TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A three-run seventh inning broke open a tie game, propelling the Alabama baseball team to a 9-4 comeback victory over the Illinois-Chicago Flames on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Junior second baseman Ross Wilson put Alabama (3-0) on the scoreboard in the sixth, milking an 11-pitch at bat before rifling a single off Flames starting pitcher Chris Kovacevich (0-2). Wilson later scored on a Jake Smith sacrifice fly to knot the score at one.

In the decisive seventh, sophomore center fielder Taylor Dugas snapped the 1-1 tie with a single to left to score freshman Brett Booth with the go-ahead run.  John David Smelser took third on the base hit and then scored on junior shortstop Josh Rutledge’s sacrifice fly to give the Tide a 3-1 lead.  Wilson capped the rally with a two-out single to left to score Rutledge and give Alabama a 4-1 lead.

Crimson Tide starter Adam Morgan had another strong start, scattering seven hits over five innings while striking out six. The lefty sophomore from Marietta, Ga. allowed only one earned run and walked just one batter in his second start of the season.

Junior right-hander Nathan Kilcrease (1-0) picked up the win, pitching three scoreless innings and striking out three batters in relief of Morgan. Freshman Adam Windsor came on in the ninth, allowing three runs in his Alabama debut, before recording the game’s final out.

The Crimson Tide will host Illinois-Chicago (1-4) in a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.
(courtesy: Alabama Athletic Media Relations)