Alabama Faces Arkansas in SEC Tournament Opener
5/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
GAMES 56-57: ALABAMA (31-24, 15-15 SEC) vs. ARKANSAS (38-18, 18-12 SEC)
REGIONS PARK (10,800) ?? HOOVER, ALABAMA -- 10 A.M. (CSS)
MAY 23, 2007 -- BAMA ROLLS INTO SEC TOURNAMENT
Site: Regions Park (10,800) - Hoover, Alabama
Dates: Wednesday, May 23 10 a.m., 1 p.m, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m
Thursday, May 24 10 a.m., 1 p.m, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m
Friday, May 25 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 10 a.m. and 1 p.m
5 p.m. and 8 p.m (if necessary)
Sunday, May 27 3 p.m.
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (WACT 1420 AM)
Announcers: David Crane (play-by-play) and Chris Stewart (color)
SEC Baseball Network (XM Satellite Radio, Channel 199)
Announcers: Neil Price and Dick Gabriel
Television: Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS)
Wednesday, May 23 10 a.m. and 1 p.m
Announcers: Chuck Hussion (play-by-play) and Andy Burcham (color)
Wednesday, May 23 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Announcers: Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Rusty Ensor (color)
Thursday, May 24 10 a.m. and 1 p.m
Announcers: Chuck Hussion (play-by-play) and Andy Burcham (color)
Thursday, May 24 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Announcers: Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Rusty Ensor (color)
Saturday, May 26 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. (if necessary)
Announcers: Chuck Hussion (play-by-play) and Rusty Ensor (color)
FOX Sports Net (FSN South, FSN Southwest and Sun Sports)
Friday, May 25 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Announcers: Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Larry Conley (color)
Saturday, May 26 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Announcers: Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Larry Conley (color)
Sunday, May 27 3 p.m. (Championship Game)
Announcers: Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Larry Conley (color)
Internet: All Alabama baseball games can be heard on the internet at www.rolltide.com. Live stats can also be found at www.secsports.com
Tickets: General admission tickets are available each day at Regions Park.
UA EARNS NO. 7 SEED AT SEC TOURNAMENT
A trio of late season series wins against Top 20 teams has landed the Alabama Crimson Tide a berth in the 2007 SEC Tournament at Regions Park in Hoover. The Crimson Tide went 7-5 in its last 12 SEC games, which included series wins over No. 4 South Carolina, No. 6 Arkansas and No. 20 Mississippi State. ALABAMA (31-24, 15-15 SEC) tied Florida for sixth place in the overall league standings with a 15-15 conference record. The Crimson Tide closed the season with five wins in its last seven SEC games, including its first road series win of the year at Mississippi State to close out the season. During its last 12 games, Alabama batted .297 (122-for-411) with 15 home runs and 67 RBI. Bama averaged 6.2 runs and 10.2 hits per game over its final 12 SEC games. Salem led the offense with a .396 (21-for-53) average with two home runs and six RBI. Paiml hit .390 (16-for-41) over the last 12 games with four RBI. Bentley batted .333 (15-for-45) with five home runs and 11 RBI. Alabama will be making its 27th SEC post-season appearance at the 2007 SEC Tournament at Regions Park. The Crimson Tide has compiled a 47-38 (.553) all-time record in SEC post-season games. The 27 post-season appearances includes six SEC Championship series, a best-of-three series between the Eastern Division and Western Division champions. The winner was crowned SEC Champion for that season. Alabama’s six appearances came in 1950, 1955, 1957, 1968, 1973 and 1974. The 2007 SEC Tournament will be Alabama’s 20th tournament appearance under the current tournament setting. The Crimson Tide has compiled a 37-31 (.544) record since the tournament’s inception in 1977, including seven championships. Alabama took SEC Tournament crowns in 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003. ARKANSAS (38-18, 18-12) is the No. 2 seed at the 2007 SEC Tournament after winning the SEC Western Division title. The Razorbacks lost its last three conference series (LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss), but still managed to win the division crown. Arkansas is the only team in SEC history to win a division title and lose four series within its division (Mississippi State, LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss). The The Razorbacks only SEC Western Division series win came at Auburn.
HEAD COACH JIM WELLS
Alabama head baseball coach Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980) is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 554-270 (.673) record in 13 seasons at the Capstone. Overall, Wells has posted a 747-359 (.675) 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. Wells has also coached more games than any other UA coach. He broke the previous record of 822 games held by Dr. Barry Shollenberger on May 18, 2007 at Mississippi State. Wells enters the SEC Tournament with an Alabama record 824 games.
WELLS TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
Wells has led the Tide to a 32-12 (.727) record in SEC Tournament play, including six championships. The Crimson Tide won the tournament in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003 under Wells. Alabama has been eliminated by Ole Miss in each of its last two SEC Tournament appearances (2005 and 2006). Dating back to 2000, six of the Crimson Tide’s last seven SEC Tournament losses have come to LSU (1-3) and Ole Miss (0-3). Coach Wells has compiled a 12-3 (.800) record in SEC Tournament play against the three teams in his 2007 SEC Tournament bracket. He is 4-1 against Arkansas, 8-2 against Florida and 2-0 against South Carolina.
