Alabama Baseball Visits Birmingham Southern Wednesday
3/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Game 19: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN PANTHERS
SCRUSHY-STRIPLIN STADIUM -- BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -- 6:30 PM
MARCH 17, 2004 -- BAMA'S FIRST-EVER GAME AT BSC
Date Game Time Radio/TV
Mar 17 at B'ham Southern 6:30 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
Mar 19 at Georgia 7:06 PM ET CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5), CSS
Mar 20 at Georgia 4 PM ET CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
Mar 21 at Georiga 1:06 PM ET CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5), CSS
ON THE MOUND: UA - RHP Andrew Walker (3 GS, 0-0, 4.66 ERA) vs. BSC - LHP Wes Letson (5 GS, 2-1, 5.25 ERA)
RADIO: The games will be aired locally on WRTR-FM (105.5) or WACT-AM (1420) in Tuscaloosa. David Crane will broadcast the Birmingham Southern game on the Crimson Tide Sports Network (WRTR-FM, 105.5 in Tuscaloosa).
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live stats (home games only) and audio broadcasts can be found at http://www.rolltide.com/
TICKETS: Season tickets are available by calling the Alabama Ticket Office (205-348-2262). Single-game tickets and standing-room only tickets are available for $5 each and the gates will open two hours prior to each game. An overflow crowd is expected for Wednesday's game in Birmingham.
BAMA OPENS 4-GAME ROAD TRIP AT BSC
For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, the No. 29 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team travels to Birmingham to face the Birmingham Southern Panthers at Scrushy-Striplin Filed on the BSC campus. The game is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 17 and marks the first of four road games for the Crimson Tide this week. It is believed that this is the first-ever game between the two schools on the BSC campus. The Crimson Tide and Panthers played each other at Rickwood Field in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980. After the BSC game, the Crimson Tide will travel to Athens, Ga., to open Southeastern Conference play this weekend against the No. 35 Georgia Bulldogs. Alabama brings a four-game winning streak into tonight's game with Birmingham Southern after dominating the SE Missouri Indians this weekend in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide outscored SEMO 32-1 in the three games and did not allow a run in the final 20 innings of the series. Alabama posted a 20-0 win over SEMO in the series finale, giving the Crimson Tide its first back-to-back shutouts since the 1990 season. The winning streak also includes a solid 9-3 win over No. 18 Southern Miss last Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa. Freshman left-hander Brandon Belcher (Ruston, La.) was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week by the league office on Monday. Belcher posted two wins last week and did not allowed a run in 13 1/3 innings on the mound.
THE RECORDS
Alabama (14-4) has won four straight games and 11 of its last 13 games this season. UA swept SEMO this weekend in Tuscaloosa, winning 10-1, 2-0 and 20-0. Birmingham Southern (11-5) has won 11 straight games after opening the season with a five-game losing streak.
THE COACHES
Alabama's Jim Wells is in his 10th season with the Crimson Tide program. He has compiled a 423-180 (.701) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 615-269 (.696) in 15 seasons at Northwestern State and Alabama. Wells is 3-0 (1.000) in his career against the Panthers. Birmingham Southern head coach Brian Shoop has compiled a 586-254-1 (.697) record in 15 seasons on the BSC campus. This is the Panthers third year at the Division I level after many successful years as an NAIA participant, which included the 2001 NAIA national championship. The Panthers were 55-11 during that national title season.
NEXT GAME
Alabama opens SEC play this weekend as they meet the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, Mar. 19 at 7:06 p.m. (ET). The game will be televised by CSS Sports.
