Pennington Sparks UA Win Over Florida, 7-2
5/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Spencer Pennington celebrated "Senior Day" in style Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Hours after earning his bachelors degree from the University of Alabama, the Fayette native went 2-for--4 with a home run and career-high five RBI to lead the No. 12 Crimson Tide to a 7-2 win over the Florida Gators.
Pennington highlighted a four-run third inning with a two-run single and capped the scoring with a three-run home run in the fifth inning. He accounted for six of the Tide's seven runs in the win.
"We had a couple of big hits from Pennington," Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. "He had a good day. He was one guy that stepped up and played well for us today."
Alabama (35-17, 16-10 SEC) regained the lead in the SEC Western Division with its victory over Florida. Ole Miss beat Arkansas 7-3 on Saturday to drop the Razorbacks into a second-place tie with the Rebels. Florida (25-26, 8-18 SEC) has its SEC Tournament hopes dashed with Saturday's loss.
Pennington's offense was more than enough for UA junior left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who was given an extra day rest this week and started on Saturday.
LeBlanc (8-0) remained unbeaten in 13 starts this season as he allowed two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked four and added eight strikeouts.
With those eight strikeouts, LeBlanc tied Brent Carter's (2002-05) all-time record with his 307th career strikeout. The Lake Charles, La., native has 101 strikeouts this season and is the only UA pitcher to record two 100 strikeout seasons. He had 108 strikeouts last year as a sophomore.
Alabama's bats came alive in the third inning with four runs on four hits against UF starter Bryan Ball. Salem's deep fly ball to right field to open the inning was snared over the wall by right fielder Austin Pride and that set the tone for the inning.
The Crimson Tide loaded the bases when Downs was hit by pitch, Avila singled and Bush drew a four-pitch walk. Rhoden's infield ground out scored Downs from third base to give the Tide a 1-0 lead.
Pennington followed with a sharp single to right to score Avila and Bush and give UA a 3-0 lead. Ferazza doubled into the left field corner to put runners at second and third before Belcher slapped a single to left to score Pennington with the fourth run of the inning. Ferazza was thrown out at home by left fielder Chris Petrie to end the inning.
Florida threatened with back-to-back singles to lead off the fifth inning, but LeBlanc recorded two strikeouts and then Brian Jeroloman to flew out to end the inning.
The Crimson Tide added to its lead with three runs in the fifth inning as Pennington launched a three-run home run to right field to give the Tide a 7-0 lead. Bush and Rhoden opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Pennington's third career home run chased Ball.
Ball (4-9) allowed seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings. He walked two batters and did not record a strikeout.
Florida got on the board in the top of the sixth when Matt LaPorta led off the inning with his team-leading 13th home run.
The Gators made it a 7-2 game in the seventh inning when Adam Davis hit a two-out home run to left field. It was Davis' sixth home run of the year.
LeBlanc then issued a walk to Jeroloman and turned the game over to right hander Jake McCarter, who struck out LaPorta to end the inning. McCarter threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in a non-save situation. He did not allow a hit and struck out two batters.
The series wraps up with a 1:06 p.m. (CT) game on Sunday and will be televised by SunSports. The Crimson Tide will send freshman right-hander Tommy Hunter (11 GS, 7-3, 3.29 ERA) to the mound. The Gators are expected to start left hander Steven Porter.
GAME NOTES:
*Alabama honored its seven senior players and one senior manager in a pregame ceremony on Saturday. Kenneth Brown (Lafayette, La.), Evan Bush (Rainbow City), Jordan Davis (Frisco, Texas), Matt Downs (Centreville), David Ferazza (Hayward, Calif.), Spencer Pennington (Fayette) were the UA senior players honored, along with senior manager Nick Rambo (Mobile).
*Four Crimson Tide seniors graduated from the Capstone on Saturday, including Davis, Ferazza, Pennington and Valverde. In all five of the seven seniors are UA graduates as Brown earned his bachelors degree in December, 2005. Bush and Downs are scheduled to graduate in December, 2006, which will mean all seven seniors graduated within five years.
*Alabama ended its four-game losing streak with Saturday's win. The Crimson Tide will look to end its series losing streak to the Gators in Sunday's rubber game. UF has won the last three series since 2003.
*Salem's 12-game hitting streak ended on Saturday with an 0-for-5 day at the plate.
*Alabama catcher Kody Valverde and Florida center fielder Gavin Dickey served one-game NCAA suspensions on Saturday after being ejected in Friday night's game in the ninth inning for fighting.
