SEC Champs Face LSU in First-Round of SEC Tournament
5/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
GAME 57: LSU TIGERS (34-22, 13-17 SEC) vs. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (39-17, 20-10 SEC)
HOOVER METROPOLITAN STADIUM (10,800) -- HOOVER, ALABAMA -- 5 PM (CT) (CSS)
MAY 24, 2006 -- TOP SEED ALABAMA TANGLES WITH LSU IN SEC TOURNEY
| Date | Game | Time | Radio | TV |
| May 24 | LSU vs. ALABAMA | 5 PM | CTSN (87.5 at Met, 1420 AM | CSS |
| May 25 | Arkansas/Ole Miss vs. ALABAMA | 1:30 PM or 8 PM | CTSN (87.5 at Met, 1420 AM | CSS |
ON THE MOUND:
| LSU | 13 Clay Dirks (Jr., LHP, 6-4, 235, Hernando, Miss.; 14 GS, 4-4, 4.93 ERA, 80.1 IP, 99 H, 51 R, 44 ER, 18 BB, 77 K, 1 CG) |
| UA | 45 Bernard Robert (Jr., RHP, 6-0, 180, Jr., Denham Springs, La.; 14 GS, 7-5, 4.76 ERA, 87 IP, 103 H, 55 R, 46 ER, 36 BB, 70 K) |
-- OR -- 21 Jake McCarter (Jr., RHP, 6-2, 200, Jr., Kerrville, Texas; 17 G, 5 GS, 6-1, 2.24 ERA, 56.1 IP, 46 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 21 BB, 48 K)
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live audio broadcasts at www.rolltide.com. The games are aired on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with David Crane (play-by-play) and Chris Stewart (color) describing the action. The CTSM broadcast can be heard at the Hoover Met on 87.5 FM. The games are also on in Birmingham on WAPI 1070 AM. Live stats are also available at www.secsports.com. CSS Sports (Comcast 29 in Tuscaloosa) will televise the first eight games of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday, May 24 and Thursday, May 25. Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Nick Belmonte (analyst) will be one announce crew, while Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Rusty Ensor (analyst) will serve as the second announce crew during the four games each day.
TICKETS: Tickets for the 2006 SEC Tournament are $100 for reserved seats and $75 for general admission. Dr. Pepper Six Packs are $60 each which is six general admission tickets for any game.
SEC CHAMPS FACE LSU IN FIRST-ROUND GAME
The sixth-ranked and 2006 Southeastern Conference co-champion University of Alabama baseball team is the No. 1 seed at the 2006 SEC Tournament at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala., this week (May 24-28). Alabama (39-17, 20-10 SEC) won a share of the 2006 SEC Championship with Kentucky. This is Bama's league-leading 14th SEC baseball title. Bama has also won 12 SEC Western Division titles. The 2006 divisional title is third under Coach Jim Wells. Alabama is the overall No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament for just the second time in history. The Crimson Tide was also the top seed at the 1996 SEC Tournament here in Hoover. UA went 4-1 in the 1996 SEC Tournament to win its second of three consecutive post-season titles. Alabama is the last No. 1 seed to win the SEC Tournament back in 1996. The Crimson Tide defeated the Florida Gators twice (10-5 and 15-5) in the championship round to win the post-season title. Under the current format, the No. 1 seed has never won the SEC Tournament. In addition, the No. 1 seed has only reached the SEC Tournament championship game three times and in all three instances lost to Alabama. The No. 1 seeds that lost to Alabama in the finals were Arkansas (1999), South Carolina (2002) and LSU (2003). The Crimson Tide has enjoyed a successful run in SEC post-season play since the arrival of Jim Wells in 1995. Wells very first SEC Tournament game was a walk-off 8-7 win over LSU in the 1995 SEC Western Division Tournament at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Miss. Jason Jordan's walk-off home run snapped UA's 10-game tournament losing streak that stretched back to the 1996 season. Alabama's SEC Tournament presence prior to 1995 is almost non-existent. The Crimson Tide posted a 4-16 (.200) record from 1977-94. Three of those four wins came in 1983 when David Magadan (Golden Spikes Award winner and SEC Player of the Year) went 10-for-11 (.909) to lead UA to the 1983 SEC Championship with wins over Florida, Tennessee and Miss. State. Wells' arrival has made the Tide a household name in the SEC post-season play. The Crimson Tide has compiled a 31-10 (.756) tournament record under Wells, including an SEC record six championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003). Alabama owns an impressive 23-8 record in tournament games played at the Hoover Met, winning championships in 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2003. Alabama has a winning record in SEC tournament play against every team in the league except LSU (4-5) and Ole Miss (1-4). The Tigers and Rebels are two of the three teams in the UA's bracket this season. In addition, UA will square off with two teams in its bracket that won season series from the Crimson Tide in 2006. LSU won two of three in Baton Rouge (April 14-16) and Arkansas swept Alabama in Fayetteville (May 5-7).
