24 Spencer Pennington

The oldest member of the Crimson Tide baseball team, Spencer Pennington played his first game for Alabama on Feb. 16, 2002.  The fifth-year senior will battle for time this year with Matt Bentley and Matt Downs at first base, or as UA’s designated hitter.  He has also enjoyed a role a left-handed pinch-hitter throughout his career.

SUMMER (2005):

Pennington spent part of his summer with the Nevada Griffons in the Jayhawk League
The Griffons went 32-26 to win the league titles and advance to the NBC World Series at Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas
Pennington started nine games for the Griffons and batted .353 (12-for-34) with one home run and eight RBI
He was on the same team with Alabama pitcher Austin Hyatt and infielder Kyle Moore

JUNIOR (2005):

Pennington played in 22 games and made five starts, the most since his freshman season in 2002
He batted .250 (9-for-36) with eight RBI
Delivered key pinch-hit single in UA’s six-run ninth inning at Hawai’i that led to 9-6 comeback win on Feb 12
Posted key two-run double in Bama’s 4-0 win over McNesse State (1-of-2, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB) on March 4
Added another pinch-hit RBI single in the Tide’s comeback win over Miami (Ohio) on March 12
Stroked pinch-hit, two-run double in UA’s six-run ninth inning at Florida that helped produce a 9-6 win on April 17
Collected three hits and three RBI in start against Miss. Valley State (3-for-4, R, 3 RBI) on April 20
Drafted in the 32nd round by the Milwaukee Brewers

JUNIOR (2004):

Redshirt

SOPHOMORE (2003):

Pennington appeared in 13 games for the Crimson Tide before leaving the team in mid April
He batted .200 (3-for-15) with five runs scored, one double and two RBI
Pennington’s lone start of the season came as the designated hitter in a win over SE Missouri State (0-for-4) on Feb. 24
He collected hits against SE Missouri State (Feb. 23), Miss. Valley State (Feb. 27) and Rhode Island (Mar. 2)

FRESHMAN (2002):

Appeared in 25 games and made 13 starts, both career highs
He batted .180 (9-for-50) with one home run and four RBI
Pennington made his first career start against Georgia Southern (1-for-3) on Feb. 16
Pennington’s only career home run came against No. 5 Florida (April 7) at the Joe. The two-run home run in the 8th inning gave UA a 5-3 lead in an eventual 6-5 win
It was the first home run by an Alabama football player since Philip Doyle (1991)

PREP:

Attended Fayette County High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and baseball
Signed a football scholarship to play quarterback at Alabama
As a senior, Pennington batted .476 (50-for-105) with 10 home runs and 55 RBI
He was tops among the state’s Class 4A players in average, home runs and RBI
Named Class 4A First-Team All-State by the Birmingham News and Alabama Sports Writer’s Association
Led Fayette County High School to the Class 4A Championship series, losing both games to state champion Bibb County High School
Pennington was 1-for-5 (.200) with four walks and two runs scored in the championship series
As a junior, he batted .430 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI
He hit 11 home runs as a sophomore
As a three-year starter at quarterback, Pennington threw for more than 6,300 yards and 50 TDs
He also led the Tigers to the Class 4A state football championship as a senior, throwing for 2,433 yards and 20 TDs

PERSONAL:

Full name is William Spencer Pennington
Parents are Mike and Donna Pennington
Pennington also played QB at UA (2002-04) and played in 19 career games.  He completed 96 of 182 passes (.527) for 1,134 yards, with five TDs and nine interceptions
His older brother Jeremy was a starting offensive lineman on the Alabama football team (1993-96) under coach Gene Stallings
The elder Pennington was a member of three SEC Western Division Championship (1993, 1994 and 1996) teams
BORN: April 11, 1983

PENNINGTON CAREER HIGHS
At-Bats: 6 at Oklahoma (3-26-02)
Runs: 1 (12x) Last vs. Miss. Valley (4-20-05)
Hits: 3 vs. Miss. Valley State (4-20-05)
RBI: 3 vs. Miss. Valley State (4-20-05)
Doubles: 1 (2x) Last at Florida (4-17-05)
Triples: None
HR: 1 vs. Florida (4-7-02)

PENNINGTON CAREER FIRSTS
First Game: vs. Ga. Southern (2-16-02)
First Start:  vs. Ga. Southern (2-16-02)
First Hit:  vs. Ga. Southern (2-16-02)
First HR:  vs. Florida (4-7-02)
First RBI:  vs. Arkansas State (2-22-02)
HTSK:  2 (4x) Last April 17-20, 2005
RBI Strk:  2 (April 17-20, 2005)

University of Alabama Athletics

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