Bama Hosts Florida in Final Home Series
5/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team will play its final regular-season home series this weekend as they face the defending Southeastern Conference champion Florida Gators in a three-game series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama (34-16, 15-9 SEC) owns a one-game lead over No. 10 Arkansas (14-10 SEC) in the SEC Western Division standings heading into the final two weekends. Arkansas swept Alabama this past weekend in Fayetteville to move to within one game of first place. The Crimson Tide now trails Kentucky (16-8 SEC) by one game for the overall SEC lead with six games remaining. The Bat Cats host Miss. State this weekend in Lexington.
The Crimson Tide and Gators will open their three-game SEC series on Friday, May 12 at 6:06 p.m. (CT) and will be televised live by CSS. The start time is 30 minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the telecast.
There will be two popular promotions on Friday night at the Joe as the Crimson Tide hosts "Jimmy Buffett Night". All fans are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts or Buffett attire to the game.
In addition, Friday is also Lance Cormier bobblehead doll night. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free Cormier bobblehead doll. Cormier (1999-2002) graduated from UA in 2002 and held four career school records. He is now pitching with the Atlanta Braves.
Alabama and Florida will meet in game two of the series on Saturday, May 13 at 4 p.m. as the Crimson Tide celebrates Tuscaloosa County Alumni Chapter Day and Senior Day at the Joe.
The Tuscaloosa County Alumni chapter will host a cookout on the lawn at Alumni Hall from 2:30 until 3:45 p.m. David Crane and Chris Stewart will be on hand for the event to talk about Crimson Tide baseball and the upcoming game with Florida. There will also be numerous door prizes and giveaways throughout the event. In addition, Tuscaloosa Alumni Chapter members and guests will be admitted to the baseball for only $3 on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide baseball team will honor its seniors at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. The seven senior players -- Kenneth Brown (LHP, Lafayette), Evan Bush (2B, Rainbow City), Jordan Davis (RHP, Frisco, Texas), Matt Downs (3B, Centreville), David Ferazza (C, Hayward, Calif.), Spencer Pennington (Fayette) and Kody Valverde (C, Baton Rouge, La.) -- and senior manager Nick Rambo will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
The series wraps up with a 1:06 p.m. game on Sunday, May 14 in a game televised live by Sun Sports, Turner South and the Alabama Cable Network. The Crimson Tide will celebrate Mother's Day in style as the coaches' wives and players' moms will be the honored guests and throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the home finale.
Tickets are available for the Alabama-Florida series through the Athletic Ticket Office (205-348-2262), on-line (www.rolltide.com) or at the Sewell-Thomas Stadium ticket office (2 hours prior to each game). Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth (12 and under).
