[Stoney]

Another tough loss.

[Tuck4Bama]

Tide Steals One Against Top-Ranked Vandy, 5-3 Release: 04/08/2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A struggling University of Alabama offense turned to first baseman Matt Bentley Sunday afternoon as the Crimson Tide looked to avoid its first three-game sweep in Nashville since the 1986 season.

With runners and first and third and two outs against Vanderbilt closer Casey Weathers, Bentley, the Tide’s 6-3, 220-pound first baseman, stole home on a straight steal in the top of the 10th inning to give the Tide a one-run lead in an eventual 5-3 win at Hawkins Field Sunday afternoon.

“It was a first and third force balk move,” Bentley said. “We ran the way you are supposed to against a left-hand pitcher, but not the right way against the right-hander, but it worked out for us. That is first time and probably the last time I will ever steal home again.”

Weathers (5-2) suffered the loss after walking pinch-hitter Del Howell and Bentley to open the inning. Pinch-hitter Jeff Texada laid down the perfect sacrifice bunt -- the fourth of the day by Alabama -- to move both runners into scoring position.

Senior shortstop Greg Paiml slapped a ground ball to the right side of the infield and first baseman Brad French threw out pinch-runner Kyle Moore at home for the second out before the Tide turned to trickery in the inning.

Bentley then darted for home with Weathers freezing on the mound in disbelief. Weathers throw was late to the plate as Bentley slide across the dish with the go-ahead run. Belcher then smashed a single up the middle to score Paiml from second base with the two-run lead.

“When you are struggling to scored runs, something has to happen for you,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “We caught the pitcher off guard and he froze on the mound.

“We have been struggling to score runs the last few weeks and we had so many opportunities to score again today. Matthes had the big hit in the ninth inning and Avila hit two big home runs.”

Alabama (20-14, 5-7 SEC) forced extra innings when sophomore Kent Matthes slapped a two-out single to right field off Weathers to scored Belcher from second base and tie the game at 3-3.

Sophomore right-hander Austin Hyatt, pitching in just his second career SEC game, benefitted from the late inning heroics to earn his first career SEC win. Hyatt (3-1) threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed three hits, three walks and fanned four.

Vanderbilt stranded 16 base runners in the loss to Alabama, including eight in the final four innings thanks to some clutch pitching by Hyatt. He stranded two inherited runners in the seventh inning to keep the Tide in the game and set up the late-inning win. Hyatt has stranded all 10 inherited base runners this year in 10 relief appearances.

Alabama left 12 men on base and was just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position in the series finale.

The Crimson Tide scored four runs in the final three innings to beat the No.1 ranked Commodores and improve to 14-14 all-time against the nation’s top ranked team.

Sophomore Alex Avila hit his second home run of the game in the eighth inning to close the gap to 3-2. Avila gave Alabama its first lead of the game with a solo home run in the second inning to put UA in front 1-0. Avila has seven home runs this season and 11 in his UA career. The Vandy game was his first career multi home run game.

Vanderbilt (29-5, 7-5 SEC) grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs on four hits, but left the bases loaded when Dominic de la Osa grounded out to end the inning.

de la Osa’s eighth home run of the season and second of the week stretched the Commodores lead to 3-1 in the seventh inning, setting up the late-inning heroics by the Crimson Tide.

Alabama returns home Tuesday, April 10 when the Crimson Tide hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama hosts Georgia next weekend in SEC play in Tuscaloosa.

GAME NOTES:
*Alabama improved to 14-14 (.500) all-time against the No. 1 team in the nation following Sunday’s 5-3 win at Vanderbilt.

*Alabama improved to 3-6 in one-run games this season and 2-4 in extra inning games.
*Vanderbilt dropped to 23-1 this season when leading after eight innings.

*Sophomore right-hander Tommy Hunter (Indianapolis, Ind.) made his first SEC start of the 2007 season on the mound against Vanderbilt. Hunter has made five starts this season, with last coming against No. 17 Nebraska March 10, 2007.

Sophomore designated hitter Alex Avila (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) recorded his first career two home run game on Sunday. He hit his sixth home run of the year in the second inning and added his seventh home run in the seventh. Avila is tied with Kent Matthes for the team lead with seven home runs. Avila now has 12 career home runs.

*Avila’s solo home run marked the first RBI hit for Alabama since the fifth inning against LSU Sunday, April 1, 2007. The drought was a span of 32 2/3 innings between hits.

