No. 25 Baseball Team Travels to No. 13 Ole Miss
3/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
GAMES 24-26: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (16-8, 2-1 SEC) AT OLE MISS REBELS (16-7, 1-2 SEC)
SWAYZE FIELD ?? OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI -- 6:30 PM (CDT)
MARCH 23-25, 2007 -- BAMA'S FIRST ROAD SERIES
The Game:
Alabama Crimson Tide at Ole Miss Rebels
Friday, March 23 6:30 p.m. (CDT)
Saturday, March 24 1:30 p.m. (CDT)
Sunday, March 25 1:30 p.m. (CDT)
Rankings:
Alabama is ranked 25th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's
Associaiton and 25th by ESPN Coaches poll. Ole Miss is ranked in all five
major polls, including Baseball America (23rd), Collegiate Baseball (13th),
Rivals.com (15th), NCBWA (17th) and ESPN Coaches (18th).
Radio:
Crimson Tide Sports Network (WACT 1420 AM)
David Crane and Chris Stewart
Television:
None
Internet:
All Alabama baseball games can be heard on the internet at www.rolltide.com. Live stats can also be found at www.rolltide.com
Tickets:
A limited number of tickets are available at the Oxford-University Stadium box office, two hours prior to each game.
ALABAMA PLAYS FIRST ROAD SERIES
After playing virtually every game at home for the first six weeks of the 2007 season, the University of Alabama baseball team plays its first weekend road series when the No. 25 Crimson Tide travels to Oxford, Miss., to face the No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels in a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Oxford-University Stadium at Swayze Field. The series opener is Friday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. (CDT). The two teams are also scheduled to play Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25 with both games set to begin at 1:30 p.m. (CDT). Alabama (16-8, 2-1 SEC) has played 22 of its first 24 games at home this season, including last weekend's SEC opening series with Tennessee. The Crimson Tide has lost its previous two road games this season, losing 5-0 at No. 26 Southern Miss (March 6) and 4-3 in 10 innings at Samford (March 14). Alabama won three of its five SEC road series last year, including a series win at No. 1 South Carolina and a season-enidng sweep at Tennessee that clinched a share of the 2006 SEC Championship. The Ole Miss series is the second of three trips to the Magnolia state for the Crimson Tide baseball team this season. Alabama has already played Southern Miss in Pearl and will close out the year with a three-game SEC series against Mississippi State in Starkville. Alabama has won three of its last four games and is coming off a 3-1 win over Mississippi Valley State Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss (16-7, 1-2 SEC) has won eight of its last 11 games following Tuesday's 8-6 win over South Alabama in Mobile. The Rebels boast one of the top pitching staffs in the SEC with a 2.40 ERA through 23 games. All three weekend starters own a 2.88 ERA or less entering the Alabama series.
THE HEAD COACHES
Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980) is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 539-254 (.680) record in 13 seasons at the Capstone. Overall, Wells has posted a 731-343 (.681) record in 18 seasons. He has led Alabama to two SEC Championships, three SEC Western Division titles, three CWS appearances and six SEC Tournament titles. For more on Wells, please see pages 6-7. Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco (LSU, 1989) is in his seventh season with the Rebels. He has compiled a 257-139-1 (.649) record in Oxford and led the Rebels to the 2006 SEC Tournament Championship. Bianco played at LSU when Wells was an assistant coach for the Tigers, and Bianco later served as an assistant coach under Wells at Northwestern State. Overall, Bianco is 357-210-1 (.629 in 10 years at McNeese State and Ole Miss.
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Third baseman Jake Smith (Shannon) was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week March 19. Smith had a smashing SEC debut against Tennessee, going 5-for-10 (.500) with five runs scored, two home runs and five RBI. He drilled a two-run home run in his first career SEC at-bat in Friday's series opener, sparking the Crimson Tide to a 9-7 win.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Odr No. Name Pos. Bats 2007 Stats
1 2 Emeel Salem CF L/L .394 (37x94), 4 HR, 19 RBI, 18 SB
2 14 Jake Smith 3B R/R .315 (23x73), 4 HR, 21 RBI, .562 Slg
3 16 Alex Avila DH L/R .326 (30x92), 3 HR, 22 RBI, 10 2B
4 22 Kent Matthes RF R/R .327 (32x98), 6 HR, 28 RBI, 21 R
5 25 Matt Bentley 1B L/L .342 (26x76), 4 HR, 17 RBI, 6 2B
6 34 Ryan Rhoden C R/R .337 (29x86), 1 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R
7 10 Jeff Texada 2B R/R .276 (21x76), 1 HR, 11 RBI, 13 BB
8 32 Brandon Belcher LF L/L .265 (9x34), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB
9 3 Greg Paiml SS R/R .282 (22x78), 1 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SACs
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, March 23, 2007 (6:30 p.m.)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Quigley (LH) 7-5 4 0 0 2.17 37.1 25 9 9 19 42 0
Kline (RH) 6-6 3 0 0 1.93 42.0 25 10 9 14 51 0
Saturday, March 17, 2007 (1:30 p.m.)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Robert (RH) 7-4 3 3 0 3.64 29.2 23 13 12 12 21 1
Lynn (RH) 6-6 2 2 0 2.06 35.0 24 10 8 14 41 1
Sunday, March 18, 2007 (1:30 p.m.)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
TBA
Bukvich (RH) 6-5 3 1 1 2.88 34.1 28 11 11 7 22 0
ALABAMA-OLE MISS SERIES
*Alabama leads the overall series with Ole Miss, 188-129-1 (.593). The series dates back to the 1895 season and is the oldest running series in the Alabama record book.
