Baseball Prepares for #16 Alabama

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (12-12) faces #16 Alabama (18-6) Tuesday night at Toyota Field in Huntsville, Alabama. Gates will open at 5 p.m. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Belmont: Blake Ciuffetelli (Gr. / LHP): 0-1, 10 G, 1 GS, 5.65 ERA, 14.1 IP, 13 K, 8 BB
Last start (3/19 vs. Vanderbilt): L, 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
Alabama: Kade Snell (Rs.-Jr. / LHP): 3 G, 12.71 ERA, 5.2 IP, 5 K, 1 BB
Last appearance (3/17 vs. Tennessee): 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 BB
 
SERIES RECAP VS. UIC
Belmont went 1-2 in their weekend series against UIC.

• Belmont opened conference play over the weekend against UIC.
• Sam Slaughter had a team-high six hits in the weekend series against UIC. He went 3-for-4 with a run in Saturday's win. Slaughter also had a three-hit performance earlier in the week on March 19^th against #3 Vanderbilt.
• Mason Landers drove in five runs over the weekend and homered in Friday's game. Landers' five-game home run streak ended Saturday. He is the first player in program history to achieve such a streak.
• Hank Liss recorded a three-inning save in Saturday's win over UIC. The freshman allowed two hits and struck out four batters, as he picked up his second save of the season.
• Brodey Heaton drove in four runs in the series.

BRUIN BULLETS

• Ciuffetelli is slated to make his second start of the season against #16 Alabama on Tuesday night. He is second on the team in appearances with ten.
• Slaughter is tenth in the MVC in on-base percentage (.460). In the last ten games, Slaughter owns a team-high .415 batting average, with five doubles, 9 RBIs, and a .537 slugging percentage. He leads the team with eight multi-hit games.
• Landers is tenth in the MVC in RBIs (24). Landers is also eighth in home runs (7). Landers has drove in 15 runs in the last ten games. He currently owns a seven-game hit streak.
• Liss and Bill Duby are tied for sixth in the conference with two saves each.
• Heaton remains one hit away from becoming tenth all-time in career hits.

SCOUTING REPORT: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

• Alabama finished the 2023 season with a 43-21 record.
• The Crimson Tide hosted and won the Tuscaloosa Regional last season, with wins over Nicholls, Troy, and Boston College. Their season ended in the Winston-Salem Super Regional. Alabama was swept by Wake Forest.
• Alabama was picked to finish fourth in the Western Division in the SEC preseason coaches poll.
• Rob Vaughn is in his first season as the head coach at Alabama. He previously spent six seasons as the head coach at Maryland.
• Alabama opened SEC play against Georgia, but were swept by the Bulldogs in Athens.

MATCHUP HISTORY

• Belmont is 0-2 all-time against Alabama.
• The Crimson Tide won the last meeting on April 14, 2022, by a score of 3-1. Alabama was ranked #24 at the time.
• The first meeting between the teams was on March 4, 2003, when Belmont was a member of the ASUN. The Crimson Tide defeated Belmont, 18-4.

UP NEXT
Alabama will travel to Murray State for a three-game series from March 28-30. Game times and coverage links are available at belmontbruins.com.
 
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