Tide Hosts Memphis Tuesday Night at the Joe
2/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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The University of Alabama baseball team looks to extend its four-game winning streak as it plays host to the Memphis Tigers in a non-conference game Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The first pitch between the Crimson Tide and Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT).
Alabama (5-2) is coming off a three-game sweep of Kent State this past weekend here at the Joe. The Crimson Tide outscored the Golden Flashes 18-3 on the weekend as the pitching staff allowed just one earned run (0.33 ERA) in 27 innings of work.
Memphis (0-0) is playing its 2006 season opener at Alabama. The Tigers were scheduled to open the season this past weekend at home against Ohio University, but inclement weather forced the cancellation of the series.
Alabama coach Jim Wells is expected to send freshman left-hander Miers Quigley (1 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) to mound for his second career start. In his first start against Samford last Tuesday, Quigley took a perfect game into the fourth inning and a no-hitter into the fifth before some fifth-inning trouble, including an error that led to three unearned runs, knocked him out of the game.
Memphis is expected to counter with senior right-hander Marcus Davis, a transfer from VCU. In 16 games last season, Davis posted a 4-2 record and 6.50 ERA for the Rams.
The Tigers were 13-42 (.236) last year under first-year head coach Daron Schoenrock. Memphis returns seven starters and five pitchers off that team. Junior Adam Amar (Lake Mary, Fla.) returns at first base along with senior shortstop Jordan Tolliver (Flora, Illinois). Amar batted .301 (55-for-162) with seven home runs and 53 RBI in 55 games last season. Tolliver hit .286 (63-for-220) with three home runs and 21 RBI in 2005.
After dropping its season opening series to No. 26 Winthrop, Alabama has rebounded to win its next four games. The Crimson Tide is batting .246 (56-for-228) through seven games with seven home runs and 40 RBI. UA has seven home runs in seven games this season. The Tide had only one home run in its first seven games last year.
Alabama's top three hitters -- Ryan Rhoden, Emeel Salem and Kody Valverde -- are hitting a combined .343 (25-for-73) through seven games, with four home runs and 14 RBI.
Rhoden is the leading hitter with a .348 (8-for-23) average. Salem (.346, RBI) has reached base 17 times in seven games for a .500 on-base mark as the leadoff hitter. He has an 11-game hitting streak dating back to the 2005 season. Valverde (.333, 4 HR, 12 RBI) leads UA in home runs and RBI this year. He hit only seven home runs in 2005.
Rhoden batted .455 (5-for-11) in the Kent State series with two runs scored and one RBI. Valverde hit .385 (5-for-13) against KSU with two home runs and six RBI. Four of his five hits were extra base hits, including his first triple since the 2004 season. Salem batted .364 (4-for-11) against the Golden Flashes and added seven stolen bases.
The Crimson Tide pitching staff has been superb thus far and has posted a 5-2 record with three saves and a 2.57 ERA. The staff has almost a 4:1 strikeout (64) to walk (17) ratio. The Tide has allowed just 58 hits in 63 innings and opponents are batting .246 this season.
Dating back to the third inning of the Winthrop game on Feb 13, Alabama has allowed just one earned run (0.21 ERA) in its last 43 innings on the mound. The Crimson Tide yielded just one earned run (27 IP, 0.33 ERA) in the series sweep of Kent State and posted its first shutout of the season on Feb. 18. The Crimson Tide bullpen has thrown 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
Alabama leads the all-time series with Memphis, 11-5, including last year's 8-3 win on April 12 in Tuscaloosa.
Tuesday is also "Future All-American Night" at the Joe. All kids 12 and under get to take the field with the Crimson Tide during the National Anthem.
ON THE MOUND:
Memphis -- 25 Marcus Davis (RHP, Sr., 6-1, 238, Luray, Virginia; 16 G, 11 GS, 4-2, 6.50 ERA in 2005 at VCU)
Alabama -- 7 Miers Quigley (LHP, Fr., 6-4, 225, Roswell, Ga.; 1 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4.2 IP, 5 K)
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live audio broadcasts and live stats can be found at www.rolltide.com. The games are aired on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with David Crane and Chris Stewart.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets are available through the Alabama Athletic Ticket Office (205.348.2262). Single-game tickets are $5 each. Tickets are also available at the front gate of Sewell-Thomas Stadium two hours prior to each home game.
PROMOTION: Tuesday is "Future All-American Night". All kids 12 and under get to take the field with the Tide during the National Anthem.
