Ras Dominates in Baseball’s 10-1 Win at Kentucky on Friday - University of Alabama Athletics
Tyler Ras was dominant on Friday night as the Crimson Tide junior's impressive start helped Alabama baseball to a 10-1 win over Kentucky.
rolltide.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tyler Ras was dominant on Friday night as the Crimson Tide junior's impressive start helped Alabama baseball to a 10-1 win over Kentucky. The series-opening win at Kentucky Proud Park moved UA to 24-13 on the season and 8-8 in Southeastern Conference play.
Ras (6-1) picked up his team-high tying sixth win with 7.0 innings of one-run baseball. The junior worked a career-high 99 pitches, striking out six and allowing only three hits while issuing zero walks. He was followed by Hunter Ruth, with the Tide reliever tossing 2.0 scoreless frames with three punchouts to secure the win.
Alabama's bats totaled six extra-base hits – none of which were a home run – racking up four doubles and two triples on the way to 10 runs. The Crimson Tide's effort at the plate was led by Owen Diodati who finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and one run scored. Matching Diodati in RBI were William Hamiter and Sam Praytor. Hamiter tripled and added a team-high tying two runs to go with his RBI while Praytor finished 1-for-4.
From Head Coach Brad Bohannon
"It always starts on the mound. Tyler Ras was just outstanding and then Hunter Ruth was exciting for two really quality innings there in relief. Those guys did a great job throwing nine innings, allowing no walks, using multiple pitches and moving the ball around the strike zone well. Both guys were outstanding."How It Happened
- T2 | T.J. Reeves reached with a two-out single to left. He then moved into scoring position with a stolen base before Owen Diodati brought him around to score on an RBI-double to give the Tide the early advantage. (1-0, Alabama)
- T3 | Peyton Wilson doubled to right with one down to get things started for the Tide. William Hamiter chased him home in the next at-bat, tripling to deep center for an RBI. One out later, Sam Praytor brought Hamiter home with a single to right to add one more to UA's lead. (3-0, Alabama)
- B4 | T.J. Collett sent a solo shot over the wall in right to get the Wildcats on the board. (3-1, Alabama)
- T7 | Alabama blew the game wide open with a seven-run seventh. A fielding error started things before a double from Wilson put two in scoring position. Another UK miscue allowed a run to cross and put two on to force a Kentucky pitching change. A walk to Zane Denton loaded them up before Praytor collected on a sacrifice fly to score one more. Drew Williamson was then hit by the pitch to load them up before a walk to Reeves pushed another run across. Following a second pitching change, Diodati delivered an RBI-single to right. A wild pitch in the next at-bat brought one more in before Jim Jarvis doubled to right-center with two down to add a pair and cap the scoring at seven. (10-1, Alabama)
Postgame Notes
- Tyler Ras tossed a career-high 99 pitches in tonight's start. His previous high for pitches was 98 against Tennessee on April 2 of this season.
- Ras' six strikeouts matched his career-high total. The junior punched out six on two previous occasions, most recently at Arkansas on March 19 in the Tide's SEC opener.
- The Tide starter did not issue a walk. Ras has walked one or no batters in six of his nine starts this season.
- Ras and Hunter Ruth combined for 9.0 innings without issuing a walk. Alabama pitchers have not allowed a walk in five total games, including tonight's outing.
- The Crimson Tide finished with 11 hits and have totaled double-digit hits in 20 games this season, including 12 of the last 16.
- Alabama's bats have totaled double-digit hits in 11 of 16 SEC matchups so far.
- Sam Praytor moved his hitting streak to six games with a 1-for-4 showing. During the streak, Praytor is batting .455 (10-22) with a double, four home runs, 12 RBI, five runs, two walks and a pair of hit-by-pitch.
- Praytor has also reached base safely in 14 straight games dating back to March 27.
- William Hamiter also extended his hitting streak to six games with his 1-for-5 effort at the plate. Over the six-game stretch, Hamiter is batting .280 (7-25) with a double, one triple, a home run, seven RBI, six runs and four walks.
- Hamiter has also reached base safely in 13 consecutive games dating back to April 2.
