Alabama Hosts 10th-Ranked Florida in Weekend Series
5/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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GAMES 47-49: FLORIDA GATORS AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
SEWELL-THOMAS STADIUM -- TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA -- 6:37 PM
MAY 7, 2004 -- UA PLAYS 3RD STRAIGHT TOP 10 SEC FOE
Date Game Time Radio/TV
May 7 vs. Florida 6:37 PM CT CTSN, Sunshine Network, WVUA
May 8 vs. Florida 4 PM CT CTSN
May 9 vs. Florida Noon CT CTSN, Crimson Tradition WEB-TV
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 Florida series on WRTR-FM (105.5) and the network. The series opener will be televised live by the Sunshine Network. The game will also be available on WVUA 7 Sports (Comcast Channel 3 in Tuscaloosa). Mick Hubert (play-by-play) and Nick Belmonte (analyst) will call the action from Tuscaloosa.
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live stats and audio broadcasts can be found at www.rolltide.com this weekend.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets and standing-room only tickets are available for $5 each and the gates will open two hours prior to each game.
ALABAMA HOSTS 10th RANKED FLORIDA
The Alabama Crimson Tide closes out a 15-game stretch of Southeastern Conference games in which it has played five straight Top 25 opponents as they host the No. 10 Florida Gators in a three-game series this weekend here in Tuscaloosa. The series opener is set for Friday, May 7 at 6:37 p.m. in a game televised regionally by the Sunshine Network. The game will also be aired live in Tuscaloosa on WVUA 7 Sports (Comcast Channel 3). The two teams will also square of on Saturday, May 8 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 9 at Noon. The Florida Gators are also the third straight Top 10 team to face Alabama this season. In addition to Florida, Alabama has also played No. 9 South Carolina (April 23-25) and No. 6 LSU (May 1-2). The South Carolina and LSU series were both on the road, leaving the Crimson Tide as the only team in the SEC to play both the Gamecocks and Tigers on the road this season. Alabama enters the Florida series seeking its first SEC series win of the 2004 season. Dating to last season, Alabama has lost its last 10 SEC series. The last SEC series win came here at home against No. 15 Arkansas on April 25-27, 2003. For the second straight week, the SEC's top pitching staff will square off with one of league's stop offensive clubs. Alabama leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally with a 2.93 ERA, while Florida ranks second in the league in hitting (.316), runs scored (372) and RBI (331) and third in home runs (53).
THE RECORDS
Alabama (26-20, 7-14 SEC) has lost all seven SEC series this season and despite being seven games under .500 in the tough and rugged SEC, still has a shot at the post-season tournament with nine games remaining. Bama is just three games out of eight place in the overall SEC standings and four games out of fifth place in the league race with three weeks to play. The Florida Gators (34-12, 14-7 SEC) lead the SEC Eastern Division and trail the Arkansas Razorbacks (15-6) by one game in the overall SEC Championship race. Florida took two of three from Arkansas to open league play in March. The Razorbacks are on the road the next two weeks at Ole Miss (May 7-9) and Miss. State (May 14-21).
THE COACHES
Alabama's Jim Wells is in his 10th season with the Crimson Tide program. He has compiled a 435-196 (.689) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 627-285 (.688) in 15 seasons at Northwestern State and Alabama. Florida head coach Pat McMahon is 117-52-1 (.692) in three seasons at with the Gators. He has compiled a 470-226-1 (.675) overall record in 12 seasons at Old Dominion, Miss. State and Florida.
NEXT GAME
Bama and Florida meet in game two of this series on Saturday, May 8 at 4 p.m.
WELLS LOOKS TO MOVE INTO SECOND PLACE ON SCHOOL'S SEC WIN LIST
Alabama head coach Jim Wells needs two Southeastern Conference wins to surpass Dr. Barry Shollenberger into second place on the school's all-time list for SEC wins.
*Wells has compiled a 170-115 (.596) record in 285 SEC games since the 1995 season.
*Shollenberger (1980-94) posted a 171-188-1 (.476) SEC record in his 15-year career.
*Coach Tilden "Happy" Campbell (265-117-3, .692) holds the Alabama record with 265 career SEC wins in his 25-year career at Alabama.