ALABAMA HITTING NOTEBOOK (Mar. 17, 2004)
Name G AVG. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB
Alabama 18 .289 596 128 172 39 3 16 117 72 116 20-29
BSC 16 .294 530 114 156 32 5 12 107 69 90 32-36
Georgia 15 .351 542 156 190 50 8 16 144 81 91 19-26
NOTES: Alabama moved up to 10th in the SEC in slugging percentage (.445) and ranks 11th in hitting (.289) and on-base percentage (.383)...The Crimson Tide's .289 batting average is 38 points below the SEC average...UA also ranks ninth in hits (128), runs scored (172) and RBI (117)...Bama is now fifth in the leauge with 16 home runs...Alabama ranks second in the SEC with 25 HBPs in 18 games...Alabama is 1-1 in road games this season...UA is 7-1 in night games this year...Against LHP, Alabama is batting .287 (35-for-122) this season...In the last three games, Bama is hitting .316 (6-for-19) against lefties...UA is 2-0 against left-handers this season...Nine of Alabama's 16 home runs have come in two games...Bama hit a season-high five homers against Cincinnati (Feb. 21) and added four home runs against No. 18 Southern Miss (Mar. 10)...Alabama has an 11-1 scoring advantage in the third inning this season...Bama also has a 12-2 scoring edge in the fourth inning and a 22-3 advantage in the eighth inning...The Crimson Tide is 6-for-22 (.273) with the bases loaded this season...The Crimson Tide has three hits in its last six at-bats with the bases loaded...Opponents are 1-for-11 (.091) with the bases loaded...Bama pinch-hitters are just 3-for-21 (.143) in 18 games...Alabama is batting .359 (65-for-181) with RISP this season...Opponents are batting .178 (24-for-135) with RISP...With two outs this year, Bama is batting .276 (55-for-199) with 39 RBI...Over the last three games, UA is batting .371 (13-for-35) with two outs...Alabama has 19 extra base hits in its last four games, including seven in a 20-0 win over SEMO...Alabama was no-hit for 6 2/3 innings and managed only one hit in its 2-1 loss to Kansas State on March 7th...The one hit is the fewest number of his by an Alabama team in the Jim Wells era...The Crimson Tide has not been no-hit since 1968...Alabama posted a season-high seven-game winning streak from Feb. 20-March 3...Bama scored a season-high 13 runs in its 13-3 win over SE Louisiana (Feb.27)...Alabama also matched its season high with 12 RBI in the win over the Lions...UA also had 12 RBI against New Orleans (Feb. 16) and Cincinnati (Feb. 21)...Bama hit a season-high five home runs in a 12-0 win over Cincinnati on Feb 21, 2004...The five home runs were the most by Alabama since hitting five home runs against Ole Miss on April 24, 2000.
ALABAMA PITCHING NOTEBOOK (Mar. 17, 2004)
Name G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
ALABAMA 18-18 14 4 4 2.14 160.0 115 44 38 42 147 2
BSC 16-16 11 5 2 3.37 136.1 121 65 51 57 119 2
Georgia 15-15 12 3 2 3.43 134.0 121 65 51 47 129 0
Name G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
UA Starters 18-18 10 2 0 2.10 102.2 74 26 24 22 88 2
Opp Starters 18-18 2 12 0 5.36 87.1 97 65 52 35 61 3
UA Bullpen 16-0 4 2 4 2.35 57.1 41 18 15 20 59 0
Opp Bullpen 15-0 2 2 1 6.93 62.1 75 63 48 37 55 0
NOTES: Alabama continues to boast a strong pitching staff through 18 games this season...Alabama ranks fourth in the SEC with a 2.14 ERA this season...Alabama ranks second in the league with a .200 opponents batting average...The Crimson Tide is third in the SEC in innings pitched (160.0) and strikeouts (147)...In terms of defense, Alabama is fifth in fielding (.974), third in double plays (17) and sixth in fewest errors (17) this season...Alabama has played six errorless games this season and has made one error or less in 13 of its first 18 games...The Crimson Tide has comitted only two errors in its last five games...Alabama went 30 1/3 innings without an error from Mar. 6-13...Alabama has posted four shutouts this season, beating Cincinnati (Feb. 21), Centenary (Mar. 6), SE Missouri (Mar. 13) and SE Missouri (Mar. 14)...The Crimson Tide posted back-to-back shutouts against SE Missouri (Mar. 13-14) for the first time since blanking Ole Miss in consecutive games April 6-7, 1990...Alabama enters the BSC game with 20 consecutive scoreless innings...In addition, Alabama has allowed only one run in its last 34 1/3 innings, dating back to its 9-3 win over Soithern Miss on Mar. 10th...Alabama has allowed only six total runs in its last six games, including four earned runs (1.00 ERA)...Alabama has limited the opposition to three earned runs or less in 15 of 18 games this season, including the last six in a row...In those six games, the staff ERA has been reduced by 0.72 runs per game...Alabama has not had a save since Mar. 3rd against UAB...Opponents are batting .158 (9-for-57) with two outs over the last six games...The Crimson Tide allowed one unearned run in its win over Southern Miss for the first time since Feb 15th...The Alabama bullpen has allowed only five earned runs (11 G, 45.0 IP, 34 H, 5 ER, 12 BB, 46 K) in its last 45 innings over the last 11 games...The pen has also stranded 15 of its last 20 inherited runners this season...The pen had an 18.1 scoreless inning streak from Feb.22-March 3...In addition, Alabama's pen did not allowed a run in 11.2 innings against SE Louisiana (Feb. 27-29), including a 8.2 scoreless innings in the series finale...At the Gent Classic (Mar. 5-7), Alabama allowed only eight runs, but lost two games...The Crimson Tide has allowed only two home runs in the last 10 games...Alabama made a season-high three errors in its win over UAB (Mar 3)...The Crimson Tide walked only two batters in the SE Louisiana series (Feb. 27-29)...Bama stranded all six inherited runners in a 3-2 win over Cincinnati (Feb. 22)...The Crimson Tide bullpen threw 11 1/3 scoreless innings in the SE Louisiana (Feb. 27-29) series and allowed only five hits and struck out eight batters...Senior RHP Seth Johnson (8 G, 16.1 IP) has not allowed an earned run this season...