*Sophomore right-hander Austin Hyatt (Marietta, Ga.) stranded two inherited runners in the seventh inning when Vandy catcher Shea Robin lined out to left field. Hyatt has stranded all 10 inherited runners this season in 10 relief appearances.

[Stoney]

They should have played that way all year.

[Tuck4Bama]

Baseball Team Opens Five-Game Homestand:Hosts SE Louisiana Tuesday Night Release: 04/09/2007
UA OPENS HOMESTAND WITH SE LOUISIANA
After a thrilling 5-3 win in 10 innings at No. 1 ranked Vanderbilt last Sunday, the University of Alabama baseball team opens a five-game home stand Tuesday, April 10 when the Crimson Tide faces the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at 6:36 p.m. (CDT) at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game will be aired locally by WVUA Sports. The Southeastern Louisiana game will mark the first of 10 consecutive televised games for the Crimson Tide through April 27, 2007. Alabama (20-14, 5-7 SEC) picked up a much needed win at Vanderbilt April 8 to avoid its first sweep in the Music City since 1986. Trailing 3-1 after seven innings, Alabama scored four times in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings for the comeback win. Junior first baseman Matt Bentley (Hazel Green) scored the winning run with a straight steal of home with two outs in the 10th inning. Senior left fielder Brandon Belcher (Ruston) followed with an RBI single to give the Tide a 5-3 lead. Sophomore right fielder Kent Matthes (Orlando, Fla.) tied the game with a two-out single in the ninth. Sophomore DH Alex Avila (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit two home runs, including solo shorts in the second and eighth innings. The win improved Alabama to 14-14 (.500) all-time against the No. 1 ranked team, including a 5-4 mark the last two seasons. Senior center fielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) leads Alabama in hitting (.356), runs scored (3 and stolen bases (21) this year. Matthes and Avila share the team lead with seven home runs. Five of Avila’s seven home runs have come in SEC play. Matthes (33 RBI) and Avila (30 RBI) are also the top two run producers on the team. Southeastern Louisiana (22-13) has lost five of its last seven games, including a home series loss to McNeese State this past weekend. The Lions are led on offense by junior first baseman Chase Burch (.339, 2 HR, 30 RBI), sophomore shortstop Ty Summerlin (.336, 2 HR, 15 RBI) and senior second baseman Richard Imhoff (.306, 4 HR, 20 RBI).

ALABAMA-SE LOUISIANA SERIES
Alabama leads the all-time series with Southeastern Louisiana, 7-0, including a 4-3 win April 12, 2006 in Hammond. The Crimson Tide swept a three-game series with the Lions here in Tuscaloosa in 2004. UA senior RHP Bernard Robert (Denham Springs, La.) began his career at SE Louisiana. Robert was 11-6 with eight complete games in 32 appearances in 2004-05. He was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection.

THE HEAD COACHES
Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980) is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 543-260 (.676) record in 13 seasons at the Capstone. He coached his 800th game with the Tide Wednesday, April 4 at Regions Park in Hoover. Overall, Wells has posted a 736-349 (.677) record in 18 seasons. He has led Alabama to two SEC Championships, three SEC Western Division titles, three CWS appearances and six SEC Tournament titles. SE Louisiana head coach Jay Artigues (Belhaven, 1992) is 45-45 (.500) in his two seasons in Hammond. He is one win away from matching last year’s (23-32) win total.

STARTING PITCHERS
Alabama sophomore right-hander Casey Kebodeaux (Mandeville, La.) is expected to make his second straight midweek start and third of the 2007 season Tuesday against the Lions. Kebodeaux (10 G, 8 GS, 3-2, 3.86 ERA) has worked 42 innings and allowed 44 hits, 22 runs and 18 earned runs, with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts. He held UAB to one run and five hits in eight innings April 4 at the Regions Park, with no walks and six strikeouts to record his first win since March 3, 2007. SE Louisiana has not named a starter for Tuesday night.

