Next Game: Ball State 2/23/2019 | 12 p.m. CT SEC Network+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior starter Sam Finnerty's strong effort on the mound helped Alabama baseball claim a 7-1 win over Ball State in Friday's series opener at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the victory, the Crimson Tide improves to 4-1 overall on the season.

"We got a really good win tonight," said Bohannon. "Sam was outstanding and was as good as he's been during my time here. He kept pounding the strike zone and threw three pitches for a strike. I thought Deacon (Medders) had one of the best outings of his career. We turned two beautiful double plays, and we were very opportunistic offensively. Keith (Holcombe) and Drew (Williamson) both had big hits for us. I have to give their pitcher credit – he was a real challenge for us, striking us out 12 times, but, overall, a really good night for us."

Finnerty (2-0) was dominant on Friday evening, using just 68 pitches to cruise through 7.0 shutout innings for the win. The righty did not issue a walk and allowed just three singles, retiring 10 straight at one point. He added six strikeouts to his line for a new career-high mark as a starter. A rain delay ended Finnerty's night early, with the duo of junior Deacon Medders and freshman Dylan Smith tossing an inning apiece on the way to the win.

The Crimson Tide offensive output was headed by Keith Holcombe . The senior finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a pair of runs scored and a career-high tying four RBI. Also contributing a multi-hit effort was Kolby Robinson , with the junior going 2-for-3 with a double and adding a walk and a run to extend his season-opening hitting streak to five games.

Alabama got out front early with a three-run first. Senior Joe Breaux led things off with a walk and was followed by Brett Auerbach , with the junior reaching on an infield single. Two outs later, Holcombe sent a single to center to score Breaux for the game's first run. A walk then loaded the bases for Drew Williamson . The freshman capitalized, roping a single through the hole on the right side to bring in two and make it a 3-0 affair after one full.

The Tide added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth with another three runs to set the score at 6-0.

Junior Morgan McCullough started the rally with a single, and an error in the next at-bat placed two on with none down for Holcombe. The left fielder continued his hot day at the plate, homering to right-center to put three up in a hurry and give UA a six-run advantage.

Alabama added one in the eighth on a wild pitch to cap its scoring before Ball State crossed one in the ninth for a 7-1 final in favor of UA.

The Crimson Tide and Cardinals return to the diamond on Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch for the day has been moved up to Noon CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium with the game airing live on SEC Network+.

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