Alabama gets leading hitter from Horizon League school that discontinued baseball program
Alabama gets leading hitter from Horizon League school that discontinued baseball program
Coach Rob Vaughn and Alabama baseball have picked up their first position player from the transfer portal since the Crimson Tide's season ended in the Hattiesburg Regional of the NCAA Tournament a week ago.
Infielder Justin Osterhouse announced his commitment to Alabama in a post to social media on Saturday. Osterhouse, a sophomore last season, spent the past two years in the Horizon League with Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). The school announced it was discontinuing its baseball and softball programs on May 23.
A left-handed hitter, Osterhouse led the Mastodons at the plate with a .328 average, 16 home runs and 46 RBIs this past season. He added 10 doubles and led the team in stolen bases (13) and on-base percentage (.453) while starting 52 of the team's 53 games.
Listed as 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, the Grand Rapids, Mich. native started 30 games this past season at second game, 16 at third base, and six at shortstop. His best showing at the plate came on May 15 against Wright State in Fort Wayne. In a 21-17 Mastodons victory, Osterhouse hit four home runs in a 5-for-6, eight-RBI night.
Alabama used senior Brennen Norton, Jon Young Jr. and Garrett Staton at second base this past season. The Crimson Tide went 41-18 overall, winning 40 regular-season games for the first time since 2002. They fell to Miami and Southern Miss on back-to-back days at the NCAA Tournament in Hattiesburg.
Alabama announced a contract extension for Vaughn on June 3.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinions.
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