Extra Point: Alabama Baseball Coach Rob Vaughn Previews Upcoming Weekend Series
Alabama baseball takes on Valparaiso this weekend at home as it looks to improve its undefeated start to the first season under new head coach Rob Vaughn.
The Beacons are 2-2 through four games, having traded a pair of wins and losses with Alabama State this past weekend while the Tide sits at 5-0 with wins over Manhattan, Alabama State and Middle Tennessee State.
Coach Vaughn previewed the upcoming series this week in a video posted by the University, as well as gave praise to his team's pitching efforts through the early part of the season.
"We've pitched the ball at a really high level, and I think that's where it starts," Vaughn said, "Every start we've gotten has been really good. We've played pretty good defense overall, but pitching has just been elite so far."
"I think when you throw the ball the way we've thrown the ball the first five games, it lets your offense kind of find its rhythm a little bit and get moving. We're 5-0 to start and that's all that really matters, we'll keep rolling and getting better."
Turning to the Valparaiso Beacons, Vaughn spoke highly of the Missouri Valley Conference foe, saying, "They split with Alabama State this weekend. They turned in two really good starts on Saturday in a double header. One guy punched nine, one guy punched eleven, and limited their freebies. Like anybody this time of year, it's just who plays the cleaner brand of baseball. We did some good things against Manhattan, but I think overall we just played a little cleaner baseball."
"I think that's the biggest key this time of year. The team that plays cleaner, usually wins. (...) Like I said, regardless of if it's Valparaiso or who it is, I just want to see us getting better and continue to take that step."
The Tide will take the mound on Friday at 4:00 p.m. CT for the first of three games against Valparaiso this weekend.