BRANDON BELCHER NAMED SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
After posting two wins on the mound last week, including a win over No. 18 Southern Mississippi on March 10, University of Alabama freshman left-hander Brandon Belcher has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week, in an announcement by the league office on Monday, March 15th.
*Belcher recorded his first career win on March 10 as he tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings in the Crimson Tide's 9-3 win over No. 18 Southern Miss.
*The Ruston, La., native held the hot-hitting Golden Eagles to just five hits and snapped their season-high eight-game winning streak in the process. He added three walks and fanned four in the win.
*Then, four days later, he tossed seven shutout innings as the Crimson Tide rolled to a 20-0 win over Southeast Missouri State to complete a three-game weekend sweep at the Joe.
*Belcher limited the Indians to just five hits (one double) and added a season-high eight strikeouts en route to his second win of the week.
*Belcher teamed with junior left-hander Taylor Tankersley in the series finale to give Alabama its first back-to-back shutouts since Tommy Milstead and Mark Roberts hurled consecutive shutouts at Ole Miss in 1991.
*For the season, Belcher is 2-1 with a 2.0 ERA in five appearances this season. He has worked 18 innings and allowed 14 hits, four earned runs, six walks and 17 strikeouts. With the 12-plus scoreless innings this week, Belcher reduced his ERA by 4.35 runs per game this week.
*A two-way player, Belcher has also played nine games in the UA outfield, earning four starts this season. He was 1-for-3 with one RBI in the Crimson Tide's 2-0 win over SEMO on Saturday in game two of the series.
*In nine games, Belcher is batting .286 (4-for-14) with one home run and three RBI in part-time duty in the UA lineup.
BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN SERIES
Alabama holds a 25-14 (.641) lead over Birmingham Southern in a series that dates back to the 1925 season.
*UA and BSC met on a consistent basis from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s before the series was halted after the Crimson Tide's win in 1981.
*The series was resumed in 1996 and Alabama has won all three meetings under Jim Wells.
*The two teams were schedueld to play last season in Tuscaloosa, but the game was rained out. It was rescheduled for later in the season at the Joe, but that game was also rained out.
*BSC third baseman Connor Robertson is a native of Tuscaloosa and graduate of Central High School.
*Robertson is 0-for-8 (.000) in his career against Alabama and had his career-long 32-game hitting streak snapped in last year's 4-2 loss to Bama.
*BSC junior LHP Scott Johnson and Alabama RHP Eric Mennen were all high school teammates at Austin HS in Decatur.
*Alabama LHP Ryan Beagle and BSC infielder Jared Walker were junior college teammates at Shelton State CC during the 2001 season.
*Alabama pitcher/outfielder Morrow Thomley and BSC right-hander Michael Repole both played in the National Junior College World Series last year while playing for Bevill State CC.
*Alabama coach Jim Wells is 3-0 (1.000) in his career against Birmingham Southern, winning in 1996, 2001 and 2002.
*BSC coach Brian Shoop is 0-3 (.000) in his head coaching career against Alabama.
BAMA VS. BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
Alabama owns a 9-2 (.818) record against the Big South Conference with all 11 meetings taking place with Radford and Winthrop.
*Alabama is 5-2 against Winthrop after taking two of three from the Eagles in 2001.
*The Crimson Tide's 2000th all-time win came against Winthrop (12-0) on March 2, 2001.
*Alabama is also 4-0 all-time against Radford, last playing the Highlanders in the 1996 season.
