Nine extra-base hits and three big innings powered Alabama baseball to a 12-3 victory over UAB on Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the win, the Crimson Tide moves to 21-13 on the season.

“It was a good win for us tonight,” said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon. “We had a lot of hard contact offensively. We weren’t that sharp early, but once Matt (Malkin) got that home run, we were on a roll. We have won three of our last four, and we have a big weekend coming up at Texas A&M that will be a great challenge for us.”

The Crimson Tide offense recorded three big innings, highlighted by a six-run fourth. Alabama added three-run frames in the second and fifth innings to ensure the victory. The Tide offense totaled 11 hits – the 14th time this season UA has registered double-digit hit totals – with nine of those knocks going for extra bases to set a new season-high mark. Seven of the Tide’s extra-base hits were doubles, also registering as a new season high for UA.

Twelve of the 13 Tide batters reached base safely against the Blazers, including all nine starters. Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit, with junior Matt Malkin leading the offensive effort thanks to a 3-for-6 night that included two doubles and a home run. Malkin added an Alabama season-high six RBI and collected three runs to go with a walk. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Cobie Vance, with the junior finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.

Senior Tyler Adams (2-0) earned his second win of the season, throwing 1.0 inning of scoreless baseball in his relief effort. Following Adams, junior Mason Duke, sophomore Davis Vainer, freshman Brady Greene and redshirt sophomore Connor Stutts combined to allow only two hits over the final 4.0 scoreless frames. The bullpen’s clean showing was the 15th time this season that UA’s relievers have not allowed a run in a game.

UAB scored first on the night, using a pair of singles and a groundout to begin the second inning. The Blazers then recorded a two-RBI single to take the early 2-0 advantage. Alabama answered in the home half of the frame, with junior Chandler Taylor drawing a leadoff walk and junior Kyle Kaufman getting on base in the next at-bat thanks to a UAB error to put two aboard. One out later, Malkin moved UA in front with a three-run shot to left field, making it a 3-2 contest after two full.

The Blazers added a run in the fourth to even things up at 3-3. Back-to-back one-out singles gave UAB a pair of runners before a balk put both men in scoring position. A walk loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly brought in the tying run. UAB would go scoreless the rest of the evening.

The bats came alive for the Tide in the fourth inning. The scoring streak started with a leadoff walk to Taylor and a double from Kaufman put both runners in scoring position. A walk to the next batter loaded the bases before Malkin delivered again, doubling to center to push across two runs.

Junior Jett Manning followed Malkin, grounding out to short to bring in one more and widen the advantage for Alabama. Vance launched a two-run shot off the scoreboard in left in the next at-bat for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning. After senior Chandler Avant was hit by a pitch, fellow senior Hunter Alexander added the final run, doubling down the left field line to bring in Avant and make it a 9-3 game after four innings of play.

Alabama added three more runs on three hits in the fifth. Junior Joe Breaux led off the inning with a walk and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Malkin capitalized on the opportunity, doubling again to bring in Breaux. Manning followed with a double of his own, continuing the run-scoring rally, before a single from senior Cody Henry one out later brought in Manning to make it a 12-3 game, the eventual final.

Next up for Alabama is a weekend trip to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies. The series will begin Thursday night with an 8 p.m. CT first pitch on ESPNU. Friday and Saturdays’ matchups will both be aired on SEC+, with a 6:30 pm CT first pitch on Friday, and 1 p.m. CT start time on Saturday.

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