ALABAMA OPENS 2007 SEC SLATE
The University of Alabama baseball team opens defense if its 2006 Southeastern Conference championship this weekend when the Crimson Tide hosts the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC opener for both teams. The series begins Friday, March 16 at 6:34 p.m. (CDT) and the game will be televised locally by WVUA Sports. The teams will also play Saturday, March 17 at 4 p.m. (CDT) and Sunday, March 18 at 2:06 p.m. (CDT). The series finale will also be televised by CSS, with Matt Stewart and Scott McClanahan calling the action from the Joe. Alabama posted a 20-10 SEC record last season to earn a share of the league title with Kentucky. It was Alabama’s 25th overall league championship and 14th SEC title. Both marks lead all current SEC teams. The Crimson Tide clinched the 2006 SEC Western Division title and the overall SEC Championship with a three-game sweep of the Vols on the final weekend of the regular season last year. Alabama (13-7) looks to return to its winning ways this weekend, after dropping five of its last six games, including a season-high three-game losing streak. The skid began March 6 at No. 26 Southern Miss in a 5-0 loss. The Crimson Tide also dropped two of three games to No. 17 Nebraska, including a pair of one-run games in the series. The Crimson Tide has also suffered midweek losses to Tennessee Tech and Samford the last two Wednesday nights. Tennessee (12-7) brings a six-game winning streak into the 2007 SEC opener and may also have the services of both its preseason All-Americans for the first time this season. Junior catcher J.P. Arencibia has missed eight games with lower back problems. Junior centerfielder Julio Borbon missed the first 18 games of the season after suffering a broken ankle on Jan. 23. Borbon made his season debut on Wednesday, March 14 as a pinch-hitter against Morehead State.
THE HEAD COACHES
Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980) is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 536-253 (.679) record in 13 seasons at the Capstone. Overall, Wells has posted a 728-342 (.680) record in 18 seasons. Wells is 21-11 (.656) in his career against the Vols. Tennessee head coach Rod Delmonico (Liberty, 1980) has compiled a 676-378 (.641) record in 18 seasons with the Vols. He has led UT to three College World Series appearances, eight NCAA Regionals, two SEC championships and five SEC Eastern Division crowns. He is 13-25 (.342) in his career against Alabama.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Odr No. Name Pos. Bats 2007 Stats
1 2 Emeel Salem CF L/L .380 (30x79), 3 HR, 14 RBI, 24 R
2 14 Jake Smith 2B R/R .305 (18x59), 2 HR, 16 RBI
3 16 Alex Avila DH L/R .346 (27x78), 2 HR, 18 RBI, 9 2B
4 22 Kent Matthes RF R/R .338 (27x80), 5 HR, 24 RBI, 18 R
5 25 Matt Bentley 1B L/L .333 (21x63), 3 HR, 13 RBI, 6 2B
6 34 Ryan Rhoden C R/R .343 (24x70), 1 HR, 9 RBI, 13 R
7 6 Brandon May 3B R/R .359 (14x39), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R
8 32 Brandon Belcher LF L/L .182 (4x22), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB
9 3 Greg Paiml SS R/R .269 (18x67), 1 HR, 10 RBI, 14 R
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHERS
Alabama sophomore left-hander Miers Quigley (Roswell, Ga.) will make his first career SEC start in the 2007 SEC opener against Tennessee. Quigley has only one SEC game under his belt, a three-inning stint against Ole Miss in the 2006 SEC Tournament. In six appearances this season, including five starts, Quigley is 3-0 with a 1.15 ERA. He is fourth in the league in ERA and sixth in opponents batting average (.168) and strikeouts (29). Tennessee will counter with veteran right-hander Craig Cobb (Knoxville). In six starts, Cobb is 4-1 with a 4.15 ERA. The senior leads the SEC with 47 2/3 innings pitched and victories and ranks seventh with 33 strikeouts. He has an 11-to-1 strikeout (33) to walk (3) ratio this year.
ALABAMA-TENNESSEE SERIES
*Alabama owns a 59-25 (.703) all-time lead over Tennessee in a series that dates back to the 1897 season.