*Wells needs one more SEC win this season to tie Shollenberger' second-place mark and two wins to surpass the former UA skipper.
Alabama's SEC Victory Leaders
1. Tilden Campbell (1935-42, 47-63) 265
2. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) 171
3. Jim Wells (1995-Present) 170
4. Hayden Riley (1970-79) 83
5. Joe Sewell (1964-69) 47
Alabama's SEC Games Coached
1. Tilden Campbell (1935-42, 47-63) 385
2. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) 360
3. Jim Wells (1995-Present) 287
4. Hayden Riley (1970-79) 187
5. Joe Sewell (1964-69) 96
WELLS REACHES COACHING MILESTONES
*Alabama head coach Jim Wells has already logged a pair of coaching milestones this season, working his 900th all-time game and coaching his 600th game at Alabama.
*On April 11, the 15-year skipper coached his 900th all-time game on the Division I level as the Crimson Tide dropped a 3-2 decision to Vanderbilt.
*Earlier this year, Wells coached his 600th all-time game for the Crimson Tide on March 10, 2004 against Southern Miss.
*Now in his 10th year at the Capstone, Wells is second all-time at Alabama for games and wins.
*Here is a look at Wells milestone games in his career and at Alabama.
WELLS MILESTONE GAMES (Overall)
No. Opponent Date
1 Houston Baptist Feb. 12, 1990
100 SW Louisiana April 24, 1991
200 Stephen F. Austin April 9, 1993
300 Western Michigan March 18, 1995
400 Auburn May 10, 1996
500 Mercer March 4, 1998
600 Vanderbilt May 7, 1999
700 Louisiana Tech March 7, 2001
800 Auburn (NCAA) June 1, 2002
900 Vanderbilt April 11, 2004
WELLS MILESTONE GAMES (Alabama)
No. Opponent Date
1 Middle Tennessee State Feb. 18, 1995
100 at Kentucky April 5, 1996
200 Miami, Fla. (CWS) June 2, 1997
300 South Carolina April 2, 1999
400 Nevada (NCAA) May 27, 2000
500 Auburn April 26, 2002
600 Southern Miss March 10, 2004
WELLS SECOND ON BAMA ALL-TIME GAMES, WINS LIST
Alabama head coach Jim Wells ranks second in the school's all-time list for games coached and wins as he enters his 10th season with the Crimson Tide.
*Currently, Wells has coached 631 games at Alabama since being named head coach on June 4, 1994.
*Former UA skipper Dr. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) holds the school record with 804 games during his 15-year career.
*Wells is 191 games away from tying Shollenberger's school-record mark.
*In 2003, Wells moved into second place on the all-time list for games coached when he surpassed Tilden "Happy" Campbell (1935-42, 1947-63) with his 528th game at Alabama on Feb. 22, 2003.
*Campbell coached 527 games for the Crimson Tide in his two stints as head coach.
*In addition, Wells is UA's second winningest coach with 435 career wins at the Capstone.
*Shollenberger is the school's all-time winningest coach with 487 career wins. Wells is now 52 wins shy of tying the school's all-time mark for career victories.
Alabama's All-Time Victory Leaders
1. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) 487
2. Jim Wells (1995-Present) 435
3. Tilden Campbell (1935-42, 47-63) 355
4. Hayden Riley (1970-79) 236
5. Joe Sewell (1964-69) 106
Alabama's All-Time Games Coached
1. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) 822
2. Jim Wells (1995-Present) 631
3. Tilden Campbell (1935-42, 47-63) 527
4. Hayden Riley (1970-79) 443
5. Joe Sewell (1964-69) 185
Alabama's SEC Victory Leaders
1. Tilden Campbell (1935-42, 47-63) 265
2. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) 171
3. Jim Wells (1995-Present) 170
4. Hayden Riley (1970-79) 83
5. Joe Sewell (1964-69) 47
Alabama's SEC Games Coached
1. Tilden Campbell (1935-42, 47-63) 385
2. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94) 360
3. Jim Wells (1995-Present) 285
4. Hayden Riley (1970-79) 187
5. Joe Sewell (1964-69) 96
ALABAMA-FLORIDA SERIES
Alabama owns a 46-33 lead over Florida in a series that dates back to 1920.
