Alabama Baseball Faces Hawai'i in Game Two of Series
2/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Game 2: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT HAWAI'I RAINBOWS
LES MURAKAMI STADIUM (4,312) - HONOLULU, HAWAI'I -- 10:35 PM (CT)
FEBRUARY 11, 2005 -- BAMA LOOKS TO REBOUND AFTER LOSS
ON THE MOUND: UA - Brandon Belcher (11 G, 8 GS, 3-5, 4.50 ERA) vs. UH - Stephen Bryant (17 G, 8-4, 3.52 ERA)
RADIO: The Alabama-Hawaii series will be broadcast through the Crimson Tide Sports Network and will be aired locally in Tuscaloosa on THE TUSK (WACT, 1420-AM). Veteran play-by-play announcer David Crane will describe all the action this weekend from the island of Ohau.
Date Game Time Radio/TV
Feb. 11 at Hawaii 10:35 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
Feb. 12 at Hawaii 10:35 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
Feb. 13 at Hawaii 5:05 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live audio broadcasts can be found at www.rolltide.com.
BAMA DROPS SEASON OPENER
The Alabama baseball team dropped the 2005 lidlifter 4-1 here last night at Les Murakami Stadium and snapped an 11-game opening day winning streak in the process. The Crimson Tide managed eight hits, but none with runners in scoring position, and sophomore ace and preseason All-American Wade LeBlanc (4.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 BK, WP) struggled in his first start of the season. Hawai'i scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead, highlighted by Greg Kish's (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI) two-run double. LeBlanc labored in the inning and needed 39 pitches to retire the Rainbows in the three-run frame. Alabama did not get its initial hit of the season until sophomore center fielder Emeel Salem (2-4, Run) singled up the middle to lead off the fourth inning. The Crimson Tide scored its only run in the sixth on a pair of singles by Salem ad junior catcher Kody Valverde (3-4) and a RBI ground out by junior third baseman Evan Bush. UH senior Ricky Bauer (7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) was as good as advertised en route to the win. Guy McDowell (2 IP, 2 H, K) earned the save with a pair of scoreless innings.
CRIMSON TIDE NOTEBOOK
Alabama is looking to avoid its first 0-2 start since 1978 after last night's loss to UH ... Dating back to last year, Alabama has lost four in a row, five of its last six and nine of its last 12 games ... Alabama (3) and Hawai'i (1) combined for four balks in the season opener ... LeBlanc (UA) was charged with two balks, while Davis (UA) and Bauer (UH) added one each ... Three players made their Crimson Tide debut in the season opener, including Valverde, Iorg and Davis ... Valverde (3-for-4) accounted for three of the Crimson Tide's eight hits in loss ... Valverde and Salem (2-for-4) were a combined 5-for-8 (.625) in the season opener and scored the only run of the game. The rest of the team went 3-for-26 (.115) in the loss ... Alabama was 0-for-8 (.000) with runners in scoring position in last night's loss ... LeBlanc (5) and Davis (5) combined for 10 strikeouts in the loss to UH ... All eight hits last night were singles ... Salem and Grooms each have four-game hitting streaks dating back to last season ... Senior LHP Brent Carter (6-3, 0.00 ERA in 2004) is the scheduled starter for the Crimson Tide in Saturday's game against Hawai'i ...