OFFENSIVE NOTES:
Alabama (20-14, 5-7 SEC) improved to 14-14 (.500) all-time against the nation’s number-one ranked team with a 5-3 win at Vanderbilt in 10 innings ... The Commodores took the series with 3-0 and 4-2 wins in the first two games to snap the Crimson Tide’s streak of six straight series wins (1985-2006) against the No. 1 team ... Alabama beat two No. 1 ranked teams last year in back-to-back weekends as the Crimson Tide won series against Mississippi State and South Carolina ... Alabama has just three hits in its last 43 at-bats (.070) with runners in scoring position, dating back to its 7-3 loss to LSU April 1 ... Alabama is also 0-for-9 (.000) with the bases loaded during that time ... The Crimson Tide has scored nine runs and tallied 19 hits in its last four games and has stranded 14 runners on base (UAB, April 4) and 12 runners on base (Vandy, April in that span ... Alabama hit just .147 (14-for-95) in the series against Vanderbilt ... Bama scored seven runs in three games and swatted two home runs and tallied five RBI ... Senior LF Brandon Belcher (Ruston, La.) was the leading hitter in Nashville with a .308 (4-for-13) clip with two runs scored and two RBI ... He drove in a key insurance run in the 10th inning in Sunday’s 5-3 win ... Belcher has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and saw his career-high 10-game hitting streak end April 7 ... Sophomore DH Alex Avila (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit two solo home runs in the series finale, giving him 12 career home runs ... It was his first career multi home run game ... In addition, five of his seven home runs have come in SEC play ... Avila is tied with sophomore RF Kent Matthes for the team lead with seven home runs in 34 games ... He is also second on the team with 30 RBI ... Senior CF Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) continues to lead Alabama with a .356 average, 38 runs scored and 21 stolen bases ... Salem was just 2-for-12 (.167) at Vanderbilt and had his 44-game on-base streak snapped April 7 ... Salem will play his 200th career game for Alabama Tuesday, April 10 against SE Louisiana ... Junior 1B Matt Bentley (Hazel Green) scored the winning run Sunday with a straight steal of home in the 10th inning ... With runners on the corners and two outs and two strikes on Belcher, Bentley darted home, catching Vandy pitcher Casey Weathers off guard, to score the go-ahead run in a 5-3 win ... Freshman 3B Jake Smith tied the UA single-game record with two sac bunts at Vandy April 8 ... Alabama has hit 33 home runs in 34 games this season, including 23 solo home runs (69.6 percent) ... The Crimson Tide’s last 10 home runs have been solo shots ... Alabama has hit 14 of its 33 home runs in SEC play ... The Crimson Tide was a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases in the Vandy series ...

PITCHING NOTES:
Alabama turned in a stellar week on the mound last week, despite a 2-2 record ... The Crimson Tide staff allowed 11 runs and 36 hits in four games last week ... UA held No. 1 Vanderbilt to 10 runs and 29 hits in the weekend series in Nashville ... Vandy hit just .284 in the series ... The Tide bullpen was also effective, tossing six shutout innings (7 H, 3 BB, 5 K) in the final two games of the Vandy series ... Junior RHP Josh Copeland (Palmetto, Ga.), junior LHP Will Stroup (Birmingham) and sophomore RHP Austin Hyatt (Marietta, Ga.) combined to strand five inherited runners in the last two games ... Hyatt (3-1,1.71 ERA) earned his first career SEC win at No. 1 Vanderbilt (3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K) April 8 ... Hyatt has stranded all 10 inherited runners this season ... Sophomore RHP Casey Kebodeaux (Mandeville) held UAB to one run and five hits in eight innings April 4 at Regions Park ... Kebodeaux (3-2, 3.86 ERA) added five strikeouts and no walks for his first win since March 3 ... Sophomore RHP Tommy Hunter (Indianapolis, Ind.) made three appearances on the mound this week, including his first SEC start of the season April 8 at Vanderbilt (6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) ... He earned his fourth save of the year against UAB April 4 ... Sophomore LHP Miers Quigley (Roswell, Ga.) shutout No. 1 Vanderbilt for seven innings in the series opener ...
FIELDING NOTES:
Alabama committed two errors in the Vanderbilt series and field .986 for the three-game set in Nashville ... In SEC play, Alabama is fielding .978, with 10 errors and nine double plays in 12 games ... UA opponents have made 19 errors in 12 games, including nine by LSU (March 30-April 1) and five by Vanderbilt (April 6- ...

ON DECK
Alabama will host the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game SEC series this weekend here at the Joe. All three games will be televised with Saturday game airing on FSN as the “SEC Game of the Week”.

[Stoney]

Cool FSN is going to televise the games.