*Alabama won the first two meetings between the two schools and 10 of the first 11 games played.
*Florida's first win came in 1927, but their first series win did not take place until 1948 with a two-game sweep of the Crimson Tide here in Tuscaloosa.
*The Crimson Tide dominated the series in the early years, posting a 17-5 (.773) record in the first 22 meetings.
*Florida then took over the series in 1975 and dominated Alabama over next 20 years, although the teams did not play on a regular basis.
*From 1975-94, Florida did most all of its damage in the series with a 23-6 (.793) record against Alabama.
*Since 1995, Alabama has had the upperhand with Florida, despite losing the series last year in Gainesville.
*Alabama has posted a 23-6 (.793) record against Florida in the last 10 years and has won six of the last seven series between the two teams.
*From 1996-2002, Alabama won 17 of 19 games with Florida, including a series record 14-game winning streak which was halted at the 2002 SEC Tournament,
*Florida took two of three from Alabama last year in Gainesville for its first series win over the Crimson Tide since a three-game sweep in 1994.
*Florida has not win a series in Tuscaloosa, since a three-game sweep of Alabama in 1988, which included back-to-back shutouts.
*Alabama has won all four home series with Florida in the Jim Wells era.
*In games played in Tuscaloosa, Alabama holds a 23-11 (.676) all-time lead.
*The Crimson Tide has a seven-game home winning streak against the Gators and have won 10 of the last 11 here at the Joe dating back to 1995.
*In games played in Gainesville, Florida holds a 20-16 (.556) series edge.
*Alabama owns a 7-4 (.636) series lead in games played at neutral sites.
WELLS VS. FLORIDA
Alabama head coach Jim Wells is 23-6 (.793) in his coaching career against the Florida Gators.
*Coach Wells is 10-1 (.909) against Florida here at the Joe in his career.
*Alabama has won six of the seven series with Florida since Wells became head coach in 1995, including sweeps in 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2002.
*Alabama posted a 14-game winning streak over Florida from 1996-2002, the longest by either team in the 79-game series history.
*The Crimson Tide won five of the six meetings with the Gators during the 2002 season, including a series sweep here in Tuscaloosa and two wins at the SEC Tournament in Hoover.
*Alabama lost two of three last year in Gainesville, marking the first time a Wells-coached team had ever lost a series to the Gators.
McMAHON VS. ALABAMA
Florida head coach Pat McMahon is 8-16 (.333) in his coaching career against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
*McMahon is 3-6 (.333) against the Crimson Tide has head coach of the Gators. He fashioned a 5-10 (.333) mark against the Tide in four years at Miss. State.
*McMahon is 2-7 (.222) against Alabama here at the Joe.
*McMahon-coached teams have lost four of the six previous series with Alabama, including three of four at Miss. State.
*McMahon led the Florida Gators to a series win last year in Gainesville. The win was the first by Florida over Alabama since sweeping the Crimson Tide in 1994. Last year's win was the first for McMahon since MSU took two of three from Alabama in 1999.
WELLS-McMAHON HEAD-TO-HEAD
Alabama head coach Jim Wells owns a 16-8 (.667) record in head-to-head meetings with Florida coach Pat McMahon.
SCOUTING REPORT: Florida Gators
For the second week in a row, the SEC's best pitching staff will face one of the top offensive juggarnauts in the SEC as the No. 10 Florida Gators come to Tuscaloosa for a weekend series.
*As a team, the Gators are hitting .316 (509-for-1,612) with 53 home runs and 332 RBI in 46 games this season.
*Florida ranks second in the league in hitting, runs scored and RBI, and rank third in the league in home runs.
*The Gators average 8.09 runs and 11.07 hits per game this season. UF also averages 1.15 home runs per game.
*The leading hitter for the Florida offense is junior C.J. Smith, who is hitting .376 (68-for-181) with 12 home runs and 53 RBI.
*The former sixth-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates leads the Gators in batting average, runs scored, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and slugging percentage.
*He also ranks seventh in the SEC in hitting , fifth in home runs and second in the league in RBI. Georgia freshman Josh Morris leads the league with 55 RBI this year.
