Alabama baseball won its opening day game on Friday against Manhattan College 4-0 in coach Rob Vaughn's debut. The No. 17 Crimson Tide also won 15-0 in seven innings on Saturday and 11-8 on Sunday to sweep the series.

"I'm not really an emotional guy, but I truly did get teary-eyed listening to the national anthem tonight," Vaughn said when reflecting on his first game coaching the Crimson Tide. "Seeing the students packing out there and how hard these kids work, it's really special."

In game one, The Crimson Tide got off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an error by the Jaspers and never looked back en route to the 4-0 victory. They dominated offensively in Saturday's mercy-rule victory with a pair of four-run innings in the second and third plus five runs in the fifth. The Jaspers finally got some offense going on Sunday but couldn't keep up with Alabama, as the Tide hit five home runs.

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Here are three takeaways from Alabama's (3-0) series sweep against Manhattan College (0-3):

Alabama baseball's Ben Hess looks sharp in return

After having his sophomore season cut short, only pitching in seven games, Alabama's Ben Hess dominated on the mound on Friday, his first game since March 2023.

Hess pitched a win in four innings with nine strikeouts, two walks and just one hit on 61 total pitches against the Jaspers. He also became the first Alabama pitcher since 2010 to record nine or more strikeouts on opening day. Two other junior right-handers, Hagan Banks and Braylon Myers, kept the Jaspers scoreless after Hess' four innings, giving up one hit of their own and adding six more strikeouts.

On Saturday, sophomore Riley Quick made his first career start, logging five strikeouts and allowing no hits through three innings. Senior Louisville transfer Greg Farone, freshman Zane Adams and redshirt freshman Austin Morris saw work in relief of Quick. Alabama allowed just one hit in Saturday's dominant win.

The Sunday staff struggled much more. Starter Aidan Moza gave up three runs in the third inning, and the relief duo of Tyler Fay and Coulson Buchanan conceded five more after Moza's four frames. Alabama turned to star closer Alton Davis II in the eighth inning, and he recorded his first save of the year with two scoreless innings.

T.J. McCants steals the show and three bases in his Alabama baseball debut

After spending his first three seasons at Ole Miss, center fielder T.J. McCants had a stellar debut series for the Crimson Tide.

On Friday, McCants recorded two runs and a double and showed off his speed by stealing two bases. He followed it up on Saturday with two RBIs and two more doubles. He added another stolen base and scored twice again. Sunday featured more of the same, as McCants hit his first home run of the year with a two-run blast to right field in the third inning.

"That guy is full of talent and ability. He had an unbelievable preseason, so this is just a culmination and a continuation of that really," Vaughn said of McCants. "Being aggressive, setting a tone, right now he's really what I want our offense to look like collectively."

For his weekend in center field, McCants recorded nine total put-outs. He should maintain his status as Alabama's top offensive threat and a key piece of the defense for the rest of the season.

Freshman shortstop impresses in his first college action

Justin Lebron, a true freshman from Miramar, Florida, made his collegiate baseball debut for the Tide. The young shortstop already looks the part of an impact player.

On Friday, Lebron went 1-3 at the plate with a single over the middle and recorded a put-out defensively. He fared better on Saturday, recording an RBI single on his lone at-bat and drew three walks. He also logged another put-out plus three assists in the infield, including a double play in the third inning. The highlights of Lebron's weekend came on Sunday: he showcased his elite speed on a two-run, inside-the-park home run and his athleticism on a leaping put-out catch that would have been a key hit for the Jaspers otherwise.

"It was a breathtaking experience," Lebron said. "It was a lot of fun to be out here with the guys and experience my first collegiate games. I just took it all in."

Catcher Mac Guscette also praised Lebron's ability to recognize pitches and command the strike zone, noting his three consecutive walks drawn on Saturday. Lebron's continued development will make him a player to watch for Alabama this season.

What's next for Alabama baseball?

Alabama hosts Middle Tennessee State at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game can also be streamed on the SEC Network+.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball sweeps Manhattan College on Opening Weekend