Alabama Baseball Back on the Road at LSU This Weekend
4/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Games 43-45: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT LSU TIGERS
Alex BOX STADIUM -- BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA -- 6:30 PM (COX CABLE)
APRIL 30-MAY 2, 2004 -- UA SEEKS FIRST SEC SERIES WIN AT THE BOX
Date Game Time Radio/TV
Apr 30 at LSU 6:30 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5), COX CABLE
May 1 at LSU 2 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
May 2 at LSU 1 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
ON THE MOUND: UA - 23 Wade LeBlanc (LH, 11 GS, 5-4, 1.81 ERA) vs. LSU - 13 Clay Dirks (LH, 10 GS, 8-0, 2.41)
RADIO: The games will be aired locally on WRTR-FM (105.5) or WACT-AM (1420) in Tuscaloosa. David Crane and Chris Stewart will broadcast the LSU series on WRTR-FM (105.5) and the network. The series opener will be televised throughout the state of Louisiana on COX Cable (tape delayed), with Lyn Rollins (play-by-play) and former LSU right-hander and No. 1 draft pick Ben McDonald (color) describing the action.
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live stats and audio broadcasts can be found at http://www.rolltide.com/ and http://www.lsusports.net/ this weekend.
TICKETS: General admission and standing-room only tickets, if available, will go on sale two hours prior to each game at Alex Box Stadium.
BAMA BACK ON THE ROAD AT LSU
The University of Alabama baseball team has its share of troubles on the road over the three seasons and to make matters even worse the Crimson Tide has had to play the defending SEC Eastern and Western Division champions on the road the back-to-back weeks. Alabama dropped two of three at South Carolina last weekend, including a 1-0, 10-inning decision in the rubber game on Sunday. Now, Alabama, losers of 10 straight SEC road series, takes on the No. 6 LSU Tigers in a three-game road series at Alex Box Stadium this weekend. Alabama is just one of eight teams in the league that plays both South Carolina and LSU this season. However, Alabama is the only team in the league with the scheduling fortune to draw both the Gamecocks and Tigers on the road. The Crimson Tide has had its share of difficulty with the Tigers of late. Despite beating LSU 10-3 for the 2003 SEC Tournament championship, Alabama has lost 12 of the last 15 meetings with LSU, dating back to 2000. The Crimson Tide has lost 10 straight SEC road series, dating back to its final two road series in 2002. Overall, Alabama has lost nine straight SEC series, including all six so far this season. The nine straight series losses is the longest since the 1993-94 seasons. Bama has never lost 10 straight three-game SEC series. In addition, Alabama has not won a series in Baton Rouge since 1996, losing here in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
THE RECORDS
Alabama (25-18, 6-12 SEC) has lost all six SEC series this season and despite being six games under .500 in the tough and rugged SEC, still has a shot at the post-season tournament with 12 games remaining. Bama is just three games out of sixth place and in the overall race as seven of the 12 teams have a break-even or losing mark after 18 games. The LSU Tigers (32-11, 10-6 SEC) are in third place in the SEC Western Division and three games behind league-leading Arkansas. The Tigers have a favorable schedule to end the season, playing Alabama, at Kentucky and Vanderbilt the next three weeks before closing the year at Ole Miss.
THE COACHES
Alabama's Jim Wells is in his 10th season with the Crimson Tide program. He has compiled a 434-194 (.692) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 626-283 (.689) in 15 seasons at Northwestern State and Alabama. LSU head coach Ray "Smoke" Laval is 121-55-1 (.686) in three seasons at with the Tigers. He was the 2003 SEC "Coach of the Year." Overall, Laval is 362-214-1 (.628) in 10 years as a head coach.
NEXT GAME
Alabama and LSU meet in game two of this three game series on Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. here at Alex Box Stadium.
ALABAMA-LSU SERIES
Alabama leads the all-time series with LSU, 184-130-3 (.588) in a series that dates back to the 1906 season.
*The two teams have met every year since 1947.
*LSU won the first five meetings ever played between the two schools over a two-year period from 1906-07.