[Tuck4Bama]

Crimson Tide Baseball Team Set To Host Georgia Release: 04/12/2007
UA HOSTS UGA AS FIRST HALF CLOSES
The 2007 Southeastern Conference race will hit the midpoint of the season this weekend as the Alabama Crimson Tide hosts the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game SEC series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The series opener is set for Friday, April 13 at 6:36 p.m. (CDT) and the game will be televised locally by WVUA Sports. The two teams are set to meet Saturday, April 14 at 3:06 p.m. (CDT) and Sunday, April 15 at 2:06 p.m. (CDT). The Saturday game will be televised by FSN South as the “SEC Game of the Week” while Sunday’s game will be aired on Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS). Alabama (20-14, 5-7 SEC) had its midweek game against Southeastern Louisiana rained out Tuesday night. The game will be made up Tuesday, May 15 at 6:60 p.m. (CDT). The Crimson Tide picked up a much needed win at No. 1 Vanderbilt April 8 toavoid its first sweep in the Music City since 1986. Trailing 3-1 after seven innings, Alabama scored four times in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings for the comeback win. Junior first baseman Matt Bentley (Hazel Green) scored the winning run with a straight steal of home with two outs in the 10th inning. Senior left fielder Brandon Belcher (Ruston) followed with an RBI single to give the Tide a 5-3 lead. Sophomore right fielder Kent Matthes (Orlando, Fla.) tied the game with a two-out single in the ninth. Sophomore DH Alex Avila (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit two home runs, including solo shorts in the second and eighth innings. Senior center fielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) leads Alabama in hitting (.356), runs scored (3 and stolen bases (21) this year. Matthes and Avila share the team lead with seven home runs. Five of Avila’s seven home runs have come in SEC play. Matthes (33 RBI) and Avila (30 RBI) are also the top two run producers on the team. Georgia (12-21, 4-8 SEC) has lost its last three SEC series after opening the season with a three-game sweep at home agianst Auburn. The Bulldogs defeated Savannah State (1-0) Tuesday and was rained out at Western Carolina Wednesday night. The Bulldogs have two of three after a six-game (March 30-April 6) losing streak.

THE HEAD COACHES
Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980) is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 543-260 (.676) record in 13 seasons at the Capstone. He coached his 800th game with the Tide Wednesday, April 4 at Regions Park in Hoover. Overall, Wells has posted a 736-349 (.677) record in 18 seasons. He has led Alabama to two SEC Championships, three SEC Western Division titles, three CWS appearances and six SEC Tournament titles. Georgia head coach David Perno (Georgia, 1991) has compiled a 194-138 (.000) record in his six years at the helm of the Bulldogs. The former UGa player and assistant coach has guided the Bulldogs to three NCAA Regionals and two trips (2004 and 2006) to the College World Series.

STARTING PITCHERS
Alabama will open the series with sophomore left-hander Miers Quigley (Roswell, Ga.) on the mound against Georgia. Quigley (4-1, 2.62 ERA) will be making his 11th appearance of the season and 10th start. He is seventh in the SEC in innings (58.1) and opponents batting average (.19, 10th in ERA (2.62) and strikeouts (55) and 11th in fewest runs allowed (1. Georgia wil send sophomore right-hander Stephen Dodson (Norcross) to the mound in the series opener. In 13 games, Dodson has a 2-4 record and 2.08 ERA. He beat No. 14 Ole Miss (8 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) in his best outing of the 2007 season.

ALABAMA-GEORGIA SERIES
*In a series that dates back to the 1904 season, Georgia holds a 61-56-2 all-time lead.
*The Bulldogs are the only SEC team to post a winning record against the Crimson Tide.
*Alabama has won four of the last five series dating back to 2002, including the last two in-a-row.
*The Crimson Tide will be looking to win its third straight series from the Bullodgs for the second time this decade. Alabama also won three straight series from 2001-03.
*Alabama opened its 2006 SEC Championship season by winning two of three from Georgia in Athens March 17-19, 2006.
*The Crimson Tide took the series opener as junior LHP Wade LeBlanc (9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) tossed a complte-game gem in the opener.
*Emeel Salem went 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI in the win. His RBI doubled snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth inning against Brooks Brown.
*Pitching was the story again in game two as RHP Bernard Robert (6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) worked into the seventh inning in the Tide’s 5-3 win.
*RHP David Robertson (1 IP, 3 K) struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save.
*Evan Bush had three hits and Kody Valverde slapped a two-run home run in the win.
*The Bulldogs roughed up RHP Tommy Hunter (4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) with six runs in the fifth inning to salvage the series finale.
*Georgia SS Gordan Beckham had three hits and one RBI in the series finale.
*The home team has won seven of the last nine series. Alabama is the only road team to win a series in the last nine meetings, beating Georgia in Athens in 1998 and 2006.
*Georgia has not won in Tuscaloosa since 1993, losing the last five trips to the Joe.
*The two teams met on a regular basis until 1955 before discontinuing the series for some 30 years.
*The two schools resumed their rivalry when the SEC returned to divisional play in 1986. Before the series was discontinued in 1955, Georgia held a 34-26-2 lead.
*Since the resumption with the return of divisional play in 1986, UA holds a slim 28-25 series lead.
*Alabama and Georgia have met four times in the post season, with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-1 lead in those games.
*Alabama swept a best-of-three series from Georgia to win the 1955 SEC Championship.
*UA graduate Jim Whatley lettered in four sports for the Crimson Tide in the 1930s. He later enjoyed successful career as head coach at the University of Georgia. Whatley posted a 336-327-3 (.507) record in his 30 years (1950, 1952-75) in Athens.
*Coach J.B. Whitworth served as the head baseball coach at both Alabama and Georgia. Whitworth spent two years as the Crimson Tide’s baseball coach, compiling a 21-11 (.656) record in two seasons. He led Alabama to the 1934 SEC Championship.
*Whitworth coached one year at Georgia and compiled a 1-10 record as head coach in 1943. Whitworth later returned to Alabama as head football coach (1955-57) before being replaced on the gridiron by legendary coach Paul Bryant.

