Jim Jarvis shares how Alabama got to Nicholls pitching

For much of the evening on Friday, it looked like Alabama might end up one of the NCAA Regionals hosts to suffer a loss in its opening game, struggling to scratch out runs against a pesky Nicholls squad in the nightcap in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Finally, Alabama was able to settle in and figure out Nicholls starting pitcher Jacob Mayers, who had otherwise flummoxed the Crimson Tide.

“I mean all I can really say about him is just like his fastball is extremely electric,” shortstop Jim Jarvis said. “I didn’t really see his slider, but I think he was getting like insane vertical break, induced vertical break.”

After Mayers threw four scoreless innings the Crimson Tide were finally able to start producing some runs.

A leadoff triple by third baseman Colby Shelton in the bottom of the fifth inning put a runner in scoring position, and second baseman Ed Johnson brought him home with a sacrifice fly to left field.

That opened the door, and the Crimson Tide would continue to pry it open each of the next two innings, plating runs in the fifth, the sixth and seventh to get back into the Tuscaloosa Regional contest. Mayer was chased after 5.2 innings, having given up just three hits and two runs in the process.

“I think there’s maturity in the lineup after you see him one or two times,” Jarvis explained. “Everyone can kind of adjust to it. I think it’s just the maturity in the lineup.”

Even so, it wasn’t until the bottom of the ninth inning that Alabama finally took the lead for good, winning in walk-off fashion in a 4-3 game.

Left fielder William Hamiter drew a leadoff walk to start the inning. Catcher Mac Guscette moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. After center fielder Caden Rose struck out, Alabama was down to its last out in the inning at the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Refusing to be denied, Jarvis fed on the energy of the crowd and found a gap on the left side, singling and bringing home the game-winning run. A rowdy crowd loved every second of it, even on a late night after weather delays bumped back the start time considerably.

“The crowd was fantastic. Like it is so much fun playing in front of them,” Jarvis said. “They’re always into the game. The Florida game at the SEC Tournament they were unreal, like firing us up when we’re coming off the field. Tonight it was the same thing, they were matching the energy in the dugout. It’s a really special thing to play in front of them, I love it.”

Alabama will return to action at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday in the Tuscaloosa Regional with a winner’s bracket game against Troy.