*Smith is the son of Chris and Sandy Smith. His father, Chris, is the former head football trainer for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Ray Perkins. Smith also served as the head trainer under Perkins with the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Current Alabama head football coach Mike Shula was a player at Alabama during Smith's tenure and was player and assistant coach in Tampa Bay.
*Junior outfielder Ben Harrison is also one of the Gator's top offensive threats this season. In 44 games, Harrison is batting .355 (59-for-166) with 12 home runs and 47 RBI.
*Harrison, a former fifth-round draft pick, is 10th in the league in hitting, fifth in home runs and seventh in RBI.
*The two juniors have combined for 24 home runs and 100 RBI this season for the Gators.
*In addition to Smith and Harrison, the Gators have four other starters hitting better than .300 this season at the plate.
*Freshman catcher Brian Jeroloman (41 G, .345, 1 HR, 26 RBI), junior outfielder Jeff Corsaletti (45 G, .343, 10 2B, 4 HR, 31 RBI), freshman infielder Adam Davis (44, .322, 6 HR, 20 RBI) and sophomore infielder Justin Tordi (46 G, .312, 11 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI) are all hitting higher than .300 on the season.
*Corsaletti is the reigning SEC Player of the Week after hitting .615 (8-for-13) seven runs scored and seven RBI in last weekend's three-game sweep of Auburn in Gainesville. In the Gators 22-8 win in the series finale, Corsaletti went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
*Jeroloman is the younger brother of Auburn shortstop Chuck Jeroloman.
*The Gator pitching staff has posted a 34-12 record and 4.30 ERA in 46 games this season, with 10 saves, two shutouts and three complete games.
*As a whole, the UF pitching staff ranks 10th in the SEC with a 4.30 ERA. Only Auburn (4.48 ERA) and Kentucky (5.30 ERA) have posted higher ERAs than UF this season.
*In 414 innings, the Gators have allowed 467 hits, 263 runs, 198 earned runs, with 106 walks and 260 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .283 (467-for-1651) against the Gators staff.
*Florida boasts one the SEC's top hurlers in right-hander Justin Hoyman. The junior has compiled a league-best 9-0 record and 2.54 ERA this season in 13 starts. He also has all three complete games for the Gators and has been involved in both shutouts.
*In 92 innings, Hoyman has allowed 65 hits, 38 runs, 26 earned runs, with 24 walks and 71 strikeouts. He beat Alabama 5-1 last year in Gainesville.
*Hoyman leads the SEC in wins (9), opponents batting average (.194) and innings pitched (92) this season and ranks seventh with a 2.54 ERA.
*Hoyman is expected to pitch on Saturday for the Gators, his customary role for the UF staff.
*The other two starters are expected to be right-handers Tommy Boss and Bryan Ball.
*Boss (12 G, 9 GS, 3-2, 6.15 ERA), a junior, is expected to take the mound in the series opener. He has worked 41 innings and allowed 59 hits, 35 runs, 28 earned runs, with four walks and 15 strikeouts.
*Ball (13 G, 12 GS, 5-1, 4.50 ERA), also a junior, has worked 60 innings and allowed 69 hits, 39 runs, 30 earned runs, with 20 walks and 22 strikeouts.
*The two main arms in the pen are sophomore right-hander Darren O'Day and junior right-hander Connor Falkenbach.
*O'Day has appeared in 18 games this season and posted a 5-1 record and 1.88 ERA, with a team-best five saves. In 43 innings, he has allowed 44 hits, 21 runs, nine earned runs, with seven walks and 27 strikeouts.
*Falkenbach has appeared in 24 games and has compiled a 7-3 record and a 3.69 ERA, with three saves. He has worked 75 2/3 innings and allowed 84 hits, 37 runs, 31 earned runs, with six walks and 56 strikeouts.
*In the field, the Gators have made 77 errors (.959) in 46 games, an average of 1.67 per game,
26 UP, 20 DOWN
Alabama has compiled an 26-20 (.565) record through 43 games of the 2004 season. Here is how the Crimson Tide fares in its 26 wins and 20 losses.