*The Crimson Tide and Rebels have met every year since 1946.
*Alabama won three of the four meeting with Ole Miss last season, including a series sweep March 24-26, 2006.
*Alabama beat Ole Miss 12-2 in the series open March 24. The Crimson Tide scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and added five runs in the fourth for the win.
*Greg Paiml was 1-for-3 in the win, including a three-double in the bottom of the first inning to give UA a 6-1 lead.
*Evan Bush went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in the win.
*The Crimson Tide pulled out a 9-8 win in 10 innings March 25 to earn the series win.
*Alabama took a 7-4 lead into the ninth inning only to see Ole Miss shortstop give the Rebels an 8-7 lead in the ninth with a grand slam off David Robertson.
*Bama tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when Matt Downs ripped a lead off double and scored on Bush's RBI single.
*The Crimson Tide won the game in the 10th inning when Brandon Belcher was hit by a pitch and scored on Paiml's game-winning double to right-center.
*Tommy Hunter pitched Alabama to the series sweep on Sunday with a complete-game, 9-2 win.
*He held the Rebels to two runs and six hits and walked one and struck out seven en route to his first complete game.
*Trailing 2-1 heading into the seventh inning, Alabama scored four runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth for the win.
*Justin Brashear's two-run home run had given Ole Miss the lead.
*Alabama scored four runs in the seventh to take the lead, highlighted by Bush's two-run double.
*Salem went 3-for-5 and scored two runs in the win.
*Paiml was 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI and reached base four times.
*The series win was Bama's first in Tuscaloosa since 2000.
*The sweep was Alabama's first over Ole Miss since 1997 and first at home since 1991.
*Ole Miss eliminated Alabama from the SEC Tournament 9-2 on May 27 at the Hoover Met.
*C.J. Ketchum had four hits to pace the Rebels 14-hit attack.
*Ole Miss has eliminated Alabama from the SEC Tournament in each of the last two years.
*Alabama has won the last two regular-season series as the Crimson Tide captured the series here in Oxford in 2005.
*The Crimson Tide's series win snapped a streak of four straight series wins by the Rebels.
*Overall, Ole Miss has won five of the last eight series with Alabama, dating back to 1999.
*Alabama head coach Jim Wells has compiled a 19-21 (.475) record against the Rebels.
*Ole Miss and LSU are the only two SEC teams to own a winning record against Wells at Alabama.
*The Crimson Tide has lost seven of the 12 series with Ole Miss under Wells since 1995.
*Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco has compiled a 13-8 (.619) record against Alabama since taking over at Ole Miss in 2001.
*Bianco has won four of the six series against the Crimson Tide.
*Alabama holds a 121-62-1 (.660) lead in games played in Tuscaloosa.
*At Sewell-Thomas Stadium, the Crimson Tide owns a 69-58-1 (.543) mark since the park opened in 1948.
*Alabama is 11-10 (.524) at home against Ole Miss in the Wells era.
*The Crimson Tide is is 63-60 (.512) all-time against the Rebels in Oxford.
*Bama is 7-8 (.467) under Wells in Oxford, with series wins in 1997 and 2005.
SCOUTING REPORT: Ole Miss Rebels
*Ole Miss (16-7, 1-2 SEC) has won eight of its last 11 games entering its 2007 SEC home opener this weekend with Alabama.
*The Rebels boast on of the SEC's top pitching staffs this season. Ole Miss pitchers carry a sparkling 2.40 ERA into the Alabama series.
*The Ole Miss staff has compiled a 16-7 record, nine saves and one complete game.
*The staff has worked 202 1/3 innings and allowed 163 hits, 71 runs and 54 earned runs, with 71 walks and 204 strikeouts.
*The Rebels will open the series with junior right-hander and potential first-round draft pick, Will Kline (Belden, Miss.).
*Kline, a native of Belden, Miss., native has posted a 3-0 record and 1.93 ERA in six starts this season. He has worked 42 innings and allowed 25 hits, 10 runs and nine earned runs, with 14 walks and 51 strikeouts.
*Kline has held opponents to a meager .174 (25-for-144) batting average.
*Sophomore right-hander Lance Lynn (Brownsburg, Ind.) will draw the starting assignment in game two against Alabama.
*Lynn took a no-hitter into the eighth inning last Saturday against Vanderbilt and is the only pitcher to beat the Commodores this season as the Rebels ended Vandy's 20-game winning streak with a 6-1 win.