ALABAMA PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP (SEC Tournament Game 1 vs. LSU)
Odr No. Name Pos. B/T 2006 Stats
1 2 Emeel Salem CF L/L 56 G, .365 (89-for-244), 60 R, 12 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 32-41 SB
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 5-for-15 (.333), 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K (April 14-16)
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 5-for-16 (.313), 3 R, 3B, 3 RBI, 2-2 SB
Notes: Named to the CoSIDA District IV Academic Team on May 11th ... Carries a 3.9 GPA w/double major in Marketing and Spanish ... Named Semi-Finalist for the 2006 Brooks Wallace Award (College Player of the Year) Watch List on May 22nd ... Named 1st Team All-SEC (SEBaseball.com) ... Named to 2006 SEC Good Works Team ... One of two UA players (Bush) to start all 56 G ... Hit safely in 49 of 56 G ... Also hit safely in 27 of 30 SEC G ... Batting .520 (26-for-50) in the first inning this season, w/17 runs scored, 2B, 2 3B and 8 BB ... Reached base in the first inning in 34/56 G ... Salem was 8-for-8 (1.000) with one walk in the first inning during a nine-game stretch from April 16-May 5 ... Leads UA w/23 multi hit G ... Leads UA with 16 infield/bunt hits ... No walks in last 8 G ... Riding 4-G hitting streak, where he is batting .333 (7-for-21) w/6 runs scored and three RBI ... 3-for-6, 3 RBI vs. USM (3/15) ... 3-for-3, 2B, RBI at UGa (3/17) ... 3-for-5, 2 R vs. UM (3/25), Leading hitter in March (.370, 16 R, 11 RBI) ... 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI vs. MSU (4/1) ... First HR in 99 games dating back to 2004 ... Posted 16-game hitting streak from March 11-April 7 ... 4-for-6, 3 R at LSU (4/16) ... 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI vs. Miss. Valley (4/19) ... Tied Alabama record w/5 hits in win at UAB (5-for-6, 4 R, 2B, 3B, RBI) on 4/26 ... 8-for-11 (.727) vs. Auburn w/8 runs scored, one double, one triple, one home run and one RBI ... Walk-off HR in 10th inning vs. AU (4/28) ... 4-for-4 and scored 4 runs in 9-1 series-clinching win ... Named National (Louisville Slugger and Pro-Line Cap) and SEC Player of the Week (5/1) after hitting .765 (13-for-17) in 4 G w/12 runs scored and a 1.275 slugging mark against UAB and Auburn ...Led UA in hitting in April (.438, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 25 R in 18 G) ... Tied UA record by reaching base 12 consecutive times (April 28-May 5) ... Posted 13-G hitting streak (31-for-61, .508) from April 16-May 12 ... The 13-G streak is his second longest of the season ... Also posted 11-G SEC hitting streak (23-for-51, .451) during that same period ... Went 3-for-5 and scored one run in UA SEC championship-clinching win over UT (5/20) ...
