Carter Becomes Bama's All-Time Strikeout Leader
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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STARKVILLE, Miss. -- University of Alabama senior left-hander Brent Carter made history Friday night in Starkville as he became the Crimson Tide's all-time strikeout leader with his 290th career strikeout in the fifth inning.
"Personally, it certainly means a lot to have name above Lance Cormier, who is now pitching in the big leagues, and Mike Sodders and Al Drumheller," Carter said following his longest relief stint of the year. "They are all great pitchers. The big thing is we lost the game. That is what hurts right now. It's kind of a bitter sweet night to break the record.
Carter (Americus, Ga.) struck out MSU left fielder Brian LaNinfa in the fifth inning to break the previous record of 289 career strikeouts held by former Tide All-American Lance Cormier. Cormier (1999-2002) now pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carter tied the all-time mark when he struck out LaNinfa in the third inning.
"The first time I struck him out, I surprised him with an off-speed pitch," Carter added. "The second time, it was a 3-2 fastball and I threw it by him and he was late on it.
"It was a good feeling inside,but I knew there was a more important task at hand and that was to keep the game close and give out guys a chance to win."
Carter worked a season-high 6 2/3 innings in relief and allowed two runs and eight hits, with one walk and four strikeouts.
He drew praise from Alabama head coach Jim Wells for his performance on Friday night and for the becoming the school's all-time strikeout leader.
Brent has had a good career here," Wells said. "I am happy for him and it is very deserving. But more importantly, with maybe one more small adjustment he can really be a big pitcher for us in the post-season. He will be a big part of what we are going to be able to do. The bright spot was I thought Carter pitched good, which is encouraging for the future."
Carter has appeared in 71 career games for Alabama and compiled a 24-10 (.000) record and 3.64 ERA. He has logged 314 1/3 innings and allowed 303 hits, 151 runs and 127 earned runs, with 63 walks and 292 strikeouts.
His best season came in 2002 when he set Alabama single-season records for wins, innings pitched and strikeouts for a sophomore pitcher.
"I will definitely look back on my sophomore year," Carter recalled. "I had everything working. I was basically new to the league because I did not throw much my freshman year. For a while there, I dominated the league. And as I look back on that season drying the stretch run, I was one of the top pitchers in the SEC. That is one thing that sticks out."
He posted a 10-5 record in 19 games as a sophomore and compiled a 3.30 ERA for the Tide. Carter worked 122 2/3 innings and recorded 105 strikeouts, the second-highest single-season total in school history.
