Next Game: Arkansas - Pine Bluff 3/10/2017 | 6 p.m. SEC Network+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama held on to claim the 6-5 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday evening. The victory was the Crimson Tide's fourth in a row and moved Alabama to 7-5 overall on the season.

"I'm really proud of how our guys stayed in there tonight," said Alabama head coach Greg Goff . "We thought it was over, and it wasn't. It's always good to win those kinds of games whenever you find a way to finish it out. I'm glad we had Davis Vainer in the back end of that thing."

The Crimson Tide received a strong start from freshman Garret Rukes . The left-hander tossed a career-long 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with a career-high four strikeouts. Rukes handed the ball over to Garrett Suchey (1-1) who earned the win with a career-long 4.0 innings of work. Suchey allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out a career-high six batters. The junior ran into trouble in the ninth, eventually giving the ball to Davis Vainer for the game's final out – a strikeout – and Vainer's second save of the season.

Alabama kicked off the scoring on Thursday, plating a pair in the bottom of the second. Connor Short drew a two-out walk to allow Cody Henry an at-bat. Henry took advantage of his opportunity, sending a two-run home to left-center field to put Alabama in front, 2-0. The home run was Henry's first of his career.

The Tide added another run in the next inning to push the advantage to 3-0. Gene Wood led off the frame, slapping a grounder back to the pitcher that was bobbled to put himself aboard. Chandler Avant followed with a single before a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Kaufman moved both runners into scoring position. Cobie Vance walked on four pitches to load the bases before a Hunter Alexander sac fly to right brought Wood across to make it a 3-0 game after three full.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered with two runs in the top of the fifth to narrow the Alabama lead to 3-2. A leadoff double and one-out single put a pair on before a two-out single to left loaded the bases for the Golden Lions. Another single to left in the very next at-bat scored two and put UAPB on the board.

A three-run frame in the bottom of the seventh for Alabama provided the Tide with some necessary insurance. Wood led off the inning with a walk, moved up 90 feet on a passed ball and then advanced to third on Avant's double to left. Kaufman followed with a sac fly to cross the inning's first run. Avant crossed one out later on a single from Alexander, with Alexander moving to second after an interference call at first. The extra 90 feet proved beneficial, as Chandler Taylor delivered a single in the next at-bat to score Alexander and make it a 6-2 contest.

The Golden Lions would not go quietly, collecting three runs in the top of the ninth. A two-out walk and a single to left put two on before a Pine Bluff pinch-hitter sent a three-run homer to the terrace in right. The Golden Lions followed with a single to center, ending Suchey's night and bringing in Vainer for the final out. The Tide closer struck out the final batter with a 2-2 pitch in the dirt that forced a throw from the catcher to first to end the game in Alabama's favor.

The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow evening for a 6 p.m. CT matchup in the second contest of this four-game series. Fans can catch all the action on SEC Network+.

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