*While the first meeting took place more than 100 years ago, Alabama and Tennessee did not become regular opponents until 1986.
*Since that time, UA and UT have met during the regular season in 18 of the last 22 years, including the 2007 season.
*Alabama swept a three-game series from Tennessee last season in Knoxville to close out the 2006 regular season and clinch a share of SEC Championship in the process.
*Last year’s series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium was the first meeting between the two teams since 2003.
*The two teams rotated off one another’s schedule and did not meet in 2004 or 2005.
*Alabama holds a 35-11 (.761) series lead in games played in Tuscaloosa.
*The Crimson Tide has won 15 of the 17 series played in Tuscaloosa.
*Alabama holds a 19-13 (.594) series edge in Knoxville.
*UA has won eight of the 11 series on the UT campus.
*Bama is 5-1 (.833) in six neutral site games, including three in SEC Tournament action.
SCOUTING REPORT: Tennessee Vols
*Tennessee (12-7) brings a six-game winning streak into its SEC opener with Alabama.
*Tennessee has not won a road game this season, losing all three games at Florida State to open the 2007 campaign. FSU won 9-2, 4-0 and 19-7.
*The Volunteers have played with two preseason All-American starters, junior center fielder Julio Borbon (Santo Domingo, D.R.) and junior catcher J.P. Arencibia (Miami, Fla.)
*Borbon missed the first 18 games after suffering a broken ankle on Jan. 23. He made his 2007 season debut as a pinch-hitter against Morehead State on Wednesday, March 14 and reached on an error. He could see increased playing time this weekend at Alabama.
*Arencibia has missed seven games with strained lower back. He returned to the Vol lineup last weekend at first base and caught on Wednesday, March 14 against Morehead State.
*He is hitting only .250 (9-for-36) with one home run and five RBI in 12 games.
*The Tennessee offense is hitting .277 (172-for-621) with 12 home runs and 94 RBI this season.
*Junior right fielder Andy Simunic (Collierville) is the leading hitter with a .367 (22-for-60) average, with three doubles, three triples and 13 RBI. He also leads UT with 11 stolen bases in 14 attempts.
*Junior left fielder Shawn Griffin (Hollywood, Fla.) is batting .339 (21-for-62) with one home run and five RBI.
*Freshman catcher/first baseman Yan Gomes (Miami, Fla.) is hitting .338 (23-for-68) and supplied most of the power this year. He has three home runs and a team-best 15 RBI.
*Freshman two-way player Jeff Lockwood (Knoxville) is having a solid rookie year.
*In 17 games, he is batting .271 (13-for-48) with one home run and nine RBI.
*On the mound, he has appeared in four games and compiled a 1-0 record with two saves and a 1.23 ERA. He has worked 7 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits, one run and one earned run, with no walks and six strikeouts.
*The Tennessee pitching is basically made up of five arms, anchored by junior right-hander Craig Cobb (Knoxville) and junior left-hander James Adkins (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.).
*Cobb (47.1 IP) and Adkins (39.0) rank first and second in the SEC in innings pitched this season.
*Cobb is 4-1 with a 4.15 ERA in six starts. He had worked 47 2/3 innings and allowed 53 hits, 24 runs, 22 earned runs, three walks and 33 strikeouts.
*Adkins is 2-2 with a 1.62 ERA in six starts. He has logged 39 innings and allowed 33 hits, 13 runs and seven earned runs, with 10 walks and 41 strikeouts.
*Two other potential starters are freshman lefty Nick Hernandez (Hialeah, Fla.) and sophomore lefty Lance McClain (Knoxville).
*Hernandez is 2-2 with a 6.23 ERA this season in nine games. He has one start on the mound. Hernandez has worked 17 1/3 innings and allowed 23 hits, 17 runs and 12 earned runs with 14 walks and 16 strikeouts.
*McClain is 3-2 with 5.72 ERA in seven appearances and four starts. He has worked 28 1/3 innings and allowed 34 hits, 19 runs and 18 earned runs, with 13 walks and 10 strikeouts.
*UT made 33 errors in 19 games this year. The Vols are fielding .957 on the year.