*Alabama's first series win did not come until the 1908 season and began a nine-game series winning streak for the Tide. The streak also propelled Alabama to an 18-1 record over the Tigers from 1908-21.
*LSU enters the 2003 season having won 10 of the last 12 meetings with Alabama.
*Alabama's 4-2 win in the 2003 regular-season series opener in Tuscaloosa halted an eight-game LSU winning streak, the longest in series history.
*LSU also won eight straight games from 1987-91 against Alabama.
*LSU has also won 12 of the last 15 meetings with Alabama, dating back to 2000.
*Alabama coach Jim Wells began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at LSU under Coach Skip Bertman. Wells spent three years in Baton Rouge (1987-89) helping the Tigers to two NCAA Regional appearances. After his stay at LSU, Wells moved on to become head coach at Northwestern State (1990-94) and then on to Alabama, where he has spent the last nine seasons.
*The Crimson Tide posted a pair of lopsided wins over LSU (13-6, 13-5) to claim the 1999 NCAA Super Regional and advance to the College World Series. The 1999 season marked the first year of Super Regionals in the newly expanded 64-team NCAA Tournament field.
*In 1997, Alabama and LSU met three different times to determine a championship. The Tigers won the regular-season finale 6-4 in Tuscaloosa to win the outright SEC Championship. The following weekend, Alabama's 12-2 blowout in the championship game gave the Crimson Tide its third straight SEC Tournament crown. Two weeks later, LSU took home the big prize with a 13-6 win in the title game of the College World Series. It was the school's fourth national championship in the 1990s.
*Alabama beat LSU three times in the 1968 to win the SEC Western Division title en route to the regular season championship and a berth in the NCAA Playoffs. Alabama took two out of three from LSU in the final regular season series at Alex Box Stadium to force a one-game playoff.
*The Crimson Tide won that playoff game 1-0 in Baton Rouge to claim the Western Division title. The next weekend, Alabama beat Eastern Division champion Florida to win the 1968 SEC Championship.
Alabama-LSU File
at Tuscaloosa: UA leads, 103-53-1
at Baton Rouge: UA leads, 76-72-2
Neutral Sites: LSU leads, 6-4
Wells vs. LSU: 19-26 (.422)
17-20 (.459) at UA
2-6 (.250) at NSU
Laval vs. UA: 7-6 (.538)
5-2 (.714) at LSU
2-4 (.333) at NE La.
UA Win Streak: 9 (1908-18) & (1918-21)
LSU Win Streak: 8 (2000-02, 1987-90)
Last Series Sweep
at Tus. at BR
UA 1984 1977
LSU 2001 2002
WELLS VS. LSU
Alabama's Jim Wells is 19-26 (.422) in his career against the LSU Tigers.
*Wells compiled a 2-6 (.250) at Northwestern State from 1990-94. At Alabama, Wells is 17-20 (.459) since 1995.
LAVAL VS. BAMA
LSU's Ray "Smoke" Laval is 7-6 (.538) in his career against Alabama.
*Laval compiled a 2-4 (.333) at Northeast Louisiana (now called UL Monroe) in 1995-96.
*At LSU, Laval is 5-2 (.714) against the Crimson Tide here at LSU, including back-to-back series wins in 2002 and 2003.
FORMER BERTMAN ASSISTANTS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD
When Alabama hosts LSU this weekend at the Joe it will mark the 17th meeting between the two former Skip Bertman assistant coaches.
*The previous 16 meetings have been split evenly, with both Wells and Laval winning eight games against one another.
SCOUTING REPORT: LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers bring a 31-11 overall record into the final four weeks of the regular-season, including a 10-8 mark in SEC play.
*No. 6 LSU played Tulane at the Louisiana Superdome on Tuesday, April 27 in an attempt to break the college baseball single-game attendance record of 40,000+ for the San Diego State-Houston game at Petco Park earlier this season.
*The Tigers and Green Wave held the record in excess of 27,000 at the Superdome during the 2002 season.
*The preseason favorites to lay claim the to another SEC Championship, LSU finds itself three behind league-leading Arkansas with 12 games to play.
