Alabama Hosts Georgia at the Joe This Weekend
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Bama looks to hold on to first place in SEC West
Thursday, April 28, 2005
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Current Game Notes
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Game 44: GEORGIA BULLDOGS (22-18) AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (30-13)
SEWELL-THOMAS STADIUM (6,118) - TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA -- 6:36 PM (Alabama Cable Network)
APRIL 29, 2005
ON THE MOUND: UGA -- 14 Michael Hyle (RH, 10 GS, 3-2, 3.63 ERA) vs. UA - 18 T.J. Large (RH, 11 GS, 6-3, 2.41 ERA)
RADIO/TV: The Alabama-Georgia series will be broadcast through the Crimson Tide Sports Network and will be aired locally in Tuscaloosa on THE TUSK (WACT, 1420-AM). David Crane and Chris Stewart will call the action from the Joe. The Friday and Sunday games will be televised live by the Alabama Cable Network with Gary Harris (play-by-play) and Scott McClanahan (color). The game will be aired in Tuscaloosa on WVUA 7 Sports (Comcast Channel 3).
Date Game Time Radio/TV
April 29 vs. Georgia 6:36 PM CTSN, WACT 1420-AM, ACN
April 30 vs. Georgia 4 PM CTSN, WACT 1420-AM
May 1 vs. Georgia 2:06 PM CTSN, WACT 1420-AM, ACN
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live audio broadcasts and live stats can be found at www.rolltide.com.
TICKETS: Tickets for all Alabama home games are available through the UA Athletic Ticket office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, two hours prior to each game.
ALABAMA-GEORGIA PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, April 29, 2005 (6:36 PM - ACN)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
T.J. Large (R) 11-11 6 3 0 2.41 74.2 51 31 20 35 72 1
M. Hyle (R) 10-10 3 2 0 3.63 57.0 51 25 23 20 44 0
Saturday, April 30, 2005 (4 PM)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
W. LeBlanc (L) 7-7 3 2 0 4.14 41.1 30 20 19 12 62 1
S. Ruthven (R) 11-10 1 4 0 4.50 48.0 52 28 24 27 49 0
Sunday, May 1, 2005 (2:06 PM - ACN)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
TBA
W. Startup (L) 18-3 4 3 5 3.08 49.2 49 18 17 11 29 1
SEC WEST-LEADING BAMA HOSTS GEORGIA
Looking to maintain its lead in the Southeastern Conference Western Division, the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide (30-13, 11-7 SEC) hosts the defending SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs (22-18, 6-11 SEC) this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The series opener is set for Friday, April 29 at 6:36 p.m. and the game will be televised live statewide by the Alabama Cable Network. The two teams will also square off Saturday, April 30 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 at 2:06 p.m., in a game also televised by the Alabama Cable Network. The Crimson Tide owns a one-game lead over second-place LSU in the SEC Western Division standings with 12 games remaining on the schedule. LSU plays at Vanderbilt this weekend. Alabama is in second place in the overall SEC race, two games behind league-leading Florida. The Gators host the Tennessee Volunteers in a key SEC Eastern Division showdown this weekend in Gainesville. Alabama has been in first place in the SEC Western Division since April 3. The Crimson Tide took over the lead with a 5-4 win over then No. 4 LSU in 13 innings to claim its first series win over the Tigers since 1999. Alabama and Arkansas shared the top spot in the West after the Crimson Tide suffered back-to-back losses at No. 5 Florida (April 15-16), but has since regained sole possession of the top spot after the Razorbacks have dropped five of their last six SEC games, including three losses last weekend at home to LSU.