[Stoney]

Oh Man it is only midpoint.... These guys are going to need to find something worth playing for if they aren't playing for pride.

[Tuck4Bama]

Crimson Tide Pitchers Shut Down Georgia Release: 04/15/2007


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Sophomore right-hander Austin Hyatt and a trio of releivers helped the University of Alabama baseball team to a 5-3 series-clinching win over the Georgia Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Hyatt, making his first career Southeastern Conference start, gave up a two-run home run to Georgia's two-hole hitter Gordan Beckham in the top of the first inning and then kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard until his departure with two outs in the seventh inning.

Hyatt (4-1) allowed two runs and eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts for his second straight SEC win. His first career SEC win came last Sunday in Bama’s 5-3 win at No. 1 Vanderbilt.

Josh Copeland, Will Stroup and Tommy Hunter blanked Georgia over the final 2 1/3 innings to give the Crimson Tide its first SEC series win since its season opening series win over Tennessee (Marc 16-1.

Copeland stranded two base runners in the seventh inning when Rich Poythress grounded out to short as the Tide maintained its three-run lead.

Stroup stranded a base runner in the eighth as Georgia eventually loaded the bases with one out Matt Freeman reached on a fielder’s choice when Matt Cerione was cut down at the home on a bouncer back to the mound.

Alabama then went to sophomore right hander Tommy Hunter with two outs in the eighth inning. Hunter got leadoff batter Ryan Piesel to ground out to end the inning and preserve UA’s lead.

Hunter allowed a run on two hits in the ninth as Georgia closed the gap to 5-3 on Matt Olson’s RBI single to right. After Cerione reached on an error to load the bases with one out, Hunter struck out Luke Stewart and Joey Lewis, both on called third strikes, to earn his fifth save of the season.

“I thought we made some good pitches today,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “Hyatt did a nice job. He got out of some jams and made some real quality pitches. The bullpen did the job in the end and kept us in the game.”

Georgia (13-23, 5-10 SEC) tallied 12 hits in the game, but stranded 14 base runners. The trio of Alabama relievers stranded all five inherited runners in the game to extend UA’s streak to 14 consecutive inherited runners stranded over the last five games.

Alabama (22-15, 7-8 SEC) took the lead for good with two runs on three hits in the fourth inning off losing pitcher Dean Weaver.

Junior first baseman Matt Bentley started the inning with a double to right field and moved to third on freshman third baseman Jake Smith’s sharp single to right.

Senior left fielder Brandon Belcher’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Bentley as UA tied the game at 2-2. Senior shortstop Greg Paiml capped the inning with a two-out single up the middle to score Smith from second base and put the Tide ahead to stay.

Weaver (1-2) allowed three runs and six hits in four innings with no walks and four strikeouts.

Alabama stretched its lead to 5-2 with two runs in the seventh inning, but left the bases loaded. Paiml led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to third on senior center fielder Emeel Salem’s base hit up the middle. Salem took second base when center fielder Jonathan Wyatt’s throw went to third base.

After freshman second baseman Brandon May walked to load the bases, sophomore DH Alex Avila singled to right to score Paiml and Salem to give UA a three-run lead.

Beckham’s wind-blown, two-run home run to left field gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Alabama cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Salem led off with a double and scored on May’s base hit to right field.

Paiml had three hits, one run scored and one RBI to lead the Tide offense on Sunday. Salem added two hits and scored two runs.

Alabama is back in action Wednesday, April 18 when the Crimson Tide hosts the South Alabama Jaguars at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game begins at 6:36 p.m. (CDT) and will be televised locally by WVUA Sports.