*In its 26 wins this season the Alabama Crimson Tide has:
*Hit .330 (294-for-890) with 21 home runs and 211 RBI
*Averaged 8.88 runs (231) and 11.3 hits per game
*Posted a 1.69 ERA (234 IP, 173 H, 214 K)
*Committed 26 errors (.973) in 26 wins
*In its 20 losses this season the Alabama Crimson Tide has:
*Hit .215 (141-for-656) with nine home runs and 44 RBI
*Averaged runs 2.50 (40) runs and 7.05 hits per game
*Compiled a 4.65 ERA (168.1 IP, 191 H, 154 K)
*Committed 27 errors (.963) in 20 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 May 6, a total of 12 players have combined to miss 193 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.
*Belcher has suffered a bone spur in his left elbow and will be lost for the remainder of the season on the mound. He could be available for limited duty in the outfield and will likely see action as the DH or pinch-hitter.
*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.
*Sceflo also missed the final two games of the LSU with an infection his leg. He is out this weekend against Florida and is likely facing off-seasaon surgery.
*Junior Allen Rice also missed the LSU series with some nagging injuries.
Players Who Have Missed Games with Injuries
Player Games Missed
Brandon Belcher 3
Evan Bush 1
T.J. Large 36
Charlie Lyons 32
Michael McCallister 2
Jeffrey Norris 23
Allen Ponder 5
Nick Richardson 10
Allen Rice 3
Rocky Scelfo 5
Morrow Thomley 23
Chad White 46
PITCHING IN
The Alabama baseball team boasts one of its finest pitching staff's in school history.
*Through 46 games, the Crimson Tide has a sparkling 2.93 ERA, which paces the SEC and ranks sixth nationally.
*Alabama is also leads the SEC in complete games (6) and fewest earned runs allowed (125) 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.
*The Crimson Tide held No. 6 LSU to 13 runs and 20 hits in a three-game series at Baton Rouge (May 1-2). It was the Tigers lowest run and hit production in an SEC series this season.
*Bama allowed just five earned runs in 26 2/3 innings at South Carolina (April 23-25), losing a 1-0 game in 10 innings in the series finale.
*In his last seven games, Alabama has allowed just 14 earned runs (2.16 ERA) in 58 1/3 innings against South Carolina, Miss. Valley State and LSU.
*Here are the nation's Top 10 pitching staff's (based on ERA) through games of May 2nd.
NCAA ERA LEADERS (May 3rd)
Rank Team ERA
1. Rice 2.39
2. Texas 2.46
3. Long Beach State 2.60
4. Central Florida 2.83
5. Oral Roberts 2.86
6. ALABAMA 2.93
7. Wichita State 3.14
8. UC Irvine 3.21
9. NC State 3.22
Lamar 3.22
Alabama's SEC Rankings (May 3rd)
Category Stats (SEC Rank)
Earned Run Average 2.93 (1st)
Fewest Earned Runs Allowed 130 (1st)
Complete Games 6 (1st)
Fewest Runs Allowed 171 (2nd)
Fewest Hits Allowed 364 (2nd)
Fewest Home Runs Allowed 26 (t2nd)
Opponents Batting Avg. .240 (3rd)
Pickoffs 9 (3rd)
Strikeouts 368 (5th)
Fewest Walks 122 (5th)
Innings Pitched 402.1 (8th)
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 (1.40) and freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc (1.73) 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 fourth with a sparkling 1.40 ERA this season and has allowed only nine earned runs in 57 2/3 innings in 15 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 11h in the nation with a 1.73 ERA this season and has allowed only 17 earned runs in 88 2/3 innings.
*LeBlanc ranks third nationally among freshman pitchers this season with his 1.73 ERA in 13 games.
NCAA INDIVIDUAL ERA LEADERS (May 3rd)
Rank Player ERA
1. Nate Moore, Troy State 0.77
2. Wade Townsend, Rice 1.17
3. Kyle Bono, UCF 1.23
4. TAYLOR TANKERSLEY, ALABAMA 1.40
5. Phillip Humber, Rice 1.41
6. Jered Weaver, LB State 1.42
7. Matt Fox, UCF 1.48
8. Ryan DeGeeter, Ball State 1.56
9. Jason Meyer, Texas A&M 1.65
10. Jordan Thompson, N'eastern 1.69
11. WADE LEBLANC, ALABAMA 1.73
GOING THE DISTANCE
Alabama freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc leads the SEC with six complete games this season.