Opponent Last Mtg Record
Chas. Southern NA 0-0
Coastal Carolina NA 0-0
Elon College NA 0-0
High Point NA 0-0
Liberty NA 0-0
UNC Asheville NA 0-0
Radford 1996 4-0
Winthrop 2001 5-2
Totals 2001 9-2
SCOUTING REPORT: BSC Panthers
The Birmingham Southern Panthers bring an 11-5 record into Wednesday's game with Alabama, which includes an 11-game winning streak.
*After opening the year with five straight losses, the Panthers have won their last 11 games. The five losses to open the season came on the road against Ole Miss (3), UAB (1) and Georgia.
*BSC is 1-4 (.200) against SEC teams this season, beating Georgia 7-6 in Athens on Feb. 29 for its first win of the season.
*As a team, the Panthers are hitting .294 (156-for-530) with 12 home runs and 107 RBI.
*BSC is averaging 7.1 runs and 9.8 hits per game.
*Those numbers have improved in the last 11 games as the Panthers are averaging 8.9 runs and 11 hits per game during their 11-game winning streak.
*Tuscaloosa native Connor Robertson is the leading hitter for BSC for the third straight year. In 16 games, Robertson is batting .393 (24-for-61) with five home runs and 23 RBI. He leads the team in nine offensive categories.
*Senior outfielder Matt Bouge (13 G, .386, 0 HR, 7 RBI), senior shortstop Michael Wynder (16 G, .350, 0 HR, 14 RBI) and senior outfielder Michael Cline (14 G, .340, HR, 10 RBI) are all hitting .340 or higher this season.
*The Panthers pitching staff has compiled an 11-5 record and 3.37 ERA (136.1 IP, 121 H, 65 R, 51 ER, 57 BB, 119 K) this season.
*Coach Brian Shoop is expected to send the ace of the staff senior LHP Wes Letson (24 IP, 23 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 8 BB, 23 K) to the hill against Alabama. The Hartselle native is 2-1 with a 5.25 ERA in five games this season.
*In addition to his hitting prowess, Robertson (6 G, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K) has also been effective on the mound for BSC this season, posting two wins and one save in six appearances.
ALABAMA-GEORGIA SERIES
In a series that dates back to the 1904 season, Georgia holds a 57-50-2 all-time lead.
*Alabama enters the 2004 season riding a four-game winning streak over Georgia.
*The four-game winning streak in the longest in the series by Alabama since 1998-99.
*Alabama has not beaten Georgia five straight times since a series record 12-game winning streak from 1946-86.
*The home team has won the last five series. Alabama was the last road team to win a series, beating Georgia here in Athens in 1998.
*Georgia has won two straight series here at Foley Field and has won six of the last nine games here in Athens.
*Alabama has not won a series here in Athens since taking two of three from Georgia in 1998.
*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 24-23 series lead.
*Alabama swept a best-of-three series from Georgia to win the 1955 SEC Championship.
*Alabama and Georgia have met four times in the post season, with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-1 lead in those games.
*Alabama 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.
*Alabama has one played on its roster from the state of Georgia in LHP Brent Carter, who hails from Americus, Ga.
*Alabama coach Jim Wells is 16-9 (.640) in his career against Georgia.
*Wells is 5-7 (.417) against the Bulldogs here in Athens.
*Georgia coach David Perno is 2-4 (.333) against Alabama, including a 2-1 mark here at home.
SCOUTING REPORT: Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are 12-3 entering Tuesday's twu-game series with Georgia Southern. The Bulldogs opened the season with five straight wins and saw its four-game winning streak end with a 9-5 loss to UNC Wilmington on March 13.
*Georgia lost a number of position players off last year's team, which included many of the top hitters.
*Despite the losses, the Bulldogs have been an impressive hitting machine this season, posting a .351 (190-for-542) batting average through 15 games. UGa has hit 16 home runs and has 144 RBI this season. The Diamond Dogs have also lashed out 50 doubles on the season.
*A pair of freshmen are the main reasons for Georgia's offensive success this year. Outfielder/first baseman Josh Morris and outfielder Joey Side are among the top hitters in the SEC this season.
*In 15 games, Morris is batting a robust .500 (25-for-50) with seven home runs and 24 RBI. He leads the Diamond Dogs in runs scored (22), hits, doubles (9), home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (1,140) and on-base percentage (.576).
*Side has also started every game for the Bulldogs and is batting .446 (25-for-56) with two home runs and 15 RBI this season.
*The Bulldogs attack also centers around sophomore outfielder Kyle Keen (15 G, .362, 2 HR, 14 RBI), junior shortstop Josh Smith (15 G, .354, HR, 9 RBI), senior infielder Justin Holmes (15 G, .340, HR, 14 RBI) and sophomore outfielder Bobby Felmey (14 G, .339, HR, 16 RBI) this year.