*The Tigers have a favorable schedule the next two weekends as they play host to the last place teams in both divisions, beginning this weekend with Alabama (24-18, 6-12) at Alex Box Stadium.
*LSU travels to Kentucky next weekend (5-13 SEC) before closing out the season at home with Vanderbilt (May 14-16) and at Ole Miss (May 21-23).
*Always an offensive juggernaut, the 2004 LSU nine is not different from other teams. Through 42 games, LSU is batting a league-leading .334 (517-for-1550) with 55 home runs and 321 RBI this season.
*LSU is averaging 8.4 runs and 12.3 hits per game this season. LSU has scored double figures 15 times this season, including four of its last six games.
*In addition to its league-leading .334 batting average, LSU also paces the SEC in runs scored (353), hits (517), RBI (321), total bases (806) and at-bats (1550).
*The Tigers have two of the league's top three hitters in J.C. Holt (.418) and Jon Zeringue (.403). Vanderbilt's Warner Jones continues to lead the league with a .427 batting average.
*Holt (42 GS, .418, 15 2B, 4 HR, 31 RBI) leads the SEC with a .485 on-base mark.
*Zeringue (42 GS, .403, 11 HR, 39 RBI) is the league's top slugger with a .730 slugging mark.
*Ryan Patterson (.347, 15 2B, 9 HR, 48 RBI) and Matt Liuzza (.329, 10 2B, 8 HR, 30 RBI) have also been steady at the plate for a balanced LSU attack.
*On the mound, LSU is 31-11, with five saves and a 3.40 ERA this season. The ERA is third-best in the SEC behind Alabama (2.94) and Tennessee (3.18).
*LSU battered the Vols pitching staff for 28 runs and 36 hits in three-game last weekend in Knoxville to take the series two games to one.
*The staff is anchored by freshman phenom Clay Dirks, who is undefeated in eight decisions this season.
*Dirks (11 G, 8-0, 2.41 ERA) leads the SEC with eight wins and ranks sixth in ERA (2.41) and 11th in strikeouts (58). Dirks is expected to take the mound Friday or Saturday for the Tigers against Alabama.
*Justin Meier (12 G, 5-2, 3.46 ERA), who did not start against Tennessee, is expected to return to the rotation this weekend against Alabama as the likely Friday or Saturday starter.
*Nate Bumstead (9 G, 6-2, 4.12) has been the man on Sunday this year for the Tigers, despite allowing 63 hits in 54 2/3 innings this season.
*Jason Determan (13 G, 2-3, 3.55 ERA) started in place of Meier last Friday night in Knoxville, but is best suited for his role out of the pen in both long or short relief.
*While LSU leads the SEC with 31 wins, the pitching staff has recorded the second fewest strikeouts (276) in the league this season. Florida (241) is the only other pitching staff with less strikeouts than LSU.
*LSU has also made 55 errors in 42 games this season, for a .967 fielding clip. LSU ranks fifth in the SEC in that department.
25 UP, 18 DOWN
Alabama has compiled an 25-18 (.581) record through 43 games of the 2004 season. Here is how the Crimson Tide fares in its 25 wins and 18 losses.
*In its 25 wins this season the Alabama Crimson Tide has:
*Hit .331 (282-for-853) with 21 home runs and 205 RBI
*Averaged 8.92 runs (223) and 11.28 hits per game
*Posted a 1.68 ERA (225 IP, 168 H, 210 K)
*Committed 26 errors in those 25 games
*In its 18 losses this season the Alabama Crimson Tide has:
*Hit .205 (123-for-600) with nine home runs and 41 RBI
*Averaged runs 2.61 runs and 6.83 hits per game
*Compiled a 4.71 ERA (154.2 IP, 176 H, 148 K)
*Committed 24 errors (.964) in 18 losses
INJURY BUG TAKING ITS TOLL
Alabama has been dealt with a number of injuries this season, including losing its starting catcher and perhaps its most consistent hitter for pretty much the entire first half of the season.
*As of April 22, a total of 11 players have combined to miss 159 games due to injuries and illnesses this year.