ALABAMA BASEBALL NOTEBOOK
The 1955 SEC Champion Alabama baseball team will holds its 50th anniversary reunion this weekend in Tuscaloosa ... Alabama (23-6, 16-2 SEC) won the SEC Western Division title to advance to the SEC Playoffs ... In the best-of-three series, Alabama swept Georgia (12-2 and 6-4) to claim the school's 10th SEC title ... Georgia was coached by the Crimson Tide's famous four-sport letterman Jim Whatley ... The Tide advanced to the NCAA District III Playoffs in Winter Park, Fla., and fell one-game short of the College World Series ... A total of 20 former players, spouses and support staff are expected to be at Saturday's game ... Alabama has won the last four series with Georgia in Tuscaloosa ... The Bulldogs last series win at the Joe was 1993 ... Bama has won five of its last six games, including a 9-8 win over South Alabama on Wednesday ... The Crimson Tide has trailed in 31 of 43 games this season and has posted 18 come-from-behind wins ... Of the 18 comeback wins, 10 have taken place in the sixth inning or later ... Senior LF Gabe Scott (Lake Charles, La.) went 2-for-5 in the win over South Alabama and has hit safely in 29 of his last 30 games ... In addition, Scott has reached base in 32 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 18th ... Freshman SS Cale Iorg (Knoxville, Tenn.) went 2-for-3, including a three-run home run in the win over South Alabama ... He also doubled and scored the tying run in the eighth inning ... Iorg enters the Georgia series with a 10-game hitting streak ...
ALABAMA-GEORGIA SERIES
*In a series that dates back to the 1904 season, Georgia holds a 59-51-2 all-time lead.
*Georgia took two of three from Alabama last season in Athens and snapped the Crimson Tide's four-game series winning streak in the process.
*The home team has won the last six series. Alabama was the last road team to win a series, beating Georgia in Athens in 1998.
*Alabama has won the last four series here in Tuscaloosa, with all four series wins coming in the Wells era. Georgia's last series win in Tuscaloosa came in 1993.
*Georgia has won three straight series at Foley Field and has won eight of the last 12 games in Athens.
*Alabama has not won a series in Athens since taking two of three from Georgia in 1998.
*The two teams met on a regular basis until 1955 before discontinuing the series for some 30 years.
*The two schools resumed their rivalry when the SEC returned to divisional play in 1986. Before the series was discontinued in 1955, Georgia held a 34-26-2 lead.
*Since the resumption with the return of divisional play in 1986, UA holds a slim 24-23 series lead.
*Alabama swept a best-of-three series from Georgia to win the 1955 SEC Championship.
*Alabama and Georgia have met four times in the post season, with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-1 lead in those games.
*Alabama graduate Jim Whatley lettered in four sports for the Crimson Tide in the 1930s. He later enjoyed successful career as head coach at the University of Georgia. Whatley posted a 336-327-3 (.507) record in his 30 years (1950, 1952-75) in Athens.
*Coach J.B. Whitworth served as the head baseball coach at both Alabama and Georgia. Whitworth spent two years as the Crimson Tide's baseball coach, compiling a 21-11 (.656) record in two seasons. He led Alabama to the 1934 SEC Championship.
*Whitworth coached one year at Georgia and compiled a 1-10 record as head coach in 1943. Whitworth later returned to Alabama as head football coach (1955-57) before being replaced on the gridiron by legendary coach Paul Bryant.
*Alabama has three players on its roster from the state of Georgia, including senior LHP Brent Carter (Americus), freshman RHP Josh Copeland (Palmetto) and freshman RHP Austin Hyatt (Marietta).
*Alabama coach Jim Wells is 17-11 (.607) in his career against Georgia.
*Georgia coach David Perno is 4-5 (.444) against Alabama.
SCOUTING REPORT: Georgia
*The Georgia Bulldogs (22-18, 6-11 SEC) have not had the year that was expected in Athens.
*The Bulldogs are coming off an 11-8 win over arch-rival and sixth-ranked Georgia Tech at Turner Field on Wednesday night.
*The defending SEC champions have struggled this season, particularly on offense.
*Coach David Perno brings a veteran squad to Tuscaloosa this weekend hoping to get the Bulldogs on track as they enter the final month of the regular season.
*Alabama has to be wary of a very talented Georgia pitching staff that includes three veteran SEC starters on the mound and a lineup that consists of one of the league's top power-hitting prospects.