*LeBlanc has all six of the Crimson Tide's SEC-leading six complete games this year.
*Ole Miss is the only other team in the league with six complete games this season, notching two at South Carolina (April 30-May 2).
*Arkansas and Georgia logged their first complete games of the seasons during week seven of the season. Arkansas' first CG came against Tennessee on May 1, while Georgia's first CG came May 2 against Kentucky.
SEC COMPLETE GAMES
Rank Team CGs
1. Wade LeBlanc, Alabama 6
Ole Miss 6
3. Florida 3
Tennessee 3
LSU 3
South Carolina 3
7. Vanderbilt 2
Kentucky 2
9. Auburn 1
Miss. State 1
Arkansas 1
Georgia 1
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 is just 12-16 (.429) in its last 28 games and has seen its overall numbers take a dramatic turn for the worse.
INDIVIDUAL HITTERS (Before March 15)
Player Stats
Allen Rice .388, HR, 16 RBI
Zac Welch .333, 3 HR, 14 RBI
Evan Bush .327, 4 HR, 10 RBI
Carlos Sosa .317, 3 HR, 21 RBI
Rocky Scelfo .290, HR, 13 RBI
INDIVIDUAL HITTERS (Before March 15)
Player Stats
Rocky Scelfo .345, 0 HR, 14 RBI
Allen Rice .295, 0 HR, 9 RBI
Evan Bush .281, 2 HR, 14 RBI
Zac Welch .280, 3 HR, 24 RBI
Carlos Sosa .240, HR, 5 RBI
INDIVIDUAL PITCHERS (Before March 15)
Player Stats
Seth Johnson 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV
Wade LeBlanc 4-1, 0.62 ERA
Taylor Tankersley 1-1, 1.20 ERA, 1 SV
Brandon Belcher 2-1, 2.00 ERA
T.J. Large 1-0, 2.2 ERA
INDIVIDUAL PITCHERS (Before March 15)
Player Stats
Taylor Tankersley 1-2, 1,48 ERA, 2 SV
Wade LeBlanc 2-3, 2.37 ERA
Andrew Walker 3-0, 3.06 ERA
SEC SLUMP
Alabama has lost 10 straight Southeastern Conference series for the first time in the Jim Wells era.
*Alabama has also lost 10 consecutive three-game SEC series for the first time in school history and best research shows that UA has never lost 10 straight SEC series of any kind since 1933.
*The previous high was nine straight SEC series losses in 1993-94. Alabama lost its last SEC series to close out the 1993 season and then lost all eight conference series in 1994 en route to setting school futility records for most overall losses (35), fewest SEC wins (4), 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)
May 1, 2004 Alabama 8, LSU 2
May 2, 2004 LSU 2, Alabama 1 (8) (DH)
LSU 9, Alabama 2 (DH)
SEC RECORD BREAKDOWN
The Crimson Tide is 7-14 (.333) in SEC play this season, losing all seven series in league play.
*Despite being seven games under the .500 mark, Alabama has not been swept in an SEC series this year.
*Alabama is one of only three teams in the SEC that has not been swept this season, joining overall leader Arkansas and South Carolina.
*The Razorbacks have won their last six SEC series after dropping two of three at Florida to open league play.
*Arkansas is on the road the next two weeks at Ole Miss and Miss. State.
*South Carolina lost its first two SEC series, but has bounced back to win four the last five entering this weekend's play at Auburn.
*Alabama is 2-5 (.286) in series openers after last week's 8-2 win at LSU in the Saturday series opener. The Friday night game was rained out.
*Alabama is 1-5 (.167) in SEC games on Friday this season and has lost seven of its last eight Friday games dating back to last year.
Friday SEC Games (1-5, .167)
Date Result of Game
Mar. 19 Georgia 5, Alabama 4
Mar. 26 Ole Miss 11, Alabama 1
April 2 Alabama 6, Arkansas 3
April 9 Vanderbilt 6, Alabama 5
April 16 Auburn 8, Alabama 2
April 23 S Carolina 6, Alabama 3
*Alabama's best day of the three weekend dates is Saturday. Bama has posted a 5-2 (.714) record on Saturday this season.
