Memphis Blanks Bama, 2-0
2/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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BOX SCORE
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It's hard to imagine a two-run single in the top of the first inning accounting for all the runs scored in a game, but that is exactly what happened Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Memphis, playing its first game of the season, scored two runs in the top of the first inning on Robbie Goss' two-out, two-run single up the middle and three Tiger pitchers made it hold up for a 2-0 win over the University of Alabama baseball team.
The shutout loss snapped Alabama's modest four-game winning streak and marked the first time since April 21, 1995 -- a span of 379 games -- that the Crimson Tide had been shutout at the Joe. UAB, another Conference USA foe, was the last team to shutout the Crimson Tide with a 5-0 victory 11 years ago.
Memphis left fielder Will Petersen led off the game with a single up the middle and moved to second when second baseman Bill Moss drew a one-out walk. Third baseman Kyle Norrid, a transfer from Tennessee, blooped a single into right center field to load the bases. After Adam Amar struck out, Goss singled up the middle to score Petersen and Moss with the only runs Memphis would need.
Alabama starter Miers Quigley (0-1) struggled through a 35-pitch first inning and left the game in the fourth after he issued a pair of walks. Quigley worked 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and four hits, with three walks and two strikeouts in his second start of the year.
The Crimson Tide bullpen -- Jake McCarter, Jordan Davis and Josh Copeland -- blanked Memphis over the final 5 1/3 innings, but the Crimson Tide could not generate any offense. The UA bullpen has not allowed an earned run in its last 31 1/3 innings this season.
Memphis starter Marcus Davis, a transfer from VCU, blanked the Crimson Tide over a 4 2/3 innings.
He worked out of a two-out jam in the first inning that saw UA second baseman Evan Bush reach on an error and take third on senior catcher Kody Valverde's double. Davis then got freshman Ryan Rhoden to tap back to the mound to end the inning.
Davis allowed a two-out single to junior shortstop Greg Paiml and a double to junior center fielder Emeel Salem in the fifth inning before exiting the game with two outs. Memphis lefty Dusty Davis got out of the jam when redshirt freshman Kyle Moore's fly ball was caught by center fielder K.K. Chalmers.
Alabama (5-3) never threatened again.
Dusty Davis (1-0) retired the first 10 batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk to Moore in the eighth. Phillip Utley retired the Crimson Tide in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.
The Crimson Tide managed only five hits in the loss, including two by Valverde.
Memphis had seven hits, including three by Norrid.
Alabama is back in action this weekend as they host the Florida International Golden Panthers in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
*Alabama senior third baseman Matt Downs (Centreville) was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday when he learned after batting practice that his maternal grandmother Elizabeth King was killed in an automobile accident. Downs left Sewell-Thomas Stadium with his father and brother just after the Crimson Tide had finished batting practice to be with his family. A moment of silence was observed for Ms. King and the Downs family prior to the game. "I feel really bad for Matt and his family," Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. "Their needs right now are certainly more important than this game."
*Redshirt freshman Kyle Moore (Wetumpka) made his first career start in left field against Memphis. He had started the last four games for the Tide as the DH. Freshman Alex Avila (Hialeah, Fla.) started at third base tonight in Downs' absence. Avila started the first five games of the season at third base, but did not see action against Kent State on Saturday or Sunday.
*Salem's fifth inning double to left-center field extended his hitting streak to eight games for the 2006 season. Dating back to the 2005 season, Salem has now hit safely in his last 12 games for the Tide.
*Paiml recorded eight assists for Alabama and started two key double plays in the eighth and ninth innings.
*The Alabama bullpen has stranded its last 11 inherited runners.
