The Alabama Crimson Tide got off to a hot start last weekend by sweeping the visiting McNeese State Cowboys to open the 2021 season.

When the first pitch was thrown by Connor Prielipp last Friday, it closed out a 345-day drought where baseball was not played in Tuscaloosa. The Tide capitalized on a 16-1 shortened regular season by taking all three games from McNeese State during opening weekend.

Game Ball Winners-

Connor Prielipp (5.0 innings, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts)

Prielipp and the Crimson Tide defense complemented each other during the season-opener on Friday. The All-America candidate struck out eight batters over five innings, leaving the game with a 5-0 lead.

Zane Denton (7 hits, 5 RBI, 2 HR)

Denton was a bright spot for the Alabama offense in the series, providing a key bat in clutch moments.

In a game that took a while for any offense to get going, it was Denton’s stick that came through for the series-clinching win. Down 3-0 heading to the 7th inning, Denton delivered a single that scored William Hamiter to put Alabama on the board. Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Denton delivered again with a solo walk-off home run to give Alabama the 4-3 win.

Denton finished the day with three hits and two RBI. Denton also nailed a home run and collected two more RBI in the Sunday clincher.

Owen Diodati (3 hits, 6 RBI, 2 HR)

Diodati did not collect many hits over the weekend… but the ones he did made noise. Diodati hit two home runs in Saturday and Sunday’s games respectively and collected four RBI in Sunday’s 9-5 win.

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