*The most significant injury came when starting catcher Charlie Lyons battled a sore left hand (non-throwing) all of preseason camp before its was later revealed he had suffered a broken hamate bone.
*Lyons underwent surgery on March 1 and missed 25 of the first 27 games this year. He made his return in a limited role at Arkansas and played against Auburn (April 16). He is still not yet 100 percent and has missed 32 total games.
*Junior outfielder/pitcher Morrow Thomley missed nearly the first two months of the season while recovering from a broken hamate bone suffered in early January. He made his UA debut on March 24 against Morehead State and has played in only three games this season.
*Junior outfielder Chad White has not played at all this season due to a sore shoulder.
*Several other position players have missed games due to nagging injuries or illness this season.
*On the mound the two most significant blows came with the losses of RHP T.J. Large and LHP Jeffrey Norris.
*Large pulled a muscle on his right side on Feb. 29 against SE Louisiana and has not pitched since that game. Large has not been available for the last 28 games this season.
*Norris suffered a left shoulder strain during the second inning of his only start against No. 18 Southern Miss and missed 23 games before making his return against Samford on April 21.
*Freshman LHP/OF Brandon Belcher missed the final two games of the Arkansas series, including his turn on the mound last weekend due to strep throat.
*Junior middle infielder Rocky Scelfo missed his first game of the 2004 season against Louisiana Tech with a sore knee. Prior to the Tech game, Scelfo was the only UA player to start all 30 games this season.
Players Who Have Missed Games with Injuries
Player Games Missed
Brandon Belcher 2
Evan Bush 1
T.J. Large 32
Charlie Lyons 32
Michael McCallister 2
Jeffrey Norris 23
Allen Ponder 5
Nick Richardson 6
Rocky Scelfo 3
Morrow Thomley 23
Chad White 42
PITCHING IN
The Alabama baseball team boasts one of its finest pitching staff's in school history.
*Through 42 games, the Crimson Tide has a sparkling 2.92 ERA, which paces the SEC and ranks sixth nationally.
*Alabama is also leads the SEC in complete games (5) and fewest earned runs allowed (122) this season.
*The Crimson Tide staff has seen its ERA over 3.00 just once since the first five games of the 2004 season.
*After allowing nine earned runs in a 10-5 loss to Samford on April 21, the staff ERA rose to 3.03 its highest since Feb. 20th.
*Bama allowed just five earned runs in 26 2/3 innings at South Carolina this past weekend to lower its mark to the current 2.94 ERA.
*The Crimson Tide has allowed just seven earned runs (1.77 ERA) in its last four games, a span of 35 2/3 innings.
*In its last 22 innings, Bama has allowed only three earned runs for a 1.23 ERA.
*Here are the nation's Top 10 pitching staff's (based on ERA) through games of April 25th.
NCAA ERA LEADERS
Rank Team ERA
1. Texas 2.34
2. Long Beach State 2.37
3. Rice 2.39
4. UC Irvine 2.74
5. Central Florida 2.91
6. ALABAMA 2.94
7. Oral Roberts 2.98
8. Wichita State 3.09
9. North Carolina State 3.10
10. Tennessee 3.18
Alabama's SEC Rankings (April 25th)
Category Stats (SEC Rank)
Earned Run Average 2.94 (1st)
Fewest Earned Runs Allowed 120 (1st)
Complete Games 5 (1st)
Fewest Runs Allowed 156 (2nd)
Opponents Batting Avg. .241 (3rd)
Strikeouts 352 (3rd)
Fewest Hits Allowed 336 (3rd)
Fewest Home Runs Allowed 25 (3rd)
Pickoffs 9 (3rd)
Fewest Walks 110 (4th)
Innings Pitched 370.2 (6th)
ONE-TWO PUNCH
In addition to having the lowest ERA in the SEC, Alabama also boasts the top two pitchers in the league.
*Junior left-hander Taylor Tankersley (1.42) and freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc (1.81) rank first and second in the SEC in terms of ERA.
*The Crimson Tide has had only two pitchers to lead the SEC in ERA, dating back to 1960. Left-hander Mike Innes (1.09) led the league with a school-record 1.09 ERA in 1968 and right-hander Lance Cormier (2.30) paced the league with a 2.30 ERA in 2002.