2 26 Matt Downs 3B R/R 55 GS, .317 (69-for-218), 6 HR, 54 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, .533 (8-for-15), 2 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 10-for-14 (.714), 3 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI
Notes: Ranks as the 20th toughest hitter to strikeout (17 AB) in Division I baseball ... Reached base in 49 of 55 G ... Team leader with 54 RBI ... Posted RBI in 34 of 55 G ... Has one RBI in 13/16 G since 4/22 ... Tallied 21 multi hit G and 12 multi RBI G ... Hit safely in 19 of 23 G (39-for-91 .429) since 4/9 ... Posted four straight multi hit G ... Riding 4 G hitting streak, where he is batting .632 (12-for-19) w/three extra base hits and seven RBI ... Tallied one RBI in each of last four G ... Slugged first career HR vs. Appy State (3/3) ... 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI vs. UM (3/16) ... Scored tying run in 9th inning vs. UM (3/26) ... Led UA w/16 RBI in March ... Tied UA record w/2 sac bunts at USC (4/7) ... Hit 1st career SEC HR at USC (4/9) ... 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI at LSU (4/14) ... 4-for-4, RBI at LSU (4/15) ... First career 4-hit game ... Slugged 4th career HR vs. Vandy (4/23) ... 2-for-2 w/double and solo HR vs. VU (4/22) ...3-for-4 with career high six RBI in win at UAB 4/26 ... Also added career high two doubles ... 2-run HR vs. Auburn (4/28) ... Posted career-high 9 G hitting streak (500, 18-36, 8 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI) from 4/14-28 ... Also posted 9-G SEC hitting streak (.500, 17-34, 4 HR 13 RBI) from 4/9-28 ... Batted .373 (25-for-67) in April (18 G) and led UA w/4 HRs and 24 RBI ... Posted career-high 9-G RBI streak (16 RBI) from April 22-May 6 ... Named SEC Player of the Week vs. Tennessee (May 22) ... Downs batted .714 (10-for-14) against the Vols with one home run and six RBI ... He posted back-to-back four-hit games at Tennessee (8-for-10, 4 RBI) on May 18-19 ...
3 16 Alex Avila DH L/R 52 G, 48 GS, . (52-for-181), 4 HR, 37 RBI, 38 R
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 6-for-12 (.500), 6 R, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 2-for-12 (.167), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
Notes: Hit safely in 25 of 33 G since 3/19 ... Since April 30, Avila is just 8-for-40 (.200) in his last 10 SEC G ... 1-for-3, 2 R scored in UA debut vs. Winthrop (2/11) ... 3-for-4, 2 RBI at UGa (3/19) ... First career multi hit and multi RBI G at UA ... 2-for-5, 2 RBI vs. Lipscomb (3/29) ... 4-for-4 4 R, 2 2B, RBI at LSU (4/16) ... All career highs at LSU ... 2-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI vs. Miss Valley (4/19) ... Reached base eight straight times (5 H, 2 BB, HBP) vs. LSU and MVSU (4/16-19) ... 4-for-6 w/4 runs and 4 RBI vs. Vandy (4/22) ... Career three doubles vs. Vandy (4/22) ... 1-for-4 at UAB (4/26) with game-winning, two-run double in the 8th inning ... 2-for-5 w/2 RBI vs. Auburn (4/29) ... Tied Alabama single-game record w/5 strikeouts at No. 14 Arkansas (0-for-6) on 5/6 ... 1-for-4 w/HR and career-high 4 RBI vs. UF (5/14) ... Slugged two-run HR in 1st inning of UA's 8-4 series-clinching win over the UF ... 2-for-5 w/2 RBI in 11-3 win at Tennessee on 5/18 ...
4 9 Kody Valverde C R/R 52 G, 50 GS, .330 (60-for-182), 10 HR, 48 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 7-for-13 (.538), 7 R, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB (UA leading vs.Tigers)
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 5-for-13 (.385), 2 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Notes: Thrown out an SEC best 21 of 57 (.368) base runners this year ... Leads UA w/career high 10 HRs ... 7 of 10 HRs have tied gm or given UA the lead ... Leads UA w/14 multi RBI games ... 3rd on team w/18 multi hit games ... Scored a run in 31/52 2G ... co-leader w/7 GW RBI ... 2nd on team w/48 RBI ... Batting .268 (11-for-41) in his last 11 G ... Valverde will make his 100th career start at Alabama vs. LSU (May 24) ... Slammed GW 3-run HR vs. WIN (2/12) ... 3-for-5, 2 R, HR, 5 RBI vs. KSU (2/17) ... 2-for-5, 3 R, 2 RBI vs. FIU (2/26) ... GW 2-run HR vs. BSC (2/28) ... Leading hitter in February (.375, 5 HR, 16 RBI) ... 2-for-4, 5 RBI vs. Appy State (3/4) ... Tied UA record with 4 BB vs. UM (3/26) ... 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI at USC (4/9) ... 4-for-5, 4 R, 2 2B, 4 RBI at LSU (4/16) ... All career highs at LSU ...DNP vs. MVSU (4/19) ... 3-for-5 HR, 2 RBI vs. Vandy (4/22) ... 2-for-4, 3 R vs. VU (4/23) ... Scored tying run in 8th inning ...2-for-2 with double and two RBI at UAB (4/26) ... Recorded pinch-hit, two-run double in 8th inning and scored tying run in UA's 14-8 comeback win ... Played 100th career G at UA (5/14) ... Career-high four hits (4-for-6, 2 R, 2B) vs. Tennessee on 5/18 ...