*In fact, five of Alabama's seven SEC wins have come on Saturday this year. Dating back to last year, six of the Tide's last eight SEC wins have come on Saturday.
Saturday SEC Games (5-2, .714)
Date Result of Game
Mar. 20 Alabama 7, Georgia 5
Mar. 27 Alabama 2, Ole Miss 1
April 3 Arkansas 7, Alabama 2
April 10 Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 1
April 17 Auburn 7, Alabama 1
April 24 Alabama 7, S. Carolina 4
May 1 Alabama 8, LSU 2
*A team that has lost 10 straight SEC series has to have a poor record in Sunday SEC games and Alabama has certainly had its share of difficulties on Sunday of late.
*The Crimson Tide is 1-7 (.125) in Sunday SEC games this season, losing both ends of a double header at LSU last weekend.
*Alabama enters the Florida series having lost its last three Sunday SEC games.
*Earlier this season, Alabama posted a 19-0 win over Auburn (April 18) to snap a seven-game Sunday SEC losing streak, dating back to the 2003 season.
*Dating back to last year, Alabama is just 1-10 (.091) in its last 11 Sunday SEC games.
*During its current SEC losing streak, Alabama lost the first two games of the series only two times. The Crimson Tide was swept by South Carolina last year here in Tuscaloosa and lost the first two games of the Auburn series (April 16-17) this season.
*In the other eight series a Sunday win would have meant a series win for Alabama.
Sunday SEC Games (1-7, .125)
Date Result of Game
Mar. 21 Georgia 7, Alabama 5
Mar. 28 Ole Miss 4, Alabama 2
April 4 Arkansas 11, Alabama 6
April 11 Vanderbilt 3, Alabama 2
April 18 Alabama 19, Auburn 0
April 25 USC 1, Alabama 0 (10)
May 2 LSU 2, Alabama 1 (8)
LSU 9, Alabama 2
HOME SWEET HOME?
Alabama has not won a home series this season, losing three-game SEC sets to No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 25 Vanderbilt and No. 12 Auburn.
*The Crimson Tide has two more home series remaining on its 2004 schedule, including this weekend's three-game series with Florida. Bama also closes out the season at home with Miss. State in two weeks.
*Alabama is one of three teams in the SEC not to win a home series this season.
*Auburn has not won a home series this season, losing all three series Kentucky, LSU and Miss. State. However, the Tigers have won three of their four road series with the only loss coming in the form of a sweep at Florida (April 30-May 2).
*Auburn is home the next two weekends against two of the league's hottest teams, South Carolina and Georgia.
*Miss. State is the other team without a home series win this season, losing at home to Tennessee, Ole Miss and Florida.
*State has two road series wins at Kentucky and Auburn.
*Like Auburn, the Bulldogs are home the next two weekends against the red-hot Georgia Bulldogs and SEC leader Arkansas.
*MSU closes out the season at Alabama in two weeks.
BAMA AT HOME
*Alabama is 19-8 (.704) at home this season, but has really struggled at the Joe of late.
*The Crimson Tide posted a 13-game home winning streak from Feb. 15-March 24, the fifth longest streak in the modern era of baseball.
*Since that 13-game home winning streak, Alabama has lost seven of its last 12 home games, including three straight SEC series' to Ole Miss, Vandy and Auburn.
*In 27 home games this season, Alabama is batting .301 (275-for-913) with with 21 home runs and 178 RBI.
*Bama is averaging 7.15 runs and 10.19 hits per game at the Joe this year.
*On the mound, Alabama is 19-8 with a 2.41 ERA.
*The staff has worked 243.0 innings and allowed only 190 hits, 88 runs, 65 earned runs and walked 72 and struck out 244 batters.
*Alabama also has three complete games, three shutouts and six saves at home this season.