*Alabama boasts the sixth-best ERA in the country this season and Tankersley and LeBlanc are among the Top 20 pitchers.
*Tankersley ranks ninth with a sparkling 1.41 ERA this season and has allowed only eight earned runs in 50 2/3 innings in 13 appearances.
*Tankersley's current ERA would be the lowest total to lead the SEC since Auburn's Gregg Olson paced the league with a 1.27 ERA in 1988.
*LeBlanc is 17th in the nation with a 1.81 ERA this season and has allowed only 16 earned runs in 79 2/3 innings.
*LeBlanc ranks sixth nationally among freshman pitchers this season with his 1.81 ERA in 12 games.
NCAA INDIVIDUAL ERA LEADERS
Rank Player ERA
1. Nate Moore, Troy State 0.45
2. Jose Pena, Southern 0.92
3. Jared Weaver, LB State 1.13
4. Wade Townsend, Rice 1.17
5. Matt Fox, UCF 1.24
6. Jason Meyer, Texas A&M 1.27
7. Kyle Bono, UCF 1.41
8. Phillip Humber, Rice 1.41
9. TAYLOR TANKERSLEY, UA 1.42
10. Jonathan Ellis, The Citadel 1.44
17. WADE LeBLANC, UA 1.81
GOING THE DISTANCE
Alabama freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc leads the SEC with five complete games this season.
*LeBlanc has all five of the Crimson Tide's SEC-leading five complete games this year.
*No other team in the SEC has five complete games this season. Ole Miss is next with four CGs, while Florida has three complete games.
*Arkansas and Georgia are the only two SEC teams without a complete game this year.
SEC COMPLETE GAMES
Rank Team CGs
1. Wade LeBlanc, Alabama 5
2. Ole Miss 4
3. Florida 3
4. Tennessee 2
LSU 2
South Carolina 2
Vanderbilt 2
Kentucky 2
9. Auburn 1
Miss. State 1
11. Arkansas 0
Georgia 0
SCHEDULE GETTING TOUGHER
As the season rolls into conference play, the competition get tougher for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team.
*Playing in the toughest baseball conference in the nation, Alabama embarks on a 30-game league schedule that features eight teams ranked in this week's four baseball polls.
*Overall, Alabama has had 13 of its opponents ranked in at least one of the four major polls during the 2004 season.
*Alabama has nine of it 2004 opponents currently ranked in one of the four major polls, including Southern Miss, Georgia, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Auburn, South Carolina, LSU and Florida.
*Four other teams have been ranked at some point during the season, including Kansas State, UAB, Birmingham Southern and Miss. State.
*Alabama is 6-10 (.375) against ranked teams this season.
*Alabama has also posted a 8-12 (.400) record against teams that have been ranked at least one week in the major polls.
*Alabama lost two of three on the road to No. 35 Georgia (Mar. 19-21) to open SEC play.
*The Crimson Tide has also dropped back-to-back home series to No. 5 Ole Miss (Mar. 26-28) and No. 25 Vanderbilt (April 9-11).
*Alabama lost two of three at South Carolina (April 23-25) and then travels to LSU (April 30-May 2) for the second of two straight road weekends.
A TALE OF TWO SEASONS
Ironically, the ides of March (March 15) was the turning point of the season for the Alabama baseball team.
*Prior to March 15, the Crimson Tide was sailing along with a 14-4 record and Top 25 national ranking.
*After a three-game sweep of SE Missouri State (March 12-14), including the first back-to-back shutouts by Alabama since 1990, things suddenly changed for the Crimson Tide.
*Since March 15, Alabama has lost 14 of its last 25 games and seen its numbers take a dramatic turn for the worse.
TOUGH STRETCH
Alabama is in the midst of playing five consecutive ranked SEC opponents, including two of those series on the road in consecutive weekends.
*The Crimson Tide is on the road the second straight weekend against the preseason favorites to win the SEC Eastern and Western Division championships.