GAME NOTES:
*Alabama won its second SEC series of the season by taking the final two games of the Georgia series. After dropping Friday’s opener, 4-1, Alabama rebounded to win 7-6 and 5-3 in the final two games.

*Alabama has now won six straight home series against Georgia. The Bulldogs last series win in Tuscaloosa came in 1993.

*The Alabama bullpen stranded all six inherited runners Sunday to extend its streak to 14 consecutive inherited runners stranded over the last five games. Copeland stranded two runners in the seventh, Stroup stranded one runner in the seventh and Hunter left three in the seventh inning. Copeland has stranded his last seven inherited runners out of the pen.

*Senior shortstop Greg Paiml (Hoover) was 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI in Sunday’s win.

*Senior center fielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) was 2-for-5 with one double and two runs scored in the series finale.

[Stoney]

That was a nice suprise.

[Tuck4Bama]

Baseball Team Hosts South Alabama Wednesday Night Release: 04/17/2007
BAMA HOSTS SOUTH ALABAMA
The University of Alabama baseball team opens a five-game run against in-state foes when the Crimson Tide hosts the South Alabama Jaguars in a 6:36 p.m. (CDT) game Wednesday, April 18 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game will be televised locally by WVUA Sports. Alabama (22-15, 7-8 SEC) is coming off a series win over the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend in Tuscaloosa. After dropping the series opener, Alabama rebounded to win the next two games and claim the series win. The Crimson Tide has posted back-to-back wins for just the third time since March 6. Senior left fielder Brandon Belcher (Ruston), who leads the Crimson Tide in hitting in SEC play, was 5-for-10 (.500) in the Georgia series. Senior center fielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) hit .462 (6-for-13) with three runs scored to break out of a four-game slump at the plate. Junior first baseman Matt Bentley (Hazel Green) was 5-for-12 (.417) and drove in the winning run with a bases loaded single in the ninth inning April 14. Alabama is 2-2 against in-state teams this season and will play Auburn (April 20-22) and Samford (April 25) in the four games following Wednesday’s game with South Alabama. Sophomore catcher Ryan Rhoden (Tuscaloosa) is 9-for-16 (.563) in four games this season against in-state teams, including an Alabama single-game record five hits against UAB on Feb. 28. South Alabama (17-16) had an unusual open date scheduled this past weekend and did not play a series. The Jags host Nicholls State Tuesday night before coming to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. Sophomore third baseman David Doss is the leading hitter with a .366 (48-for-131) average with four home runs and 28 RBI in 33 games. Junior first baseman Jeff Cunningham (.308, 36-for-117) is the main power source with 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 32 games.

THE HEAD COACHES
Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980) is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 545-261 (.676) record in 13 seasons at the Capstone. He coached his 800th game with the Tide Wednesday, April 4 at Regions Park in Hoover. Overall, Wells has posted a 738-350 (.67 record in 18 seasons. He has led Alabama to two SEC Championships, three SEC Western Division titles, three CWS appearances and six SEC Tournament titles. Wells is 14-3 (.824) in his career against South Alabama. USA head coach Steve Kittrell (South Alabama, 1971) is 919-523-1 (.637) in his 24th year with the Jags. Overall, he is 952-542-1 (.637) in 25 years of coaching. He is 20-36 (.357) all-time against the Crimson Tide.

STARTING PITCHER
Alabama is expected to send sophomore right-hander Casey Kebodeaux (Mandeville, La.) to the mound for Wednesday’s game with South Alabama. Kebodeaux has not pitched since a win over UAB (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) at Regions Park on April 4. For the season, Kebodeaux is 3-2 with 3.86 ERA in 10 appearances and eight starts. He has worked 42 innings and allowed 44 hits, 22 runs and 18 earned runs with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts. Kebodeaux is 1-0 with 2.08 ERA in two starts against in-state teams this season.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Odr No. Name Pos. Bats 2007 Stats
1 2 Emeel Salem CF L/L .366 (53x145), 5 HR, 24 RBI, 21 SB
2 6 Brandon May 2B R/R .274 (20x73), 0 HR, 8 RBI, 3 3B
3 16 Alex Avila DH L/R .312 (44x141), 7 HR, 33 RBI, 12 2B
4 22 Kent Matthes RF R/R .293 (44x150), 8 HR, 34 RBI, 26 R
5 25 Matt Bentley 1B L/L .290 (36x124), 5 HR, 20 RBI, 19 R
6 14 Jake Smith 3B R/R .272 (31x114), 6 HR, 27 RBI, 5 GW RBI
7 32 Brandon Belcher LF L/L .333 (24x72), HR, 6 RBI, Hit in 14/16
8 1 Kyle Moore C R/R .200 (4x20), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2 2B, 4 R
-- or -- 34 Ryan Rhoden /R .303 (36x119), 1 HR, 14 RBI
9 3 Greg Paiml SS R/R .279 (34x122), 1 HR, 13 RBI, 11 2B