5 14 Evan Bush 2B R/R 56 GS, .278 (61-for-221), 6 HR, 46 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 4-for-15 (.267), 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI (2 HR, 7 RBI in series finale)
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 2-for-13 (.154), R, 2 BB, 1-1 SB
Notes: Ranks 8th with 214 career games played at UA ... Needs two starts to tie Brett Taft (1993-96) for 7th place all-time with 216 career starts ... Bush ranks 3rd all-time with 121 walks and 2nd all-time with 172 strikeouts ... One of two players (Salem) to start all 56 G ... He made his 200th career start at Arkansas (5/7) ... Played his 100th career SEC G vs. Florida (5/14) ... Also hit safely in 11/13 G since April 26th ... Batting .327 (18-for-55) in last 13 G w/9 runs and 7 RBI ... Reached base in 49/56 G ... co-leader w/7 GW RBI ...
4th on team w/17 multi hit G ... T2nd on team w/12 multi RBI G ... UA record holder with 20 career sac flies ... He broke Beau Hearod's (2001-03) school record with a first inning sac fly vs. Miss Valley State (4/19) ... 3-for-4, 3 R, HR,4 RBI vs. SAM (2/14) ... 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI vs. UM (3/24) ... 4-for-6, 3 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI vs. LSU (4/16) ... All career highs at LSU ... First UA player w/7 RBI since Beau Hearod vs. UMass (3/9/03) ... 1-for-3, 2 RBI vs. Miss. Valley State (4/19) ... 2-for-5 with two RBI at UAB (4/26) ... Went 5-for-9 (.556) w/2 RBI in final two games at No. 14 Arkansas (May 6-7) ... UA 2nd leading hitter vs. Florida (.364, 4-for-11) with three runs and two RBI (5/12-14) ...
6 34 Ryan Rhoden RF R/R 53 G, 46 GS, ..290 (51-for-176), HR, 23 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 4-for-10 (.400), 2 R, 3B
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 3-for-12 (.250), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB
Notes: UA's leading freshman hitter ... Hit safely in 15/19 G since 4/15 ... Tallied only one extra base hit (3-run 2B vs. AU) in his last 14 G ... Made UA debut vs. Winthrop (2/12) ... 2-for-3 vs. WIN (2/13) ... 1-for-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI vs. BSC (2/28) ... First career HR vs. BSC ... 2-for-4, 2 RBI vs. MSU (4/2) ... 2-for-4, 2B, RBI vs. UAB (4/5) ... 1-for-3 vs. Miss. Valley (4/19) ... Career high three hits and two doubles in UA's 9-3 win over VU (4/22) ... Tied UA record w/2 sac bunts vs. VU (4/23) ... The two sac bunts led to 4 runs, including tying and winning runs in 8th inning of 6-5 win ... Tied career high w/3 hits at UAB (3-for-5, RBI) on 4/26 ... 2-for-5 with 3 RBI in 9-1 series-clinching win over Auburn (4/30) ... Rhoden's three-run 2B in 5th inning broke open close game and have UA a 5-0 lead ... Rhoden batted .411 (23-for-56) in April w/10 R and 10 RBI in 18 G ... Went 3-for-5 w/three runs scored and two RBI as UA clinched share of Western Division title at Tennessee on 5/18 ...
7 24 Spencer Pennington 1B L/R 48 G, 41 GS, .317 (46-for-145), 4 HR, 24 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 3-for-12 (.250), 2 BB, 5 K
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 4-for-13 (.308), 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 K
Notes: Engaged to Haley Hudson and the couple will be married on Saturday, Nov. 25 at First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa ... Hit safely in 9/12 G (.381, 16-for-42, 4 HR, 14 RBI) ... Has 14 RBI in his last 14 G ... Batting .368 (14-for-38) in last 10 SEC G ... Tallied 8 H and 10 RBI in last 5 G ... Hit three HRs in his last 5 SEC G ... 2-for-3 vs. FIU (2/26) ... 2-for-4, RBI vs. USM (3/15) ... 2-for-4, 2 R vs. Appy State (3/5) ... 3-for-3, 2 2B vs. MSU (4/2) ... Career high three hits and career high two doubles in the MSU game ... 2-for-5 at LSU (4/16) ... 4-for-8 (.500) vs. Auburn (4/28-30) w/2 2Bs and 2 RBI ... Had RBI double in both UA wins vs. AU ... UA's third-leading hitter at No. 14 Arkansas (.333, 4-for-12, HR, 2 RBI) and recorded back-to-back multi hit games on 5/6-7 ... UA's leading hitter vs. Florida (4-for-9, .444) w/HR and 6 RBI ... 2-for-4 with three-run HR vs. UF (5/13) ... Career-high 5 RBI vs. UF (5/13) ... Homered in three straight SEC series ... Slammed 3-run HR at Tennessee (2-for-5, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI) on 5/18 ... Hit solo HR at UT (2-for-4, HR, RBI) as UA clinched share of SEC title ...