*Georgia pounded out 14 hits in the win over the Jackets, one of the best performances of the year according to its head coach.
*Speaking of Georgia's offense, the Bulldogs have struggled at the plate with a .267 (358-for-1342) batting average to rank last in the SEC.
*The Bulldogs have added 30 home runs and 197 RBI in 40 games.
*Georgia averages 5.3 runs and 8.9 hits per game this season.
*Georgia does not have a player hitting higher than .300 this season, but have a trio of players in the .290s.
*Sophomore OF Joey Side (Loganville, Ga.) took over the team lead in hitting after the Tech game. Side is batting .298 (39-for-131) with five home runs and 24 RBI.
*Junior outfielder Bobby Felmy (Sunbury, Penn.) is second with a .297 (44-for-148) average and has added four home runs and 22 RBI in 40 games. Felmy leads the Dogs in runs scored (29), hits (44) and doubles (12).
*Junior OF Kyle Keen (Leesburg, Ga.) is third on the team with a .294 (25-for-85) average with 12 RBI in 36 games.
*Sophomore 1B Josh Morris (Cartersville, Ga.) is the main power supply in the lineup with a team-leading nine home runs and 35 RBI in 40 games.
*He had two hits and three RBI in win over Tech on Wednesday and stroked his ninth home run of the season.
*Morris, who is the only Bulldog to start all 40 games, leads Georgia slugging percentage (.571) and on-base percentage (.440).
*Senior catcher/1B Derek Smith (Marietta, Ga.) has added five home runs and 20 RBI in 36 games.
*In SEC play, Georgia is batting just .235 (135-for-574) and averages 4.0 runs and 7.8 hits per game against SEC teams.
*The Bulldogs have 10 home runs and 59 RBI in 17 league games.
*Keen is the offensive leader against SEC teams with a .351 (13-for-37) average in 15 games.
*Morris is hitting .206 (13-for-63) in SEC play and leads UGa with three home runs and 11 RBI in 17 games.
*Georgia's pitching staff has compiled a 22-18 record, with nine saves and 4.73 ERA this season.
*The staff has worked 354 innings and allowed 385 hits, 212 runs and 186 earned runs, with 135 walks and 339 strikeouts.
*Georgia pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs and 9.6 hits per game this season.
*In SEC play, Georgia is 6-11 with 5.90 ERA.
*The weekend rotation is as good as any in the SEC with three veteran arms on the mound.
*Junior RHP Michael Hyle (Marietta, Ga.) is expected to take the mound in the series opener on Friday.
*Hyle has started 10 games this season and compiled a 3-2 record and 3.63 ERA. Hyle has worked a team-best 57 innings and allowed 51 hits, 25 runs and 23 earned runs, with 20 walks and 44 strikeouts.
*Hyle is 2-2 with 4.06 ERA in six SEC starts.
*Another veteran junior RHP Sean Ruthven (Alpharetta, Ga.) is expected to take the mound on Saturday.
*Ruthven, the son of former MLB hurler Dick Ruthven, has posted a 1-4 record and 4.50 ERA in 10 starts this season.
*Ruthven has worked 48 innings and allowed 52 hits, 28 runs and 24 earned runs, with 27 walks and a team-leading 49 strikeouts.
*Ruthven is 0-3 with 5.02 ERA in five SEC starts.
*Junior LHP Will Startup (Cartersville, Ga.), the ace out of the pen the last two seasons, is expected to start on Sunday.
*He opened the year as Georgia's closer and has compiled a 4-3 record with five saves and 3.08 ERA.
*Startup has worked 49 2/3 innings and allowed 49 hits, 18 runs, 17 earned runs, with 11 walks and 29 strikeouts.
*He fired Georgia's only complete game of the season last weekend at Ole Miss, as the Dogs salvaged the final game of the series after losing a pair of heartbreaking one-run games to open the series.
*Startup has appeared in 11 SEC games and compiled a 2-3 record and 3.71 ERA with three saves.
*The three main guys out of the bullpen also have experience for Georgia.