2004 HOME BATTING LEADERS
Player Stats
Allen Rice, INF .389, 1 HR, 17 RBI
Carlos Sosa, DH .360, 3 HR, 23 RBI
Zac Welch, 1B .342, 6 HR, 31 RBI
Rocky Scelfo, INF .333, 1 HR, 16 RBI
Evan Bush, INF/OF .284, 3 HR, 14 RBI
2004 HOME PITCHING LEADERS
Player Stats
Taylor Tankersley 6 G, 2-1, 0.65 ERA, 1 SV
27.2 IP, 15 H, 2 ER, 33 K
Wade LeBlanc 7 GS, 4-2, 1.46 ERA
55.1 IP, 54 K, 4 CG
Seth Johnson 9 G, 0-0, 1.86 ERA, 4 SV
19.1 IP, 16 H,4 ER, 14 K
PLAYING DEFENSE
Alabama is seeking to become the best defensive team in Alabama baseball history, with 53 errors in 46 games.
*The Crimson Tide is currently fourth in the SEC with a .969 fielding mark.
*The current .969 fielding clip is .002 points less than the all-time Alabama record (.971) held by the 1996 team.
*In fact, only two Alabama teams have fielded better than .970 in a single-season. The 1994 team is second with a .970 fielding clip.
*The Crimson Tide defense has shown a marked improvement over the last two seasons.
*In 2002-03, Alabama combined to make 181 errors in 128 games, an average of 1.41 errors per game over the last two seasons.
*In 2002, Alabama made 95 errors (.964) in 66 games.
*Last year, Alabama made 88 errors (.962) in 62 games.
*The Crimson Tide has played 13 errorless game this season and has made one error or less in 30 of its 46 games to date.
*Alabama has had only one game this season with four or more errors, with four errors in an 8-2 loss to Auburn on April 16.
*Alabama played 19 errorless games in 2002 and posted six games with four or more errors. The Crimson Tide won all six of those games.
*Last year, Alabama played 18 errorless games.
*Bama also had at least two errors in 21 of the 62 games last year, including five games of four or more errors.
*Alabama had two games with six errors and one game with five erorrs and ironically won all three games.
*Over the last three years, Alabama is 9-3 (.750) in its last 12 games when making four or more erorrs in a game.
*Alabama made defensive history earlier this season by playing the first three-game SEC series in the Wells era without making an error.
*The Crimson Tide played three consecutive erorrless game at Georgia (Mar. 19-21), but lost two of the three games played against the Bulldogs. On the flip side, UGa made 12 errors in the three games and took the series.
*Since that stellar defensive series at Georgia, Alabama has played only three error-free games since. UA did not make an error against Arkansas (April 3), Auburn (April 18) and most recently, LSU (May 1).
*In fact, Alabama made only 19 errors in its first 22 games of the season, compared to 34 errors in the last 24 games.
*In addition, Bama has had two lengthy errorless streaks this season.
*From Mar. 10-14, Alabama played a season-high 31 1/3 innings without an error over a span of four games.
*From Mar. 17-24, Alabama posted an errorless streak of 30 1/3 innings over four games.
Single-Season Fielding (Wells Era)
Yr Fld% Gms Errors
1995 .965 64 85
1996 .971 69 78
1997 .966 70 93
1998 .963 64 89
1999 .966 69 84
2000 .957 65 109
2001 .968 55 67
2002 .964 66 95
2003 .962 62 88
2004 .969 46 53
MAY DAY
Alabama has compiled a 100-51 (.662) all-time record under Jim Wells in the month of May.
*The Crimson Tide is 1-2 (.333) this year in the month of May.
*Alabama went 66-18 (.786) in the month of May during the 1995-1999 seasons.
*Since then, Alabama is just 34-33 (.507) in the month of May since the 2000 season.
*Alabama was 7-10 (.412) last year in May and posted a 10-7 (.588) record in 2002 during the month.
*The Crimson Tide posted a 15-2 (.882) record in the month of May during the 1996 season.
*The 1996 team matched the 1983 squad for the most wins in school history during the month of May.
*The 1999 (14-1) team holds the school record for the highest winning percentage (.933) in the month of May.
Year-By-Year May Record (1995-2004)
Year Record (Pct.)
1995 13-7 (.650)
1996 15-2 (.882)
1997 14-2 (.875)
1998 10-6 (.625)
1999 14-1 (.933)
2000 8-7 (.533)
2001 8-7 (.533)
2002 10-7 (.588)
2003 7-10 (.412)
2004 1-2 (.333)
Totals 100-51 (.662)