*Lynn was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week for his efforts against the previously undefeated Commodores.
*For the season, Lynn is 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts. He has logged 35 innings and allowed 24 hits, 10 runs and eight earned runs with 14 walks and 41 strikeouts.
*Lynn has held opponents to a .189 (24-for-127) batting average this year.
*The game three start is expected to be sophomore right hander Brett Bukvich (Brandon, Miss.).
*Bukvich is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA (highest on the team with at least 10 innings pitched) in six games, including five starts. He also has one save to his credit.
*He has worked 34 1/3 innings and allowed 28 hits, 11 runs and 11 earned runs, with seven walks and 22 strikeouts.
*The Rebels have used 12 different pitchers this year, including seven with 10 or more innings.
*The bullpen is anchored by senior right-hander Craig Rodriguez (Sugarland, Texas), sophomore Cody Satterwhite (Jackson) and freshman Nathan Baker (Cordova, Tenn.).
*Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in nine appearances. He has one save and has logged 15 2/3 innings.
*Satterwhite, who was a Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC pick in 2006, has 11 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. He has no record and a 2.53 ERA in six outings.
*Baker is 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA as the midweek starter. He has appeared in seven games and made five starts.
*The closer is sophomore right-hander Scott Bittle (Texarkana, Texas).
*Bittle is 1-3 with with seven saves and 1.17 ERA in his team-leading 13 games.
*He has worked 15 1/3 innings and allowed 14 hits, five runs and two earned runs, with eight walks and 28 strikeouts.
*Bittle leads the SEC with seven saves and has more saves than nine of the 11 teams.
*The Rebels are hitting .313 (239-for-764) through 23 games and average 5.4 runs and 10.4 hits per game.
*The offense is paced by the Henry brothers -- Justin and Jordan -- who are hitting a combined .417 (73-for-175) this season.
*Justin, a junior from Vicksburg, leads Ole Miss with a .449 (44-for-98) average and 19 RBI in 23 starts. He has also added seven extra base hits.
*Jordan, a freshman, is second with a .377 (29-for-77) with one home run and seven RBI. He leads Ole Miss with 17 runs scored.
*Sophomore third baseman Cody Overbeck (Munford, Tenn.) and freshman first baseman Andrew Clark (New Palenstine, Ind.) have hit eight of the Rebels 15 home runs this year.
*Overbeck is hitting .333 (23-for-69) with five home runs and 14 RBI.
*Clark is hitting .318 (21-for-66) with three home runs and 10 RBI.
*Ole Miss is second in the SEC with a .974 fielding percentage. The Rebels have turned 11 double plays, the second-fewest in the SEC.
ROAD WARRIORS
*Alabama has been pretty successful on the road in the Jim Wells era, posting an 129-128 (.502) record in 257 road games since the 1995 season.
*Alabama was 11-10 (.524) on the road last season, its first winning road mark since 2000.
*The Crimson Tide was 8-7 (.533) in SEC road games, its first winning season in league play since 1999.
*Alabama had SEC series wins at No. 23 Georgia, No. 1 South Carolina and Tennessee last season. The sweep at Tennessee clinched a share of the 2006 SEC Championship.
*The Crimson Tide is 0-2 (.000) on the road this season, with losses at No. 26 Southern Miss and Samford.
Wells Year-By-Year Road Record
Year All Games SEC Games
1995 11-7 (.611) 7-5 (.583)
1996 17-6 (.739) 10-5 (.667)
1997 12-7 (.632) 9-6 (.600)
1998 13-14 (.481) 7-8 (.467)
1999 10-10 (.500) 8-7 (.533)
2000 12-10 (.545) 7-8 (.467)
2001 6-14 (.300) 6-9 (.400)
2002 10-10 (.500) 7-8 (.467)
2003 9-11 (.450) 5-10 (.333)
2004 9-11 (.450) 6-9 (.400)
2005 9-14 (.391) 7-8 (.467)
2006 11-10 (.444) 8-7 (.417)
2007 0-2 (.000) 0-0 (.000)
Totals 129-128 (.502) 87-90 (.492)
OFFENSE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT
*The main reason for Alabama's early season success is a much improved offensive attack.
*Alabama's current batting average (.317) is the highest at this point in the season since the 2001 season, when UA also hit .317 in its first 24 games.
*The Crimson Tide's current average is 59 points higher than this time last year.
*Alabama's 24 home runs are the most through 24 games since the 2003 team swatted 31 dingers.
*The 157 RBI are the most by an Alabama team after 24 games since the 2003 team posted 173 RBI.
*The Crimson Tide has scored 171 runs in 24 games, an average of 7.1 per game this season. The run totals and average runs per game are the highest 24-game totals since the 2003 team scored 209 runs for an average of 8.7 runs per game.
*Alabama has collected 266 hits in 24 games this season, an average of 11.1 hits per game. The total number of hits and average number of hits are also the highest since the 2001 team posted 271 hits and averaged 11.3 hits per game.
ON DECK
Alabama and Ole Miss will meet in game two of this three-game series Saturday, March 24 at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