*Junior LHP Rip Warren (Roswell, Ga.) is 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 15 appearances.
*Warren notched his first save of the season on Wednesday night against Georgia Tech with 2 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings in relief.
*Junior RHP Bo Lanier (Athens, Ga.) 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 14 games.
*Lanier earned the win against Tech (2.2, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K) on Wednesday night at Turner Field.
*Junior RHP Mitchell Boggs (Dalton, Ga.) is 3-4 with a 5.02 ERA in 13 games.
*Georgia has been a good defensive team this season with a .967 fielding percentage in 40 games. The Bulldogs have made 50 errors and have turned 39 double plays.
*Senior SS Josh Smith (Athens, Ga.) is the only Georgia player with double figure errors (12) this year.
CARDIAC KIDS
*It has been turn back clock night at a number of Crimson Tide baseball games this season.
*Coach Jim Wells built this program on hard work, making good decisions, timely hitting and playing hard until the final out.
*That philosophy was the formula for success that led Alabama to three College World Series appearances in 1996, 1997 and 1999.
*After a slow start in 2005, the magic if back in the Alabama dugout.
*Alabama has trailed in 31 of its 43 games this season.
*The Crimson Tide has posted 18 come-from-behind wins this season, including seven in SEC play.
*Of those 18 come-from-behind wins, 10 have come in the sixth inning or later.
*Alabama's four most impressive come-from-behind wins came against Hawaii (Feb 112), Miami-Ohio (March 12), Vanderbilt (March 27) and Florida (April 17).
*The wins over Hawaii, Vandy and Florida came on the road.
*Alabama trailed 5-3 entering the ninth inning at Hawai'i and appeared headed for its first 0-2 start since 1978.
*The Crimson Tide sent 10 men to the plate in the top of the ninth inning and scored six times for the 9-5 win.
*Bama tailed Miami (Ohio) 7-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning and scored three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth for the 8-7 win. Sophomore CF Emeel Salem drove home the winning run with a bases loaded single with one out in the ninth.
*Alabama spotted Vanderbilt a six-run lead after two innings in the series finale on Mar. 27 in Nashville. After losing a pair of one-run games to open the series, Alabama dug itself a huge hole early in the series finale.
*The Crimson Tide scored four times in the fifth inning but fell behind 8-4 after five innings.
*Evan Bush pulled Alabama to within a run at 7-6 with a three-run HR in the seventh inning and Morrow Thomley won the game with a two-run double in the eighth.
*Alabama trailed 6-3 at No. Florida on April 17 and were three outs of away from being swept in the Swamp.
*From out of nowhere, Alabama sent 11 batters to the plate and score six runs on seven hits for the comeback win.
*Bush started the inning with a base hit and later tied a UA single-game record with his second hit of the inning, an RBI single to make it a 9-6 game.
*Pinch-hitter Spencer Pennington laced a two-run double to left-center to make it a 6-5 game.
*Freshman SS Cale Iorg tied the game with an RBI single.
*Sophomore center fielder Emeel Salem's safety squeeze bunt gave the Tide its only lead of the weekend series.
*Alabama almost pulled off another miracle win at Ole Miss on April 9. The Rebels took a 6-0 lead after four innings only see UA tie the game in the fifth. Gabe Scott's three-run home run erased the six-run deficit.
*After falling behind 10-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Alabama scored four times in the seventh to tie the game at 10-10.
*Ole Miss added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 12-10 lead, but had to escape jams in the eight and ninth innings as the Tide brought the winning run to the plate in each inning.
*Here is a list of the Crimson Tide's come-from-behind wins in 2005.
COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS
Date Opp Trailed Final
2-13 at Hawaii 5-3 (9th) W, 9-5
2-18 UNCA 1-0 (1st) W, 7-2
2-25 Duquesne 1-0 (3rd) W, 13-3
2-26 Duquesne 1-0 (4th) W, 6-1
3- 2 Samford 3-1 (5th) W, 8-4
3- 5 McNeese St 2-1 (5th) W, 3-2
3- 9 BSC 1-0 (1st) W, 8-3
3-12 Miami 7-2 (8th) W, 8-7
3-23 Jax State 3-0 (6th) W, 5-3
3-27 at Vandy 6-0 (2nd) W, 10-8
4- 3 LSU 4-3 (7th) W, 5-4 (13)
4- 8 at Ole Miss 4-1 (7th) W, 5-4
4-10 at Ole Miss 2-0 (1st) W, 12-6
4-12 Memphis 3-1 (6th) W, 8-3
4-17 at Florida 6-3 (9th) W, 9-6
4-22 S. Carolina 2-0 (6th) W, 6-4
4-23 S. Carolina 3-0 (5th) W, 10-4
4-27 S. Alabama 8-7 (7th) W, 9-8
TRAIL-BLAZERS
*Alabama has trailed in 13 of its last 14 games, dating back to an 11-2 loss to LSU on April 2. The Tide has trailed in each of its last four games.
*The last time Alabama did not trail in a game was its 4-0 win over the Tigers on April 1.
*In addition, Alabama has trailed in 11 consecutive SEC games, dating back to April 2.
SEC GAMES EQUAL CLOSE CALLS
*The ability to mount a comeback bodes well for any team, but especially for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season.
*The majority of the games have been very close, particularly in SEC play.
*Of the 18 SEC games thus far, 10 have been decided by two runs or less.
*Alabama is 2-3 in one-run SEC games and 4-1 in games decided by two runs this season.
*Overall, Alabama has played 17 games decided by two runs or less.
*The Crimson Tide is 5-6 in one-run games and 5-1 in games decided by two runs.
RICE JOINS 200-CLUB
*Senior designated hitter Allen Rice has joined two different 200-clubs in the past two weeks at Alabama.
*The Helena, Ala., native became the 11th player in school history to play 200 or more career games. Rice appeared in his 200th career game at Alabama on April 16, 2005 at Florida.
*He became the 12th player in school history to collect his 200th career hit.
*He joined the 200-hit club at Alabama on April 24 as he broke up South Carolina RHP Zac McCamie's no-hitter with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.
*Rice enters the Georgia series with 206 career games played and 201 career hits. He is seventh on the games played list and 12th on the all-time hits list.
*Rice has one more 200-club in sight as he needs five starts for his 200th career start at Alabama. Presently, Rice has made 195 starts in his four year career with the Tide.
ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED
Rank Player (Yrs) Games
1. Jeremy Brown (1999-2002) 251
2. Andy Phillips (1996-99) 244
3. Brent Boyd (1999-2002) 243
4. Joe Caruso (1994-97) 242
5. Scott McClanahan (1999-2002) 227
6. Brett Taft (1993-96) 216
7. ALLEN RICE (2002-Present) 206
8. Mick Kerns (1989-92) 205
9. G.W. Keller (1997-99) 201
10. Allen Stallings (192-85) 200
Dustan Mohr (1995-97) 200
ALL-TIME HIT LEADERS
Rank Player (Yrs) Games
1. Andy Phillips (1996-99) 322
2. Brent Boyd (1999-2002) 314
3. Joe Caruso (1994-97) 309
4. Jeremy Brown (1999-2002) 307
5. G.W. Keller (1997-99) 292
6. David Magadan (1981-83) 268
7. Sam Bozanich (1998-2000) 258
8. Scott McClanahan (1999-2002) 238
9. Allan Stallings (1982-85) 234
10. Dustan Mohr (1995-97) 233
11. Mick Kerns (1989-92) 215
12. ALLEN RICE (2002-Present) 201
*Rice is also approaching several SEC milestones as his UA baseball career winds down.
*The senior has already played his 100th career SEC game when Alabama faced South Carolina on April 22.
*Rice enters the Georgia series with 97 career SEC hits, three shy of the century mark.
*He also enters the Georgia series with 93 career SEC starts, leaving him seven shy of the century mark.