8 32 Brandon Belcher LF L/L 53 G, 47 GS, .273 (48-for-176), 3 HR, 21 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 6-for-14 (.429), 3 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 3-for-12 (.250), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Notes: Career-high 3 HRs in 2006 ... Only had 2 HR in first 2 yrs at Alabama ... Hit safely in 32 of 43 G since 3/3 ... Tallied only 4 RBI in last 13 G ... Hitting only .222 (12-for-54) since April 26th .. 1-for-4, 2 RBI vs. USM (3/15) ... Posted 7-G hitting streak (8-for-22, .364) from 3/12-24 ... 3-for-3, 2 R vs. MSU (3/31) ... 3-for-6, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI at LSU (4/16) ... First career SEC HR ... First HR since 2004 season, a span of 66 G and 152 ABs ...Homered in three straight SEC G against LSU and Vandy (4/14-23) ... Homered in back-to-back games vs. Vandy (4/23) for first time in his career ... Three hits vs. Vandy (4/22-23) produced 5 RBI ... GW RBI vs. VU (4/23) with 8th inning single ... Posted 7-G hitting streak (10-for-30, .333) from 4/14-23 to match season high ... UA's second-leading hitter at No. 14 Arkansas (May 5-7), where he batted .429 (6-for-14) with one run scored and one RBI ... He had three hits in the series finale (3-for-5) on 5/7 ... Stroked game-winning two-run single in eighth inning at Tennessee (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) on May 19th ...
9 3 Greg Paiml SS R/R 56 G, 55 GS, .281 (53-for-189), 37 R, 8 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI
vs. LSU: 3 GS, 5-for-13 (.385), 3 R, HR, RBI
vs. Tennessee: 3 GS, 2-for-9 (.222), R, SFly, RBI, 2 K
Notes: Enjoying his finest season at Alabama ... Tallied 37 R and 27 RBI from No. 9 spot in batting order ... 2nd on team w/13 infield or bunt hits ... Tallied 9 bunt singles ... Batting .208 (6-for-29) in his last 10 G ... One RBI in last 15 G ... Two RBI in last 17 G ... Three RBI in last 23 G ... Scored only 3 runs in last 10 G ... Paiml has struck out 18 times in his last 13 G ... 3-for-4, RBI vs. Appy State (3/5) ... 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI vs. USM (3/15) ... 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI vs. UM (3/24) ... Game-winning, 10th inning 2B vs. UM (3/25) ... 3-for-5, 2 RBI vs. Lipscomb (3/29) ... 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI at USC (4/7) ... First HR since April 10, 2005 ... 2-for-3 with solo HR at LSU (4/15) ... Missed first start vs. MVSU (4/19) ... Posted career best 10 G hitting streak (.368, 14-38, 8 R, HR, 2 RBI) from 4/12-29 ... Also tallied an 8 G SEC hitting streak (.363, 12-33) from 4/14-23 ... 3-for-4 vs. AU (4/29) ... 1-for-10 (.100) at Arkansas (May 5-7) w/ 7 strikeouts ... 3-for-6 (.500) in final 2 G vs. Florida (May 13-14) ...
ALABAMA OFF THE BENCH (SEC Tournament Game 1 vs. LSU)
No. Name Pos. B/T 2006 Stats
25 Matt Bentley 1B/DH L/L 25 G, 11 GS, 9-for-44 (.205), HR, 6 RBI
Notes: 3-for-13 (.231) in last 11 G ... First career HR vs. Winthrop (2/13) ... 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI vs. Lipscomb (3/29) ... Tied UA record w/2 hits in 7th inning ... 0-for-3 as pinch hitter at LSU ... Game-tying RBI w/infield ground out in 8th inning vs. Vandy (4/24) ... 1-for-3 as backup 1B vs. Florida (May 12) ... He entered game in 5th inning after Pennington was struck in back of head in collision at first base ...
