The Home of Alabama Sports
This weekend, the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide swept Vanderbilt for the first time since 2009, thanks in large part to the impressive performance of Alabama's freshman outfielder Eric Hines at the plate.
Hines finished the series batting 3-for-12 with two home runs, three runs, and seven RBI throughout the Crimson Tide’s sweep of Vanderbilt.
In game one, the freshman slugger came up big for the Tide with a game-tying three-run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning, erasing a 4-1 Vanderbilt lead.
Alabama’s designated hitter, John Lemm, later hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Tide a 5-4 win in the series opener.
Hines wasn’t finished. The Tuscaloosa native turned in another terrific performance in game two, opening with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to put the Tide ahead 2-0. He drove in another run in the bottom of the third with a single to left field, scoring Justin Lebron and making it a 4-0 game. The Crimson Tide went on to win 5-0, with Hines’ three RBIs playing a major role in Friday’s victory.
Game three was quiet for Hines; he didn’t record a hit and struck out twice. However, the freshman slugger did pick up an RBI on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first, driving in catcher Brady Neal for a 2-0 Alabama lead.
Hines played solid defense throughout the weekend as well, only tallying a lone error in the series.
Despite his quiet game three, Alabama’s successful weekend was largely thanks to Hines’ outstanding play, who has been improving every game throughout his freshman campaign. Especially over the past two series, where the freshman outfielder has hit three home runs.
Following game one's 5-4 win, Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said the coaching staff knew Hines was capable of this, but didn’t expect it to happen so soon.
“I think we knew that this is what Eric [Hines] was gonna be at some point in his career. I think this situation has dictated and he’s kind of kicked the door down, and dictated its happened a little sooner than we kinda had mapped out, but we talked about that this week," said Vaughn.
He also noted that injuries this season have given Hines more playing time and the chance to become the breakout player he is today.
"You know you hate losing Sam [Christiansen], you hate losing Dev [Logan Devenport], but that’s given a guy like Eric a lot of opportunities, and he keeps getting better.” Vaughn added, “Every one of these experiences he’s had is just going to make him better and better, even the failures will make him better and better.”
Vaughn went on to talk about Hines' three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning in game one
"Executing that in that spot is a whole different thing. He gets the breaking ball up and steps on it and obviously got momentum back in the dugout for us, so man that guy’s got a bright future, he's gonna be a special player, and he works his tail off, he’s just gonna keep getting better and better.”
Alabama will look for Hines to stay hot at the plate as the Tide approaches its final seven games of the season. The upcoming series against South Carolina and Ole Miss will play a big role in determining whether Alabama hosts a Regional.
Follow @Micahnichols0 on X (formerly known as Twitter and tune into Tide100.9 for all your Alabama baseball, football, and basketball coverage.
Gallery Credit: Simon Besnoy
Gallery Credit: Simon Besnoy
Gallery Credit: Micah Nichols