ALABAMA-SOUTH ALABAMA SERIES
Alabama leads the all-time series, 50-44. The Crimson Tide has won 14 of the last 16 meetings and brings a four-game winning streak into Wednesday’s game. Bama has won nine in-a-row here in Tuscaloosa with the Jags last win coming March. 21, 1995.

SCOUTING REPORT: South Alabama
*The South Alabama Jaguars (17-16) are not having the kind of season they are accustomed too in Mobile.
*The Jags, a perennial NCAA Regional team, are just one game over .500 through 33 games heading into Tuesday’s home game against Nicholls State.
*The Jaguars did not have a weekend series this past weekend and have not played since a 5-1 loss to Mississippi State at Trustmark Park in Pearl Wednesday, April 11.
*As a team, South Alabama is hitting only .284 (321-for-1132) with 37 home runs and 204 RBI.
*The Jags are averaging 6.8 runs and 9.7 hits per game this season.
*The offense is built around sophomore third baseman David Doss (Cantonment, Fla.), junior catcher Joel Collins (Richmond Hill, Ontario) and junior first baseman Jeff Cunningham (Vincennes, Ind.).
*Doss, who was a freshman All-American in 2006, leads South Alabama with a .366 (48-for-131) average with four home runs and 28 RBI in 33 starts.
*He also leads the team with eight doubles, four triples and 30 runs scored.
*Collins is hitting .313 (35-for-112) with four home runs and 27 RBI in 33 games.
*Collins has also been hit by a pitch 14 times this season.
*Cunningham is the main power source for the Jags. He is hitting .308 (36-for-117) with a team-high 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 32 games.
*Junior outfielder Ray Kruml (Lisle, Ill.) is 12-for-16 in stolen bases to lead the Jags on the basepaths.
*South Alabama pitchers are 17-16 with six saves and a 5.19 ERA this season. The Jags have one complete game.
*The staff has worked 289 2/3 innings and allowed 351 hits, 209 runs and 167 earned runs with 122 walks and 238 strikeouts.
*Opponents are batting .301 (351-for-1166) against the Jags this year and average 6.3 runs and 10.7 hits per game,
*Freshman LHP Lance Baxter (Robertsdale) is expected to start on the mound against Alabama, although the Jags anticipate using a number of pitchers in the game.
*Baxter (8 G, 3 GS, 1-1, 6.03 ERA) has worked only 19 1/3 innings this season and allowed 24 hits, 14 runs and 13 earned runs with 14 walks and 16 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .316 against the rookie this year.
*Senior LHP Brett Turner (Mobile) and freshman LHP Chris LaGrow (Leesburg, Vir.) are the main guys out of the pen.
*Turner (1-1, 5.40 ERA) has a staff-leading 14 appearances and worked 16 2/3 innings and allowed 17 hits, 11 runs and nine earned runs with six walks and 14 strikeouts.
*Opponents have compiled a .38 batting average against him this year.
*LaGrow (1-1, 5 SV, 3.05 ERA) has 13 appearances and amassed five of the six saves.
*He has worked 20 2/3 innings and allowed 22 hits, 11 runs and seven earned runs with 13 walks and 21 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .275 against him in 2007.
*South Alabama has made 50 errors (.961) in 33 games this season, led by sophomore SS Russell Harben (Alphraetta, Ga.) 10 errors this season.
*Junior middle infielder Bunky Keaton (Mobile), who transferred from Mississippi State, has eight errors.
*The Jags have allowed 43 unearned runs this season.