*Two returning starters, second baseman Marshall Szabo (15 G, .328, 2 HR, 12 RBI) and catcher Clint Sammons (14 G, 0 HR, 10 RBI, rounds out a solid Georgia lineup.
*The Bulldogs pitching staff has fashioned a 12-3 record and 3.43 ERA (134 IP, 121 H, 65 R, 51 ER, 47 BB, 129 K) in 16 games this year.
*UGa has no complete games and two saves thus far.
*The weekend rotation includes senior lefty Paul Lubrano (5 GS, 2-1, 4.63 ERA), sophomore right-hander Michael Hyle (5 GS, 2-1, 2.35 ERA) and sophomore right-hander Sean Ruthven (5 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 2.53 ERA).
*Ruthven is the son of former major league picther Dick Ruthven, who pitched for both Philadelphia and Atlanta.
*The closer is sophomore lefty Will Startup (17.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 17 K), who is 2-0 with two saves and a 1.53 ERA in seven games out of the pen.
SEC OPENERS
After four weekends of non-conference action, the Alabama Crimson Tide opens SEC play this weekend, at they travel to Athens, Ga., to facce the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game weekend series at Frank Foley Field.
*Alabama has compiled a 42-26 (.617) all-time record in SEC openers since 1933.
*Alabama head coach Jim Wells is 7-2 (.778) in SEC openers. He led the Crimson Tide to four straight wins in SEC openers from 1997-2000.
*Since the league split into two divisions in 1992, Alabama has never opened the SEC season with a Western Division foe.
*Alabama is 2-2 (.400) against Georgia in SEC openers. The two teams opened SEC play last year with Alabama winning an 8-7 game that last well into Saturday morning after a pair of lengthy rain delays.
*The Crimson Tide is opening its SEC schedule on the road for the first time since 1999 and for just the second time in the Wells era.
OPENERS AGAINST THE SEC FIELD
The Crimson Tide has opened SEC play against 11 of the 13 SEC teams since 1933.
*Alabama has never opened the SEC season with Arkansas or former league member Georgia Tech.
*Alabama's most common opponent in SEC openers is LSU. The Crimson Tide and Tigers have opened league play 16 times, with Alabama holding a 10-6 advantage.
ALABAMA SUCCESS
Traditionally, Alabama has had little trouble with in-state teams, compiling an impressive 452-120 (.790) all-time record with schools in the state of Alabama.
BAMA ALL-TIME VS. IN-STATE SCHOOLS
Opponent Series Record
Alabama Christian Bama leads, 4-1
Alabama State Bama leads, 5-0
Auburn Bama leads, 130-105
Bham Athletics Bama leads, 6-0
Bham College Bama leads, 9-2
Bham Southern Bama leads, 25-14
Faulkner State Bama leads, 2-1
Greensboro Bama leads, 4-1
Jax State Bama leads, 17-7
Marion Military Bama leads, 12-2
Montevallo Bama leads, 11-2
North Alabama Bama leads, 18-3
Samford Bama leads, 81-8
South Alabama Bama leads, 47-44
Stillman Bama leads, 17-0
Springhill College Bama leads, 9-4
Troy State Bama leads, 12-3
UAB Bama leads, 32-12
West Alabama Bama leads, 21-10
*Coach Wells has been even more impressive against in-state teams, posting a 76-30 (.717) record since his arrival in 1995.
WELLS ALL-TIME VS. IN-STATE SCHOOLS
Opponent Series Record
Auburn Bama leads, 22-15
Bham Southern Bama leads, 3-0
Jax State JSU leads, 4-3
North Alabama Bama leads, 2-0
Samford Bama leads, 13-1
South Alabama Bama leads, 11-3
Troy State Bama leads, 4-1
UAB Bama leads, 12-5
West Alabama Bama leads, 6-1
CRIMSON TIDE ROUTS SEMO
Alabama blasted SE Missouri State 20-0 on Sunday, March 14th, equaling the sixth-largest shutout victory in school history.
*Alabama posted a season-high 17 hits in the win and scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to bust open a close game. Evan Bush capped the scoring with a three-run home run in the eighth inning.
*The 20-0 win over SEMO is the largest margin of victory by Alabama since blanking Miss. Valley State 21-0 on Feb. 27, 2003.
