Mizell Comes Up Big In Tide's Comeback Win Over Missouri

TUSCALOOSA, AL — No. 18 Alabama baseball (33-10, 10-9 SEC) roared back with seven unanswered runs after falling behind by five runs in the first inning to snagged a 7-5 win over Missouri Thursday night in Tuscaloosa.

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The win was capped off by Coleman Mizell’s go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Crimson Tide the lead.

Mizell finished 2-for-4 on the night, with his two-run homer accounting for both of his RBIs.

"Heck of a comeback win. I thought it was a really weird first inning," head coach Rob Vaughn said. "You see something new in baseball every time you go out there and tonight they hit around the order in the first on 16 pitches. I had a former boss tell me 'when you get an out on the bunt, you might give up one run, but when you don't get the out, it's going to be a crooked number,' and that's what happened there in first."

Garrett Staton stepped up and tied the game in the sixth inning with a three-run home run and also finished 2-for-4, while Will Hodo added a two-run blast in the second.

Eight of Alabama’s nine starters recorded at least one hit in the win.

Staring pitcher Tyler Fay got battered around in the first inning but settled in to pitch a career-high 5.1 innings. He surrendered just one hit over the remainder of his outing.

Matthew Heiberger came on in relief and followed Fay with 1.2 scoreless innings, while allowing one baserunner and striking out two.

Closer Carson Ozmer entered in the eighth with two men on and preserved the tie with a fielder’s choice and a strikeout. He then slammed the door on the Tigers in the ninth, striking out the side to secure the win.

"Fay was just a tick slow in getting off the mound and then they just paper cut us to death, but Tyler did a great job of settling in and pitching into the sixth inning. Matthew Heiberger was great and then in the eighth inning, we did exactly what we didn't do well in the first, which was execute. We got an out on the bunt, Will Hodo made a great play to cut down a run and then Carson Ozmer got a big punch out. Really proud of our guys, proud of the fight and I'm really happy for Coleman Mizell."

He returned in the ninth and struck out the side to earn the save.

Alabama and Missouri will return to action for game two of their three-game series Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and SEC Network+ will carry the broadcast.

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