*Alabama is at No. 6 LSU this weekend at Alex Box Stadium after playing No. 6 South Carolina last weekend in Columbia.
*Alabama has not won a series at LSU since taking two of three from the Tigers in 1996.
*In fact, Alabama won back-to-back series at Alex Box Stadium in 1995 and 1996, but has not won since, losing three straight series, including a three-game sweep in the last visit in 2002.
*The current stretch of ranked SEC foes began April 9 when Alabama hosted No. 25 Vanderbilt in Tuscaloosa. The Commodores won the series, two games to one, but both wins were by one run and UA had the tying or winning runs on base when the games ended.
*Alabama hosted arch-rival and No. 12 Auburn on April 16-18 and lost two of three games. Bama avoided the sweep with a 19-0 win over the Tigers in the series finale.
*After trips to South Carolina and LSU, Alabama finally returns home on May 7 to face the No. 18 Florida Gators.
BAMA RECORD AFTER 43 GAMES
Alabama has compiled a a 25-18 (.581) record through 43 games, matching the 2001 team for the worst record this late in the season under Jim Wells.
*The 2002 team owns the best 43-game record with a 36-7 (.837) ledger.
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD (After 43 Games)
Year Record
1995 28-15
1996 30-13
1997 33-10
1998 33-10
1999 31-12
2000 27-16
2001 25-18
2002 36-7
2003 30-13
2004 25-18
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD (After 44 Games)
Year Record (Pct.)
1995 28-16
1996 30-14
1997 34-10
1998 33-11
1999 32-12
2000 28-16
2001 25-19
2002 37-7
2003 31-13
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD (After 45 Games)
Year Record (Pct.)
1995 29-16
1996 31-14
1997 35-10
1998 34-11
1999 33-12
2000 29-16
2001 26-19
2002 38-7
2003 31-14
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD (After 46 Games)
Year Record (Pct.)
1995 30-16
1996 32-14
1997 36-10
1998 34-12
1999 34-12
2000 29-17
2001 26-20
2002 39-7
2003 32-14
SEC SLUMP
Alabama has lost nine straight Southeastern Conference series for the first time in the Jim Wells era.
*Alabama has never lost 10 consecutive three-game SEC series in its history and best research shows that UA has never lost 10 straight SEC series of any kind since 1933.
*The nine straight series losses are the most by Alabama since the 1993-94 seasons, when UA also dropped nine straight league series.
*The Crimson Tide closed out the 1993 season by losing the final series at Auburn and then lost all eight SEC series in 1994, the final season for coach Dr. Barry Shollenberger.
*Alabama has also lost its first six SEC series this season for the first time since 1994.
*In 1994, Alabama lost all eight SEC series and set the school futility records for fewest SEC wins (4) and most SEC losses (22).
*Prior to this season, Alabama had never lost more than three consecutive SEC series in the same season under coach Wells.
SEC SERIES LOSING STREAK
Year Series Results
May 2, 2003 Alabama 6, Tennessee 2
May 3, 2003 Tennessee 10, Alabama 3
May 4, 2003 Tennessee 7, Alabama 4
May 9, 2003 S. Carolina 2, Alabama 1
May 10, 2003 S. Carolina 9, Alabama 6
May 11, 2003 S. Carolina 5, Alabama 1
May 16, 2003 Miss. State 11, Alabama 8
May 17, 2003 Alabama 15, Miss. State 7
May 18, 2003 Miss. State 9, Alabama 1
March 19, 2004 Georgia 5, Alabama 4
March 20, 2004 Alabama 7, Georgia 5
March 21, 2004 Georgia 7, Alabama 5
March 26, 2004 Ole Miss 11, Alabama 1
March 27, 2004 Alabama 2, Ole Miss 1
March 28, 2004 Ole Miss 4, Alabama 2
April 2, 2004 Alabama 6, Arkansas 3
April 3, 2004 Arkansas 7, Alabama 2
April 4, 2004 Arkansas 11, Alabama 6
April 9, 2004 Vanderbilt 6, Alabama 4
April 10, 2004 Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 1
April 11, 2004 Vanderbilt 3, Alabama 2
April 16, 2004 Auburn 8, Alabama 2
April 17, 2004 Auburn 7, Alabama 1
April 18, 2004 Alabama 19, Auburn 0
April 23, 2004 S. Carolina 6, Alabama 3
April 24, 2004 Alabama 7, S. Carolina 4
April 25, 2004 S. Carolina 1, Bama 0 (10)
SEC ROAD SKID
Alabama has traditionally been a pretty good road team in the Jim Wells era, but has seen its share of troubles over the last three years, especially in SEC road games.
