LeBlanc Throws Second Straight Shutout as Bama Wins, 2-0
3/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Wade LeBlanc continued his early season success on Saturday afternoon, tossing his third shutout of the season and second in a row, pitching the University of Alabama to a 2-0 win over Southeast Missouri State in front of a paid crowd of 4,614 fans at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
LeBlanc (4-1) blanked the Indians on just five hits en route to his third complete-game of the 2004 season. The freshman lefty added 10 strikeouts and walked only two SEMO batters.
"LeBlanc is very good," Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. "He wanted to stay out there and he really battles. He was very good today."
The Lake Charles, La., native threw 97 (76.4 percent) of his 127 pitches on Saturday afternoon for strikes.
SEMO (4-7) had only two chances to score against LeBlanc, who extended his scoreless innings streak to 19 consecutive innings without a run. In his last 32 innings, he has allowed just one run as he lowered his season earned run average to 0.92 following Saturday dominating performance.
Frankie Montiel doubled to right center with one out in the fourth inning, but LeBlanc struck out Freddie Lopez and Aaron Fangman to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, the Indians loaded the bases with two outs but also failed to score as LeBlanc got Ernie Bracamonte to line out to Michael McCallister in right field to end the inning.
The fifth was LeBlanc's toughest inning as he threw 28 pitches, including 12 pitches to Eric Horstman, who fouled off six, two-strike pitches before working a two-out walk to load the bases.
McCallister provided the offense for the Crimson Tide, collecting a career-high three hits and scoring one run as Alabama won its 11th straight home game.
Alabama (13-4) broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning off starter Anthony Maupin, who pitched the last two years at Alabama Southern Junior College.
McCallister opened the inning with a single to left field, his second hit of the game and then stole second base. With two outs, Rocky Scelfo delivered a two-out single up the middle to plate McCallister with the first run of the game.
It turned out to be the only run LeBlanc would need as he disposed of 12 of the final 14 batters he faced in the game.
The Crimson Tide doubled its lead with an all-important insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Ryan Beagle drew a one-out walk and moved to third when McCallister ripped a double into the right-center field gap. Brandon Belcher followed with a ground out to second base, scoring Beagle from third to give the Tide a 2-0 lead.
With the win, Alabama has now won all 30 non-conference, home series in the Wells era.
Alabama recorded its third shutout of the 2004 season and LeBlanc has been involved in all three, beating Cincinnati (12-0), Centenary (12-0) and SE Missouri State (2-0).
McCallister had three of UA's six hits in the game, while Scelfo, Belcher and Carlos Sosa added the remaining three hits for the Tide.
Montiel has two of SEMO's five hits in the loss.
The two teams close out this three-game series on Sunday at 2 p.m. Freshman lefty Brandon Belcher (1-1, 3.27 ERA) will pitch for Alabama, while SEMO will counter with junior right-hander Mike Fitch (0-1, 6.23 ERA).
GAME NOTES:
*LeBlanc has been involved in all three shutouts this season. The freshman beat Cincinnati (12-0) on Feb. 21, Centenary (12-0) on March 6 and SE Missouri (2-0) this afternoon.
*The Alabama single-season record for shutouts is four by Freddy Glass in 1967. LeBlanc is one shy of tying that record in his first five starts for the Crimson Tide.
*The three shutouts this season are the most by Alabama since 2002 when the Tide posted three shutouts en route to a 51-15 overall record.
*Senior Ryan Beagle made his first start of the season for the Crimson Tide, playing left field in today's game at SE Missouri State.
*Sophomore Evan Bush made his first start of the season today at third base. Bush has started 15 of the first 16 games for the Crimson Tide in left field.
*Bush was hitless in four at-bats on Saturday to see his seven-game hitting streak snapped.
*Junior Allen Rice did not start today's game against SE Missouri State, marking the first time since May 1, 2002 vs. UAB that the Helena, Ala., native has not started a game. Rice streak ended today at 98 consecutive starts for the Crimson Tide.