8 David Ferazza C/DH R/R 27 G, 12 GS, 15-for-57 (.263), 4 HR, 11 RBI
Notes: Third on UA team with 4 HRs, despite only 57 ABs in 27 G ... 2-for-2, 2 HR, 5 RBI in double header sweep of FIU (2/26) ... Both home runs came in late-inning pinch-hit roles ... Hit solo HR at Georgia (3/17) ... His first SEC HR since April 19, 2004 vs. Auburn ... 4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, HR vs. Lipscomb (3/29) ... All career highs ... Tied UA record with 2 hits in 7th inning ... 0-for-4 vs. Miss. Valley State (4/19) ... Played in all three games vs. Florida (May 12-14) and went 1-for-4 w/double as starting catcher in game two ...
11 Wes Henderson 1B R/L 34 G, 2 GS, 5-for-20 (.250), 2 2B, 3 RBI
Notes: Used mainly as late-inning def replacement at 1B ... UA debut vs. Samford (2/14) ... Recorded only career hit vs. MSU (4/2) ... 0-for-1 (K) vs. Miss. Valley State (4/19) ...Recorded pinch-hit two-run double to give UA 4-3 lead over Vandy (4/24) ... 1-for-3 at UAB (4/26) and scored the first run of his career ... Played two games at Arkansas (May 5-7) and was 0-for-1 with strikeout as pinch-hitter (5/6) ... Played as late-inning defensive replacement at UT (5/19) ...
22 Kent Matthes OF R/R 22 G, 9 GS, 5-for-33 (.152), 0 HR, 3 RBI
Notes: Hitless in last seven ABs ... 2-for-18 (.111) since March 17th ... Recorded first career hit at No. 6 Nebraska (Mar. 12) ... 2-for-3, 2 RBI in first career start vs. Southern Miss (3/15) ... 2-for-4, RBI at UGa (3/19) ... Made first career start against Vanderbilt (2-3, 2B, RBI) in game two of DH (4/22) ... The RBI double in second inning was his first career extra base hit and RBI ... Made fourth SEC start of the season vs. Florida (0-for-3) on May 12 ...
1 Kyle Moore OF R/R 16 G, 10 GS, 7-for-32 (.219), HR, 8 RBI
Notes: Played in only 5 G since March 1st ... 2-for-10 (.200) during that time ... 2-for-5, R, HR, 4 RBI in UA debut as DH vs. Samford (2/14) ... 2-for-5, 3 RBI in DH sweep of No. 1 USC (4/9) ... First career SEC start at South Carolina ... Reached on fielder's choice at pinch-hitter at Tennessee (5/19) and scored one of two runs in 8th inning as UA pulled out a 5-3 win to clinch SEC West title ...
43 Tyler Odle PR/OF L/L 13 G, No Stats
Notes: Used as pinch-runner or late-inning defensive replacement ...
10 Jeff Texada PR/INF R/R 15 G, 1 GS, 4-for-6 (.667), 2 R, 2B
Notes: Used mainly as pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement ... Scored winning run as pinch-runner vs. FIU (2/24) in UA's 1-0 win in bottom of 9th inning ... First career hit at No. 6 Nebraska (Mar. 12) ... Scored winning run as pinch-runner vs. Ole Miss (3/26) ... Made first collegiate start at SS vs. Miss. Valley State (3-for-3, 2B, BB) (4/19) ... 0-for-1 and scored as pinch-runner at UAB (4/26) ...
PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION (SEC Tournament Game 1 vs. LSU)
Wednesday, May 24 vs. LSU (5:07 PM) (CSS Sports)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Bernard Robert (R) 15-14 7 5 0 4.76 87.0 103 55 46 36 70 1
Robert Notes: Alabama is 9-5 (.643) in his 14 GS ... Robert is 5-4 (.556) in 10 SEC starts ... Averages 104.8 pitches per start ... After starting the season with a 5-1 record, Robert is 2-4 (.333) with 7.43 ERA (36.1 IP, 53 H, 34 R, 30 ER, 18 BB, 32 K) in his last six starts ... He has compiled a 4-2 record and 3.40 ERA in eight home starts (53 IP, 60 H, 27 R, 21 ER, 24 BB, 44 K) this season ... Robert is 3-3 with 6.61 ERA (34 IP, 43 H, 28 R, 25 ER, 12 BB, 26 K) in six road starts ... He has the highest road ERA on the UA staff ... Won first two decisions vs. Kent State (5,2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K) and Appy State (7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K) ... Suffered first loss at No. 6 Nebraska (5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB,4 K) on 3/11 ... First career SEC win at No. 23 Georgia (6.1 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 5 K) on 3/18 ... Won first three SEC decisions ... Season high 8 IP vs. Ole Miss (8 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) ... First complete game at USC (7 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) on April 9th ... Suffered first loss since Mar. 11 at LSU (6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) on 4/15 ... Notched 6th win vs. No. 16 Vandy (7.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 9 K) on 4/22 ... Season-high 9 Ks vs. VU (4/22) ... Suffered three straight losses to Auburn (7 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K), No. 14 Arkansas (1.2 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) and Florida (5.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K) ... Season-high 10 hits allowed vs. AU (4/29) ... Shortest outing of the season came at Arkansas (5/6) ... Season-high five BBs vs. UF (May 12) ... Snapped three-game losing streak with road win at Tennessee (8 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) as UA clinched tie for SEC Western Division title on 5/18 ... After allowing two runs (three pitches) in the first inning, Robert held UT to one run and seven hits over the next seven innings ...
Thursday, May 24 vs. Arkansas or Ole Miss (1:07 PM or 8:07 PM) (CSS Sports)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Wade LeBlanc (L) 15-15 9 0 0 2.89 109.0 80 38 35 36 107 3
SEC Tournament Game 3 (TBA)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Tommy Hunter (R) 17-13 9 3 1 3.12 98.0 91 41 34 19 65 3
Notes: Alabama is 9-4 (.692) in his 13 GS ... Pitched into the 7th inning in 10/13 GS ... Posted 7-3 (.700) record and 3.20 ERA (90 IP, 80 H, 38 R, 32 ER, 19 BB, 56 K ) in 13 GS ... Averages 100.9 pitches per start ... Posted a 5-0 record and 2.06 ERA (56.2 IP, 51 H, 18 R, 13 ER, 10 BB, 34 K) in 10 home games ... Hunter is 4-3 with a 4.57 ERA (41.1 IP, 40 H, 23 R, 21 ER, 9 BB, 41 K) in seven road games, including six starts ... Set UA single-season freshman record with nine wins on the mound ... He broke the previous record of eight wins previously held by B.J. Green (1998), Scott Murphy (1999), Taylor Tankersley (2002) and Wade LeBlanc (2004) ... A three-time SEC Freshman of the Week winner vs. FIU (2/26), Ole Miss (3/26) and South Carolina (4/9) ... Earned win in UA debut vs. Winthrop (3.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 BB, 2 K) on 2/12 ... First UA pitcher to win UA debut since David Robertson at Hawaii (2-13-05) ... Notched lone save against Kent State (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 K) on 2/17 ... Made first start against FIU (8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K) on 2/26 ... Won first three decisions ... Suffered first loss at No. 6 Nebraska (7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) on 3/12 ... Lost SEC debut at No. 23 Georgia (4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, BB, 6 K) on 3/19 ... First career SEC win and CG came against Ole Miss (9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 7 K) on Mar 26 ... Earned series clinching wins over No. 1 South Carolina (7 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 7 K) on 4/9 and Auburn (8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K) on 4/30 ... Suffered first loss at No. 14 Arkansas (5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 5 K) on 5/7 ... It was his first loss since March 19th at Georgia ... Notched 8th win of the season and third series-clinching win against Florida (7 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) on May 14 ... Hunter notched his 9th win of the season as UA clinched a share of the 2006 SEC Championship at Tennessee (9 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) on May 20 ... He lost his shutout with one out in the 9th inning ....
ALABAMA BULLPEN (SEC Tournament Game 1 vs. LSU)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Kenneth Brown 1-0 0 0 0 0.00 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0
Notes: A 2005 Graduate of The University of Alabama ... Currently working on his master's degree ... A two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree ... Brown's only career appearance came against Lipscomb (1 IP, 2 H, 1 K) on March 29, 2006 ...