*In that win over MVSU, the Crimson Tide scored in six of the eight innings, including six runs in the fifth frame. Allen Rice, Beau Hearod and Adam Pavkovich all homered to pace the Crimson Tide's season-high 19-hit attack.
*The most lopsided shutout in school history was a 27-0 win over Niagara in 1999.
*Here is a look at the most lopsided shutouts in school history.
Largest Margin of Victory in Shutouts
Rk Opponent Result (Year)
1. Niagara 27-0 (1999)
2. Ole Miss 22-0 (1902)
3. Miss. Valley State 21-0 (2003)
4. Sewanee 21-0 (1903)
Howard 21-0 (1931)
6. Southeast Missouri 20-0 (2004)
7. Miss. Valley State 19-0 (2002)
Siena 19-0 (1992)
9. Jacksonville State 17-0 (2001)
LSU 17-0 (1983)
BAMA POSTS BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS
The Alabama pitching staff turned in back-to-back shutouts against SE Missouri on Mar. 13-14, marking the first back-to-back shutouts by the Crimson Tide since the 1990 season.
*The last time Alabama turned in back-to-back shutouts was April 7-8, 1990 when Tommy Milstead and Mark Roberts tossed back-to-back shutouts against the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford.
*Freshman lefty Wade LeBlanc tossed a five-hit shutout on Mar. 13 as the Crimson Tide beat SEMO 2-0. LeBlanc also added 10 strikeouts en route to his third shutout of the season.
*Another freshman and lefty Brandon Belcher threw seven shutout innings in its 20-0 win over SE Missouri on Mar. 14. The Ruston, La. native allowed only five hits and fanned eight batters.
*Junior lefty Taylor Tankerlsey faced the minimum over the final two innings, with five strikeouts to complete the back-to-back shutouts.
*The consecutive shutouts over SE Missouri marks the 32nd time in school history that Alabama has spun back-to-back shutouts.
*However, since 1969, Alabama has only had back-to-back shutouts four times.
All-Time Back-to-Back Shutouts
Year Consecutive Shutouts
2004 Alabama 2, SEMO 0
Alabama 20, SEMO 0
1990 Alabama 2, Ole Miss 0
Alabama 9, Ole Miss 0 (7)
1988 Alabama 8, Alcorn State 0
Alabama 9, Morehead St. 0
1974 Alabama 4, Memphis St. 0
Alabama 14, S. Miss 0
1968 Alabama 8, S. Alabama 0
Alabama 6, BSC 0
Alabama 11, Miss. State 0
Alabama 6, Miss. State 0
1968 Alabama 5, Florida 0
Alabama 3, Florida 0
1967 Alabama 5, Jax State 0
Alabama 8, Jax State 0
1962 Alabama 9, Howard 0
Alabama 6, S. Miss 0
1961 Alabama 5, LSU 0
Alabama 7, Tulane 0
1935 Alabama 5, Ole Miss 0
Alabama 4, Ole Miss 0
1934 Alabama 8, OIe Miss 0
Alabama 12, Ole Miss 0
1931 Alabama 21, Howard 0
Alabama 12, House/David 0
1928 Alabama 3, Tulane 0
Alabama 5, Tulane 0
1925 Alabama 15, Howard 0
Alabama 4, Illinois 0
1920 Alabama 5, Oglethorpe 0
Alabama 4, LSU 0
1917 Alabama 3, Tennessee 0
Alabama 1, Spring Hill 0
1915 Alabama 4, Cumberland 0
Alabama 0, Cumberland 0 (TIE)
1913 Alabama 8, Bham College 0
Alabama 4, Bham College 0
Alabama 7, Columbus 0
Alabama 1, Tulane 0
Alabama 8, Tulane 0
Alabama 2, Mercer 0
Alabama 3, Mercer 0
1912 Alabama 10, Marion 0
Alabama 2, Marion 0
Alabama 4, Marion 0
1910 Alabama 0, Georgia 0 (TIE)
Alabama 4, Wash & Lee 0
MORE SHUTOUTS
Alabama's 20-0 win over SE Missouri State on Mar. 14, 2004 marked the 29th shutout for the Crimson Tide pitching staff in the Jim Wells e
*Alabama has had three shutouts this season, beating Cincinnati (12-0), SE Missouri State (2-0) and SE Missouri State (20-
*Since 1995, Alabama has posted a 29-8 (.784) record in shutouts.
*Alabama has had at least two shutouts every year since 1995, including five in both 1995 and 1996.
*Alabama was shutout three times in 2002 year after being shutout only two times in the previous six years.
