Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from the weekend of April 26-27:
Alabama baseball sweeps Missouri
Missouri came to Tuscaloosa winless in the SEC. Alabama made sure they left the same way. The Crimson Tide swept the Tigers, outscoring them 26-9 over the three game series.
The series got off to a rough start with lowly Missouri scoring five runs in the first inning of the first game, but the Tide rallied and scored seven unanswered runs to pull out a 7-5 win. Will Hodo, Garrett Staton, and Coleman Mizell all homered to pace Alabama's offensive effort.
In game two, Riley Quick gave a strong effort on the bump, and Kade Snell and Jason Torres lifted the offense with a pair of homers.
In game three, Alabama put an exclamation point on the series with a demonstrative 12-1 win that ended in seven innings. Zane Adams went the full seven innings in his second consecutive strong start. Will Hodo hit two home runs to lead the offensive effort in Alabama's dominant win.
Alabama moved to 35-10 on the season and 12-9 in league play. They have no mid-week game this week and then travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt in a critical series.
Alabama softball matches baseball, sweeps Missouri
Softball was in need of a get-right series as much as the baseball team, and Patrick Murphy's team got that in Tuscaloosa against Missouri. Jocelyn Briski pitched a gem in game one, and Brooke Ellstead hit a bases-clearing first-inning double to help lift the Tide to a 4-2 win in the series opener.
Game two was a little more dicey. Alabama broke out to a 6-1 lead thanks to Brooke Ellstead's three-run double and a two-run home run by Kali Heivilin. Alea Johnson couldn't hold the lead and allowed a game-tying three-run homer in the 7th.
In the bottom of the 7th, Alabama won the game on a walk-off error to win the game 7-6.
Alabama couldn't generate much offense in Sunday's series finale, but they didn't need much. Lauren Johnson ripped an RBI single in the 5th, and Brooke Ellstead hit a solo homer to give Alabama a 2-0 lead. That's all the Crimson Tide would get, but that's all they would need.
Briski threw seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five batters. The sweep moves the Crimson Tide to 35-18 on the season and 11-10 in SEC play. Alabama heads to Columbia to face off against South Carolina in the final series of the regular season.
Alabama NFL Draft round-up
It was another successful NFL Draft for Alabama. The Crimson had seven guys selected and extended a number of streaks. Alabama has now had a 1st Round pick for 17 consecutive seasons, multiple first-rounders for seven straight seasons, and at least seven players drafted for seven straight years as well.
Here's this year's round-up:
- Tyler Booker: Round 1, Pick 12 - Dallas Cowboys
- Jihaad Campbell: Round 1, Pick 31 - Philadelphia Eagles
- Jalen Milroe: Round 3, Pick 92 - Seattle Seahawks
- Malachi Moore: Round 4, Pick 130 - New York Jets
- Que Robinson: Round 4, Pick 134 - Denver Broncos
- Robbie Ouzts: Round 5, Pick 175 - Seattle Seahawks
- Tim Smith: Round 6, Pick 190 - Indianapolis Colts