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Josh Copeland 12-0 1 0 0 3.66 19.2 175 11 8 11 18 0
Notes: Has made only five appearances since 3/12 ... Logged 4 IP and 4 K in 2006 debut vs. Winthrop (2/13) ... Added 2 1/3 IP, 3 K vs. Kent State (2/18) ... Combined with Jake McCarter on 4-hit shutout vs. Miss Valley (2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K) on 4/19 ... Made first SEC app of the season vs. Vandy (1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K) on 4/21 ... Posted first win of the season at UAB (1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 K) on 4/26 at Hoover Met ... Made just his second SEC appearance at No. 14 Arkansas (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) on 5/6 ...
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Jordan Davis (R) 21-0 1 2 2 3.38 32.0 28 17 12 20 23 0
Notes: Earned his bachelor's degree from Alabama on May 13, 2006 ... Allowed only one earned run (0.44 ERA) in last 20 1/3 IP, dating back to March 29th ... Posted a 1-1 record with 2 saves and 0.00 ERA (12.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 96 BB, 8 K) in eight games in April ... Averages 26.9 pitches per outing ... Allowed six ER in season opener vs. Winthrop (1.2 IP, 2 HRs) on Feb 11th ... Only allowed 5 ER in last 18 outings (24.2 IP, 1.82 ERA) ... Posted saves in back-to-back midweek gms w/UAB (1.2 IP, H, K) and SE Louisiana (2.2 IP, H, BB, 3 K) ... Notched first win of season vs. Vandy (4/23) as UA notched its second SEC sweep ... Allowed three unearned runs at UAB (0.1, H, 3 R,3 BB) on 4/26 at the Hoover Met ... Threw 14 2/3 innings w/out an earned run from March 29-April 26 ... He made his first appearance since April 26 at Arkansas (2 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 3 K) on 5/6 ... Pitched a season-high 3 2/3 innings (2 H, 2 B, 4 K) against Florida on May 12 ...
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Patrick Kelly (R) 8-0 0 0 0 4.02 15.2 13 8 7 8 11 0
Notes: Appeared in seven games this season, including two SEC games ... Made UA debut against Winthop (1 IP, H, R, ER, BB) in 2006 season opener (2/11) ... Threw two scoreless innings at No. 6 Nebraska (3/11) ... Season high 4 IP vs. Troy (H, ER, BB, 3 K) on March 29th ... Yielded 2 ER and 4 H against Lipscomb in his last outing (3/29) ... Made SEC debut vs. Vanderbilt (1.2 IP, 2 H, ER,0 BB, 2 K) on 4/21 ... Pitched at UAB (0.2, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 K) at the Hoover Met on 4/26 ... Turned in his longest outing at No. 14 Arkansas (3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) on 5/6 ... Threw one scoreless inning at Tennessee (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) on 5/18 ...
Jake McCarter (R) 17-5 6 1 0 2.24 56.1 46 15 14 21 48 0
McCarter Notes: Has the lowest ERA (2.24) in the SEC ... Has seen action as starter and reliever this season ... In 12 relief appearances, McCarter has compiled a 2-1 record and 1.58 ERA ... He has worked 28 1/3 innings and allowed 25 hits, five runs and five earned runs, with 10 walks and 31 strikeouts ... In six starts, McCarter is 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA (28 IP, 21 H 10 R, 9 ER, 11 BB, 17 K) this year ... He is 5-0 with a team-best 1.01 ERA (35.2 IP, 24 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 11 BB, 36 K) in 12 homes games, including three starts ... He is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA (20.2 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 10 BB, 12 K) in five road games, with two starts ... Averages 41.5 pitches per outing ... UA debut came against Samford (4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 K) where he earned his first collegiate win (2/14) ... First start came against Lipscomb (3 IP, H, BB, 2 K) on March 29th ... Combined with Josh Copeland on four-hit shutout of Miss. Valley State (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K) on 4/19 ... McCarter logged season-highs for IP and K en route to his sixth straight win ... Allowed season high five hits and walked three at UAB (5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) at the Hoover Met on 4/26 ... Threw two scoreless innings against Auburn (2 IP, H, 3 K) on 4/29 ... It was his first relief app and first SEC app since 3/24 vs. Ole Miss ... Suffered first loss of the season at No. 14 Arkansas (1.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 5 BB, 1 K) on 5/5 ... Retired all seven batters (2.1 IP, 2 K) in relief stint vs. Florida (May 13) ...
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Miers Quigley (L) 6-5 &