*Sophomore shortstop Tony Delmonico (Knoxville), the son of head coach Rod Delmonico, leads the way with eight errors.
SEC OPENERS
*Alabama will open its 73rd season of Southeastern Conference baseball action this weekend against the Tennessee Volunteers.
*The Crimson Tide is 44-27 (.620) all-time record in SEC openers since 1933.
*The Crimson Tide is opening its SEC slate with an Eastern Division foe for the 17th consecutive year, dating back to 1991.
*The last time UA opened its SEC schedule with a Western Division team was against Miss. State in 1990.
*Alabama is opening its SEC slate with Tennessee for the seventh time in history and the first time since 2002.
SEC OPENERS WITH TENNESSEE
1986 Alabama 11, Tennessee 4 Knoxville
1987 Alabama 6, Tennessee 3 Tuscaloosa
1988 Tennessee 8, Alabama 0 Knoxville
1989 Alabama 5, Tennessee 4 Tuscaloosa
1999 Alabama 12, Tennessee 7 Knoxville
2002 Alabama 7, Tennessee 3 Tuscaloosa
*Alabama head coach Jim Wells is 9-3 (.750) in SEC openers. He led the Crimson Tide to four straight wins in SEC openers from 1997-2000.
JIM WELLS IN SEC OPENERS
Year Result Site
1995 Alabama 9, South Carolina 2 Tuscaloosa
1996 Georgia 11, Alabama 1 Athens
1997 Alabama 15, Georgia 6 Tuscaloosa
1998 Alabama 8, Florida 1 Tuscaloosa
1999 Alabama 12, Tennessee 7 Knoxville
2000 Alabama 5, Kentucky 4 Tuscaloosa
2001 Vanderbilt 12, Alabama 4 Tuscaloosa
2002 Alabama 7, Tennessee 3 Tuscaloosa
2003 Alabama 8, Georgia 7 Tuscaloosa
2004 Georgia 5, Alabama 4 Athens
2005 Alabama 5, Kentucky 3 Tuscaloosa
2006 Alabama 4, Georgia 1 Athens
SALEM EYES TWO CAREER RECORDS
*Senior centerfielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) is on the verge of two Alabama career records.
*He is currently tied with G.W. Keller (1997-99) for the all-time lead with 12 career triples. He stroked his record-tying 12th triple against Tennessee Tech on March 7.
*Salem is also tied with David Fowke (1980-81) for the all-time record with 68 career stolen bases. He swiped two bases in the loss to Nebraska on March 11 to tie Fowke’s all-time mark.
*Fowke’s mark of 68 career stolen bases is the oldest existing record in the UA record books.
*Every major offensive career record is owned or shared by a player from the Wells era.
*The only career record not held by a player from the Wells era is highest career batting average, which is held by David Magadan (1981-83).
*Magadan wrapped up his UA career with a .439 batting average, which included a school and SEC record .525 clip in 1983.
TIDE STRUGGLING AS SEC PLAY BEGINS
*Alabama enters SEC play having lost five of its last six games, including a three-game losing streak.
*During the last six games, Alabama is hitting .246 (49-for-199) with five home runs and 23 RBI.
*The offense has averaged 4.2 runs and 8.6 hits per game in the last six games.
*The Crimson Tide has been outscored 19-10 in the first five innings during the last six games.
*In the current three-game losing streak, Alabama is batting .275 (28-for-102) with two home runs and nine RBI.
*The offense has averaged 3.7 runs and 9.3 hits per game.
*Alabama has been outscored 8-1 in the first four innings of the game during its current skid.
*The pitching staff has pitched well enough to win.
*In the last six games, the staff has allowed only 27 runs and 52 hits and compiled a 3.86 ERA (4.17 for opponents).
*In the last three games, Bama pitchers have yielded only 14 runs and 28 hits and compiled a 3.90 ERA (3.54 for opponents).
*Alabama has made 12 errors in its last six games, including seven errors during the three-game losing skid.
ON DECK
Alabama and Tennessee will meet in game two of this weekend series on Saturday, March 17 at 4 p.m. (CDT).