CARTER NEARS BAMA'S ALL-TIME STRIKEOUT RECORD
*Alabama left-hander Brent Carter (Americus, Ga.) is closing in the on the school's all-time strikeout record.
*The senior has 282 career strikeouts in his UA career and needs seven to tie the all-time record of 289 career strikeouts held by Lance Cormier (1999-2002).
*Carter already holds the school record for most strikeouts by a left-hander as he surpassed the previous mark held by Mike Sodders (1985-88), who tallied 274 career strikeouts.
ALL-TIME STRIKEOUT LEADERS
Rank Player (Yrs) Ks
1. Lance Cormier (1999-2002) 289
2. BRENT CARTER (2002-Present) 282
3. Mike Sodders (1985-88) 274
4. Al Drumheller (1991-93) 262
5. Mike Innes (1968-71) 254
6. Joel Colgrove (1993-96) 237
Chris Eilers (1994-97) 237
8. Taylor Tankerlsey (2002-04) 232
9. Tommy Milstead (1988-91) 231
10. Jackie Glover (1967-69) 228
FRIDAY NOTES
*Alabama is 7-3 (.700) in Friday games this season.
*The Crimson Tide is 4-2 (.667) in Friday night SEC games.
*Last year, Alabama went 2-7 (.222) in Friday SEC games.
*As a team, Alabama is batting .277 (89-for-321) on Friday, with nine home runs and 47 RBI.
*Opponents are hitting only .153 (46-for-301), with eight home runs and 26 RBI.
*On the mound, Bama has a 2.35 ERA (88 IP, 46 H, 23 ER,102 K) in Friday games, while opponents have compiled a 4.71 ERA (84 IP, 89 H, 44 ER, 52 K).
*In its last two Friday night home games, Alabama RHP T.J. Large had allowed four runs and seven hits in wins over No. 4 LSU and No. 8 South Carolina.
*He tossed his first career shutout against No. 4 LSU on April 3 and limited the Tigers to just four hits.
*On April 22, he held South Carolina to four runs and three hits in eight-plus innings for his sixth win of the season.
*After three first-inning walks and a two-out double that gave USC a 2-0 lead, Large then worked 7 2/3 no-hit innings before he allowed a two-run home run to Steve Pearce in the ninth inning.
*In six Friday starts, Large is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA this season.
*In three Friday night SEC games from Mar. 25 through April 8, Alabama allowed just five runs and 10 hits against Vandy, LSU and Ole Miss.
*Vandy, LSU and Ole Miss were a combined 10-for-83 (.190) at the plate against Large during the last three Friday night games.
*Davis has made three appearances and tossed five scoreless innings with six Ks.
*Scott paces the Tide on Friday with a .536 (15-for-28) average, with four home runs and seven RBI in eight games.
*Sceflo is batting .435 (10-for-23) on Friday this season, with one home run and four RBI.
*Iorg has eight RBI in 10 Friday games, despite a .231 batting average.
ALABAMA'S WEEKEND STATISTICS
Alabama G AVG. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB
Friday 10 .277 321 56 89 22 3 9 47 31 52 13-16
Saturday 14 .270 477 82 129 16 4 10 71 59 103 20-26
Sunday 9 .332 349 84 116 24 4 11 79 39 65 7-12
Opponent G AVG. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB
Friday 10 .153 301 31 46 7 0 8 26 33 102 16-20
Saturday 14 .253 474 64 120 19 2 10 57 39 147 11-23
Sunday 9 .272 324 47 88 15 2 5 40 37 75 11-15
Alabama G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Friday 10-10 7 3 2 2.35 88.0 46 31 23 33 102 1
Saturday 14-14 9 5 2 3.48 126.2 120 64 49 39 147 1
Sunday 9-9 7 2 1 4.40 86.0 88 47 42 37 75 1
Opponent G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Friday 10-10 3 7 2 4.71 84.0 89 56 44 31 52 0
Saturday 14-14 5 9 2 4.12 122.1 129 82 56 59 103 0
Sunday 9-9 2 7 1 6.61 83.0 116 84 61 39 65 0
