re: Bama Baseball 33-24 (13-17) (2023-24)

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Alabama baseball earned a 12-5 win over Auburn on Saturday night at Plainsman Park. With the victory, the 24th-ranked Crimson Tide finished the regular season at 33-21 overall and 13-17 in Southeastern Conference action.

The series finale began at 5 p.m. CT and lasted just over six hours due to a 2:36 weather delay that began in the top of the ninth. Despite the wait, the Crimson Tide was able to finish off the Tigers and earn the No. 7 seed in the 2024 SEC Tournament.

Both teams got on the board with single tallies in the first before the Tigers built a 4-1 advantage after four innings of play with one run in the second and two in the fourth. Alabama tied it up with a three-run fourth and regained the lead with a four-spot in the sixth. Auburn countered for one in the seventh but would get no closer as the Tide widened the gap with four runs in the ninth prior to the delay, highlighted by a three-run homer from Ian Petrutz.

All nine starters recorded at least one hit on Saturday, led by Gage Miller's 4-for-6 showing that included a double, five RBI and three runs scored. Will Hodo matched Miller with three runs, part of his 2-for-4 effort with a walk, while Petrutz finished 1-for-1 with the homer, three RBI, two runs, three walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Ben Hess (5-4) earned the win with another solid start. The junior allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits with no walks and nine strikeouts across a career-high tying 6.2 innings of work. He was followed by the tandem of Alton Davis II and Braylon Myers, who tossed 2.1 scoreless frames with one hit and two strikeouts.

From Head Coach Rob Vaughn
"Obviously not the weekend we wanted to have, but I'm proud of the resiliency our guys showed today. We didn't play great early, but our offense settled in behind Ben Hess and we got the win. Now our attention shifts to Hoover and postseason baseball. We don't take it for granted having the opportunity to play beyond the regular season. We will rest up tomorrow and be ready to go against the Gamecocks on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing our fans come support the guys and turn the stands into a sea of crimson."

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