Alabama Crimson Tide News: Baseball walks-off, Sears an All-American, Pro Day

Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Tuesday, March 18th:

Alabama baseball wins in walk-off fashion

Alabama baseball came from behind on Tuesday night and beat South Alabama via a walk-off homerun to move to 21-1 on the season.

J.T. Blackwood had to leave after pitching a scoreless first inning and there's concern about what his status will be moving forward. Aeden Finateri and Tate Robertson gave up a pair of runs apiece over the next three innings as the Crimson Tide found themselves trailing 4-1 after four innings.

The rally happened in the fifth inning with Jason Torres driving in a run on a bloop single down the third base line. Then, Will Hodo did what Will Hodo does. He hammered a three-run home run to put the Crimson Tide up 5-4.

South Alabama got a homerun from John Smith in the 9th inning to tie the game. The first extra innings game of the year for Alabama didn't last long. Brennen Norton got the green light on a 3-0 count and smacked a homer over the left field wall to give the Tide a 6-5 walk-off win.

This team just finds ways to win games. Now, they'll get ready for the toughest test of the season as No. 1 Tennessee comes to Sewell Thomas for a weekend series.

Mark Sears an AP 1st Team All-American

On Tuesday, graduate senior guard Mark Sears was named an AP 1st Team All-American, becoming just the second player in Alabama history to be honored with that distinction (Brandon Miller, 2023). Sears was a 2nd Team All-American a year ago.

Sears hasn't had the year he probably hoped for. He's not in contention for the Nasmith Player of the Year Award and the majority of his numbers are down from where they were a year ago. But he has still averaged nearly 19 points and just under five assists per game, spearheading a 25-8 season for the Crimson Tide and helping them earn a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Sears has had a prolific three-year run in Tuscaloosa. He helped lead the Tide to a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history two years ago, led Alabama to the Final Four for the first time a year ago, and will now look to lead them on another run starting on Friday.

Alabama Football's Pro Day is Wednesday

You can watch Jalen Milroe, Jihaad Campbell, Malachi Moore, and others participate in Alabama's Pro Day on Wednesday. It will be televised by the SEC Network at 10am CT.

No Tide player is more under the microscope than Milroe, who has seen his draft stock come tumbling down in the last two months. Once a projected Top 5 pick, Milroe is more likely a second or third-round pick at this point in time. But it only takes one team to fall in love with you.

One of those teams that might be smitten is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin and members of the Steelers brass had dinner with Milroe in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night ahead of the Crimson Tide's Pro Day. Pittsburgh certainly has a need at QB and they will pick 21st overall in the first round.