SALEM’S DAD PLAYED FOR THE JAGS
*Alabama senior centerfielder Emeel Salem is the son of former Jaguar player, Emeel Salem, Sr.
*The younger Salem is 1-for-5 (.200) in three career games against South Alabama.
*Salem’s father, Emeel, Sr., played at South Alabama for legendary coach Eddie Stanky in 1974-77.
*The Jags compiled a 158-48 (.767) record in Salem’s four-year career, including two NCAA Regional appearances.
*South Alabama went 52-14 in 1975, losing to Texas and Texas-Pan American in the 1975 NCAA South Central Regional in Austin.
*South Alabama opened the 1975 season with 17 straight wins.
*After a 4-3 loss to Ohio, the Jags then reeled off 19 straight wins to start the year with an incredible 36-1 record and the No. 1 national ranking in Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s polls.
*The Jags were 42-13 in 1977, losing to South Carolina and Wake Forest in the 1977 NCAA Atlantic Regional in Columbia, S.C.
*The Jags were 1-2 against Alabama during the elder Salem’s career.
*After dropping two of three to the Tide to open the 1977 season, South Alabama reeled

IN-STATE FOES
Alabama is 2-2 this season against in-state teams. The Crimson Tide is batting .290 (45-for-155) in its four games with two home runs and 25 RBI. The Tide averages 6.5 runs and 11.5 hits per game. Rhoden leads the team with a .563 (9-for-16) average this season against in-state teams, with three runs scored and two RBI. Freshman 3B Jake Smith (Shannon) is hitting .375 (.6-for-16) with three RBI in four games. The UA pitching staff has compiled a 2.50 ERA in four games (39.2 IP, 29 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 10 BB, 30 K). Opponents are hitting .201 (29-for-144) and average only 3.0 runs and 7.9 hits per game.

ON DECK
Alabama travels to face the Auburn Tigers this weekend at Plainsman Park. The series opener is Friday, April 20 at 6:06 p.m. and will be televised by CSS.

[Stoney]

Now they get Auburn again that will be a war.

[Tuck4Bama]

Baseball Falls to South Alabama 5-4. Release: 04/18/2007



TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- South Alabama scored two runs in the second and third innings to take a four-run lead and then held on for a 5-4 win over the University of Alabama baseball team Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

Lance Heisler’s two-run double in the second inning gave the Jags a 2-0 lead. Jeff Cunningham made it a 4-0 game in the third inning with his 14th home run of the season.

Meanwhile, USA freshman left-hander Lance Baxter held Alabama to two runs and four singles through eight innings before the Crimson Tide staged a ninth-inning rally that ended with another one-run loss.

Trailing 5-2 entering the final inning, Alabama scored two unearned runs to chase Baxter and had the tying and winning runs on base when USA closer Chris LaGrow got Alex Avila to ground out to end the game.

Freshman designated hitter Del Howell, making his second start of the year, started the rally with a base hit to right field. Howell was 2-for-4 and scored one run in the loss. After left fielder Brandon Belcher fouled out, pinch-hitter Elvin Vargas reached on a fielder’s choice when Howell was safe at second on Baxter’s throwing error. Howell moved to third when the ball went into centerfield.

Senior shortstop Greg Paiml followed with a base hit to right to score Howell and cut the Jags lead to 5-3.

Baxter (2-1) left after Paiml’s base hit and allowed four runs and six hits in 8 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out six.

“He pitched well for a guy with really bad numbers,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “He had a plus six ERA and more walks than innings. He did a really good job tonight.”

After a wild pitch moved Vargas and Paiml into scoring position, center fielder Emeel Salem then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Vargas from third and cut the deficit to 5-4. After Brandon May walked on five pitches, Avila hit a slow roller to second to end the game.

The win was the first by the Jaguars in Tuscaloosa since March 25, 1995. The win also snapped the Jags four-game series losing streak.

UA starter Casey Kebodeaux (3-3) allowed four runs and four hits in three innings to take the loss.

Alabama freshman second baseman Brandon May helped the Tide score single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut into a four-run deficit.

In the fourth, May walked and moved to third on Matthes’ single up the middle and scored on a wild pitch.

In the fifth, Salem reached on a two-out single, moved to second on a balk and scored on May’s single up the middle.

Jernigan made it a 5-2 game in the seventh inning with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field. His second home run of the year proved to be costly for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama travels to Auburn for a three-game SEC series this weekend at Plainsman Park. Friday’s series opener is set for 6:06 p.m. (CDT) and will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast.

GAME NOTES:
*Alabama sophomore Alex Avila (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) made his seventh start of the season at first base against South Alabama.

freshman designated hitter Del Howell (Tuscaloosa) made his second career start tonight against South Alabama. Is other start this season came against Villanova (Feb. 24).

*With two inherited runners stranded in the eighth inning, the UA bullpen has stranded its last 16 inherited runners over the last six games.

*Junior RHP Josh Copeland (Palmetto, Ga.) stranded two inherited runners in the eighth inning to extend his personal streak to nine consecutive inherited runners stranded.

*Alabama falls to 3-7 in one-run games this season.