*Alabama has lost its last 10 SEC road series, dating back to the final two road series of the 2002 season.
*The current slump began with two losses at Georgia on May 5-7, 2002 at Foley Field. The Crimson Tide closed out the 2002 season with three losses at LSU (May 19-21), which prevented Alabama from winning the SEC Championship.
*Alabama did not win a road series last year, losing all five series at Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Miss. State.
*The Crimson Tide has lost all three road series this year at Georgia (Mar. 19-21), Arkansas (April 2-4) and South Carolina (April 23-25).
*During its current series losing streak, Alabama has posted an 9-21 (.300) SEC road record since May, 2002.
SEC Road Series Losing Streak
Year Series Results
May 5, 2002 Georgia 5, Alabama 0
May 6, 2002 Georgia 8, Alabama 7 (11)
May 7, 2002 Alabama 4, Georgia 2
May 20, 2002 LSU 3, Alabama 0 (DH)
LSU 6, Alabama 5 (DH)
May 21, 2002 LSU 5, Alabama 1
March 21, 2003 Alabama 8, Florida 3
March 22, 2003 Florida 6, Alabama 1
March 23, 2003 Florida 6, Alabama 5
April 4, 2003 Auburn 10, Alabama 2
April 5, 2003 Alabama 3, Auburn 2
April 6, 2003 Auburn 7, Alabama 6
April 18, 2003 Ole Miss 10, Alabama 2
April 19, 2003 Alabama 7, Ole Miss 3
April 20, 2003 Ole Miss 8, Alabama 3
May 2, 2003 Alabama 6, Tennessee 2
May 3, 2003 Tennessee 10, Alabama 3
May 4, 2003 Tennessee 7, Alabama 4
May 16, 2003 Miss. State 11, Alabama 8
May 17, 2003 Alabama 15, Miss. State 7
May 18, 2003 Miss. State 9, Alabama 1
March 19, 2004 Georgia 5, Alabama 4
March 20, 2004 Alabama 7, Georgia 5
March 21, 2004 Georgia 7, Alabama 5
April 2, 2004 Alabama 6, Arkansas 3
April 3, 2004 Arkansas 7, Alabama 2
April 4, 2004 Arkansas 11, Alabama 6
April 23, 2004 USC 5, Alabama 3
April 24, 2004 Alabama 7, USC 4
April 25, 2004 USC 1, Alabama 0 (10)
CUTTING UP THE OPPOSITION
Alabama recorded a season-high 16 strikeouts in its 20-2 blowout win over Morehead State on Mar. 24. The 16 strikeouts are the second-highest total in the Jim Wells era.
*The highest strikeout total is 17 against Murray State on March 12, 1996 here in Tuscaloosa.
*Alabama has recorded 135 double-figure strikeout games in the Wells era, including 14 this year.
*Junior right-hander Taylor Tankersley has the most recent double-figure strikeout game with 12 in a 19-0 win over Auburn on April 18.
*Junior right-handers Andrew Walker (9) and Eric Mennen (2) combined for 11 strikeouts in the Tide's 10-1 win over Louisiana Tech on April 6th.
*Alabama has recorded double-figure strikeouts in eight of its last 13 home games.
*The Crimson Tide has at least 10 strikeouts in its last four non-conference home games.
*Freshman Brandon Belcher and Tankersley combined to strike out Ole Miss All-American Stephen Head four times on Mar. 28.
*Alabama also struck out Georgia freshman phenom Josh Morris four times in a Mar. 19 game at Athens.
*The Crimson Tide's best season was in 1999 when the Tide recorded 23 double digit strikeout games.
