league play starts, where the punishment will be far worse against some of the best baseball teams in the nation.

Akin to last week's midweek matchup against then-No. 19 Troy, both offenses began the game slow Tuesday, as both teams started the game with two scoreless innings.

Bryce Fowler drew first blood in the top of the third inning via a no doubt solo-shot to right field for the first run of the evening. Alabama advantage, 1-0. The Crimson Tide couldn't add any more runs in the top of the third as UAB starter Blake Shelton retired Justin Lebron and Coleman Mizell the following two at-bats.

JT Blackwood retired the side in the third to bring the Crimson Tide into the fourth ahead 1-0.

The Crimson Tide threatened to blow the game wide open in the fourth. A one-out Will Hodo triple off the left field wall and a Brennen Norton walk set up a prime RBI opportunity for Kade Snell. However, the left fielder knocked a ground ball to shortstop Gavin Lewis Jr., allowing the Blazers to turn a double play to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Blackwood picked up the first two outs of the inning via a fly out and a ground out before walking third baseman Todd Clay. Alabama promptly brought in Tuscaloosa native Tate Robertson, who picked up the final out of the inning.

Alabama extended their lead in the fifth. A leadoff single from Will Plattner began the inning; Plattner advanced to second after a Richie Bonomolo Jr. sacrifice bunt. A Fowler one-out single plated Plattner for the Crimson Tide's second run of the evening and Fowler's second RBI to push the Alabama lead 2-0.

The following at-bat, Justin Lebron ripped a single to put runners on first and second with one-out for Coleman Mizell. The Hartselle, Ala., native, came through for the Crimson Tide, ripping a single through the middle of the infield to score another run for Alabama. Alabama leads, 3-0. Two at-bats later, a Hodo HBP loaded the bases with two outs for Brennen Norton, who popped out to second base to end the inning.

The Blazers responded in the bottom of the sixth. Robertson walked the leadoff batter of the inning before forcing a first pitch pop out on the following at-bat. A wild pitch from Robertson put a runner on second for designated hitter Jasen Anderson. Anderson made it hurt, ripping a double to score Waugh and put the first run of the evening on board for the Blazers.

Robertson forced another popout for the second out of the inning. Alabama brought in Aidan Moza to pick up the final out with a runner on second and two outs. Moza threw two wild pitches, allowing Anderson to score without requiring a UAB batter to take a swing. UAB had cut their deficit to 3-2.

A walk and an error on a pick-off attempt prompted Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn and pitching coach Jason Jackson to pull Moza from the game. Reliever Coulson Buchanan entered the game, picking up the final out but not without the help of Kade Snell, who made an incredible diving catch in left field to end a nearly disastrous inning for the Crimson Tide.

After rattling off two one-out singles in the top of the sixth, the Alabama offense sputtered out, as Fowler grounded into another inning-ending double-play.

UAB once again cut into the Crimson Tide lead, tying up the game in the bottom of the seventh via an RBI single from Tyler Waugh. The Blazers were unable add on any more runs to take the lead.

The story of the night for the Alabama offense, the inability to execute, continued in the seventh. The Crimson Tide worked two runners in scoring position after a leadoff out, where Lebron was robbed of a home run. A Hodo swinging strikeout and a Norton ground out ended the inning without Alabama retaking the lead.

Aedan Finateri continued to pitch well in the seventh, picking up two strikeouts to prevent the Blazers from nabbing the lead.

A zero-run eighth inning set up a potential game-deciding ninth inning in Birmingham.

Following a frustrating three innings for the Crimson Tide offense, they came alive in the top of the ninth. Following a fly ball that was robbed of a base hit once again, this time from Coleman Mizell, the Alabama offense was searching for the same juice that helped get them their comeback victory over Ohio State in Jacksonville last month.

The answer? Jason Torres.

Torres launched a first pitch breaking ball out of Regions Park to break the tie and push Alabama ahead 4-3.

Hodo hit into a groundout the following at-bat. With two outs, Norton worked a walk to set up a clutch opportunity for Alabama captain Kade Snell, and boy did he deliver.

Snell tattooed a no-doubt two-run jack to right field, giving Alabama a comfortable 6-3 lead in the top of the ninth.

A two-out Plattner single and a Bonomolo Jr. walk threatened to break the game wide open, but the Blazers were able to get the last out of the inning on a Fowler fly out to center to end the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the frame, Alabama called on close Carson Ozmer to close out the game. Ozmer did his job, retiring all three Blazers batters to give Alabama their 17th win heading into SEC play.

Alabama travels to College Station to play No. 19 Texas A&M this weekend for their first big series test of the season.

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.