Alabama Travels to Ole Miss for SEC West Showdown
4/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Games 38-40: Alabama Crimson Tide at OLE MISS REBELS
April 18-20, 2003
SWAYZE FIELD OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
6:30 PM (CT) -- First game of three game series
BAMA MEETS REBELS IN CRUCIAL SEC SERIES
Two teams looking for some momentum in the 2003 Southeatern Conference Western division race square off in a crucial three-game series here this weekend in Oxford. The No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide meets the Ole Miss in a battle of teams currently tied for last placed in the always rugged SEC Western Division. It is likely that all six Western Division teams will make the 2003 SEC Tournament, but this weekend's series is crucial as the winner will gain strong momentum heading into the final four weeks of the season as post-season play draws near. The Crimson Tide has had its share of difficulty with the Rebels over the years, especailly here in Oxford. UA has not beated Ole Miss here at Swayze Field since a three-game sweep of the Rebs in 1997. Since 1995, Ole Miss has won five of the eight regular-season series with Alabama.
THE RECORDS
Alabama (26-11, 8-7 SEC) is coming off its best offensive perfomance of the season, posting a 17-16 win over No. 29 South Alabama this past Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide has won seven of its last eight games since a season-high four-game losing streak from Mar. 29-April 4. Ole Miss (22-15, 8-7 SEC) has also struggled this season, losing eight of its last 13 games, dating back to March 29.
THE COACHES
Alabama's Jim Wells is in his ninth season at the Capstone, compiling a 397-163 (.709) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 589-252 (.700) in his 14th season as a Division I head coach. Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco is 98-57-1 (.631) in three seasons in Oxford. Overall, Bianco has compiled a 198-128-1 (.607) record in six years years at the Division I level.
LAST TIME OUT
Alabama put together one of its best offensive performacnes of the 2003 season and posted a wild 17-16 win over No. 29 South Alabama on April 16 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide hit a season-high four home runs and led 17-10 entering the ninth inning before the Jags scored six runs and had the bases loaded when the ghame finally ended. Travis Garner tied the single-game school record with five hits (5-for-6, 3 R, 2 RBI) in the win. Beau Hearod, Al Hecklinski, Zac Welch and Adam Pavkovich all homered in the winning effort.
NEXT GAME
Alabama and Ole Miss meet again on Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. (CT) here in Oxford.
