Rice, Walker Lead Bama Past Louisiana Tech, 10-1
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama baseball team posted another lopsided non-conference win on Tuesday night, beating the Louisiana Tech Bullodgs, 10-1, in front of a paid crowd of 4,386 fans at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Junior second baseman Allen Rice collected two hits and three RBI to pace UA's 11-hit attack. Junior right-hander Andrew Walker allowed one unearned run and five hits in seven innings for his second straight midweek win.
Alabama (20-11) has won its last six non-conference games by a 64-5 margin, posting wins over SE Missouri State (3), Morehead State, South Alabama and Louisiana Tech.
The Crimson Tide actually trailed in this game heading into the bottom of the second inning, marking the first time since Mar. 17 that Alabama has trailed in a non-conference game.
Louisiana Tech (12-22) took its only lead of the game with an unearned run in the third inning off Walker. Tech shortstop Gary Holik drew a two out walk and later scored on Brandon Hudson's double to left-center field. The Bulldogs also benefitted from two Alabama throwing errors that prolonged the frame.
Alabama answered with two runs in the bottom of the ininng to take a 2-1 lead. Senior left fielder Ryan Beagle was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to second on freshman shortstop Greg Paiml's bunt single down the third base line. After senior catcher Nick Richardson moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, Rice singled sharply up the middle to give Alabama a 2-1 lead.
The Crimson Tide added four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead. Junior first baseman Zac Welch walked and junior right fielder Gabe Scott followed with a base hit to left field to chase starter Brody Love.
Relief pitcher Dustin Griggs walked Paiml with two outs and then gave up a two-run single to Richardson as Bama took a 4-2 lead. Rice followed with an RBI single to left to score Paiml and Richardson scored on the two-base error by Dusty Bastion in left. Rice ended up at third on the play and was stranded there as Brandon Belcher lined out to end the inning.
Love (1-4) was charged with four earned runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings in the loss. He added one walk and struck out three.
Walker (2-0) allowed only one unearned run and five hits in seven innings for his second win of the season. The Prague, Okla., added nine strikeouts and one walk against the Bulldogs.
Junior right-hander Eric Mennen pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Walker. He allowed two hits, one walk and struck out two batters.
The Crimson Tide added three more runs in the seventh inning to extend its lead to 9-1. Sophomore third baseman Evan Bush and Welch plated runs with back-to-back RBI singles and Scott capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Alabama capped the scoring with a run in the eighth as freshman Emeel Salem drew a two-out walk and scored after back-to-back pinch-hit singles by freshman Michael McCallister and sophomore Matt Downs.
GAME NOTES:
*The Alabama-Louisiana Tech is the only Tuesday night game of the season for the Crimson Tide.
*Junior middle infielder Rocky Scelfo (sore knee) did not start the Louisiana Tech game for the first time this season. Sceflo entered the game with 30 starts this year and was the only UA player to start every game until Tuesday night.
*Freshman shortstop Greg Paiml extended his hitting streak to seven games with a third-inning bunt single. During the streak, Paiml is 9-for-18 (.500) with four doubles and four RBI. He reached base three times against Tech, including a pair of walks.
*Following his second inning single, sophomore Evan Bush has hit safely in six of his last seven games for the Crimson Tide. In those seven games, Bush is batting .346 (9-for-26) with one home run and eight RBI. Bush's RBI single in the sevneth inning gives him at least one RBI in a career-high six straight games for Alabama.
*Junior right-handers Andrew Walker (9) and Eric Mennen (2) combined for 11 strikeouts against Louisiana Tech, marking the 11th time this season the Crimson Tide has recorded double figure strikeouts in a game.
