Denton’s Ninth-Inning Single Leads Baseball to 8-7 Win over No. 9 Florida

Sunday, March 20

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1 p.m.

Alabama

13-8, 1-2

Florida

15-5, 2-1

Florida

Alabama

Denton’s Ninth-Inning Single Leads Baseball to 8-7 Win over No. 9 Florida

3/20/2022 5:22:00 PM | Baseball

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The Crimson Tide battled for two in the ninth, highlighted by Denton’s game-winning single

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama baseball battled all afternoon in a back-and-forth contest with ninth-ranked Florida, eventually coming out on top 8-7 thanks to Zane Denton's game-winning RBI-single. The win improves the Crimson Tide to 13-8 on the season and 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama and Florida traded blows all day for a third consecutive game. Things were knotted up at four apiece after four full, with the Tide gaining a 5-4 advantage in the fifth thanks to Denton's first RBI-single of the day. The Gators pulled back in front in the eighth with a three-spot, but the Tide was able to cut the lead to one thanks to a solo homer from Denton in the home half. The ninth saw UA cross a pair for the win on getaway day.

The Tide's ninth-inning rally started with a one-out hit-by-pitch for Andrew Pinckney. Bryce Eblin followed with a single to put runners on the corners for Jim Jarvis. The Tide shortstop was able to get a bunt down on the third base line that stayed fair and allowed Pinckney to score to tie the ballgame. A single from Dominic Tamez then loaded them up for Denton, who was able to single through the right side of a five-man infield to plate the game-winner.

Denton led the Tide offense with a 3-for-5 day that included a home run, one run scored and a team-high three RBI. Owen Diodati contributed two RBI for Alabama, finishing his day 2-for-3 with a home run, a pair of runs and one walk.

Alabama reliever Jacob McNairy (4-0) picked up the win with 1.2 innings of one-run baseball to keep the Tide within striking distance. Florida reliever Blake Purnell (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in 0.1 an inning.

From Head Coach Brad Bohannon

"This was just an overall great win today for our team on so many levels, and it's kind of ironic that it happened on a day where we made a lot of mistakes. We made three errors in the infield and we certainly weren't perfect, but we were down three times – we were down a lot this weekend – and I just can't say enough about our kids and the way they just continue to fight back. Every coach preaches don't play to the scoreboard, and I think our kids absolutely did that for an entire weekend. We learned a lot, too. When we play really good baseball, we can play with anybody. A lot of credit to Florida, as well. They're one of the top five or 10 teams in the country for sure."

How It Happened

T1 | Back-to-back two-out doubles got the Gators on the board. An error in the next at-bat kept the inning alive and brought across a second run. (2-0, Florida)
B2 | Alabama loaded the bases with three straight one-out walks. A grounder from Andrew Pinckney in the next at-bat got the first out at second but allowed a man to cross. A throwing error on the same play went past the UF first baseman, bringing in one more in the process. (2-2)
T4 | The Gators regained the lead with back-to-back solo home runs to start the inning. Sterlin Thompson was first followed by Wyatt Langford. (4-2, Florida)
B4 | Tommy Seidl started the inning with a walk. Owen Diodati was next with the junior bringing the pair home on a two-run home run to right. (4-4)
B5 | A two-out RBI-single from Zane Denton crossed Bryce Eblin for the go-ahead run. Eblin began the frame with a leadoff double before coming in to score. (5-4, Alabama)
T8 | Jud Fabian put UF back in front with a two-run home run. A single and a stolen base then placed a runner scoring position before a two-out single through the right side added one more. (7-5, Florida)
B8 | Denton led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the lead to one. (7-6, Florida)
B9 | Pinckney got the rally started, drawing a hit-by-pitch with one down. Bryce Eblin followed with a single to right-center to put Tide on the corners for Jim Jarvis. A perfectly placed bunt from Jarvis scored Pinckney to tie things up. The next at-bat resulted in a single to load them up for Denton, who would find a hole on the right side for the game-winning hit. (8-7, Alabama)

Postgame Notes

Grayson Hitt tossed a career-high 5.0 innings in today's start. His previous high was 4.0 which he had on three previous occasions, most recently last weekend against Binghamton.
Today's win was the Crimson Tide's second walkoff win of the season. Alabama also walked it off against Xavier on Opening Day on an Owen Diodati home run.
Alabama combined for 10 hits and has registered 10-or-more hits in 13 of 21 contests this season, including 10 of the last 13 games.
With his 1-for-5 day, Jim Jarvis has recorded a hit in 12 straight games. Over the streak, the junior is batting .340 (17-50) with a double, two triples, one home run, three RBI, nine runs scored, five walks, one hit-by-pitch and three stolen bases.
The 12-game hitting streak ties Drew Williamson (Feb. 19-March 6) for the longest by an Alabama hitter this season.
Jarvis has also reached base safely in 13 straight SEC games dating back to May 2 of last season against Missouri.
Diodati has recorded a hit in five straight games thanks to his 2-for-3 effort in today's contest. Across the streak, the junior is batting .421 (8-19) with three doubles, two home runs, five RBI, five runs scored and two walks.
ATTENDANCE: 3,238

Next up for Alabama is a trip to Regions Field to take on UAB this Tuesday, March 22. First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Blazers is set for 6 p.m. CT in Birmingham with the game airing live on Conference USA TV ($).

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