ALABAMA-ARKANSAS SERIES
Alabama owns a 33-19 series lead against Arkansas. The Crimson Tide won the series with the Razorbacks (W 10-0, L 12-5, W 9-5) this season in Tuscaloosa. Bama is 4-1 against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament and has eliminated the Hogs in each of the last two years. Alabama also beat Arkansas for the SEC Tournament championship in 1999 in front of the largest crowd (16,165) in tourney history.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Odr No. Name Pos. Bats 2007 Stats Notes
1 2 Emeel Salem CF L/L 55 GS, .363, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 23 SB Riding 13-game hitting streak
2 32 Brandon Belcher LF L/L 42 G, 36 GS, .319, 2 HR, 16 RBI Hit .358 (38-for-106) in 28 SEC games
3 16 Alex Avila 3B L/R 55 GS, .296, 13 HR, 60 RBI Averaging 2.18 RBI over last 11 games (24)
4 22 Kent Matthes RF R/R 49 G, 48 GS, .304, 8 HR, 45 RBI No home runs in last 18 games
5 25 Matt Bentley 1B L/L 51 GS, .303, 12 HR, 36 RBI Homered in seven of 10 SEC series
6 9 Del Howell DH L/L 24 G, 9 GS, .279, 1 HR, 3 RBI First career HR vs. Arkansas (May 12)
-- or -- 34 Ryan Rhoden R/R 41 G, 36 GS, .299, 2 HR, 16 RBI 3-for-7 (.429) at Mississippi State
7 6 Brandon May 2B R/R 47 G, 39 GS, .261, 0 HR, 13 RBI 4-for-25 (.160) in last eight games
8 1 Kyle Moore C R/R 29 G, 20 GS, .214, 2 HR, 12 RBI Started last 18 games as catcher
9 3 Greg Paiml SS R/R 55 G, 54 GS, .286, 1 HR, 18 RBI 100th career start at SS in SEC Trny opener
OFF THE BENCH
No. Name Pos. Bats 2007 Stats
10 Jeff Texada INF R/R 39 G, 25 GS, .277, 1 HR, 12 RBI No at-bat since April 28th
14 Jake Smith 3B R/R 40 G, 39 GS, .260, 6 HR, 29 RBI Missed last six games with injury
35 Elvin Vargas OF R/R 23 G, 11 GS, .306, 0 HR, 6 RBI 2-for-11 (.182) as pinch-hitter
43 Tyler Odle OF L/L 25 G, 5 GS, .130, 1 HR, 4 RBI Game-winning HR at Florida (May 6)
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
SEC Tournament Game 1 (May 23, 2007) - 10 a.m. (CSS)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Hunter (RH) 25-10 7 4 5 3.59 100.1 93 42 40 30 90 2
SEC Tournament Game 2 (May 24, 2007) - 10 a.m. OR 5 p.m. (CSS)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Stroup (LH) 23-3 3 0 2 4.61 66.1 71 35 34 21 45 1
Hyatt (RH) 15-3 5 1 2 3.29 38.1 34 15 14 8 37 0
SEC Tournament Game 3 (TBA)
Pitcher G-GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER BB K CG
Stroup (LH) 23-3 3 0 2 4.61 66.1 71 35 34 21 45 1
Quigley (LH) 16-15 4 7 0 4.88 90.1 86 53 49 41 78 0
SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
*Alabama will be making its 27th SEC post-sesason appearance at the 2007 SEC Tournament at Regions Park.
*The Crimson Tide has compiled a 47-38 (.553) all-time record in SEC post-season games.
*The 27 post-season appearances includes six SEC Championship series, a best-of-three series between the Eastern Division and Western Division champions. The winner was crowned SEC Champion for that season.
*Alabama’s six appearances came in 1950, 1955, 1957, 1968, 1973 and 1974.
*The 2007 SEC Tournament will be Alabama’s 20th appearance under the current tournament setting.
*The Crimson Tide has compiled a 37-31 (.544) record since the tournament’s inception in 1977, inclduing seven championships.
*Alabama took SEC Tournament crowns in 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003.
*Alabama head coach Jim Wells has led the Tide to a 32-12 (.727) record in SEC Tournament play, including six championships.
*The Crimson Tide won the tournament in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003 under Wells.
*Alabama’s presence in the SEC Tournament was basically non-existent before Wells arrival.
*The Crimson Tide posted a 5-19 (.208) record in SEC Tournament play in 10 appearances from 1977-94.
*Alabama lost a school-record 10 consecutive SEC Tournament games from 1986-94.
*Since Wells’ arrival in 1995, Alabama has been a fixture in the SEC Tournament, making 11 appearances and winning an SEC record six championships.
*Alabama owns a winning record against seven of the 11 league teams in SEC Tournament play.
*The Crimson Tide has a losing record against both LSU (5-6) and Ole Miss (1-5) in SEC Tournament play.
*Alabama has been eliminated by Ole Miss in each of its last two SEC Tournament appearances (2005 and 2006).
*Dating back to 2000, six of the Crimson Tide’s last seven SEC Tournament losses have come to LSU (1-3) and Ole Miss (0-3).
*The only other loss during that time was a 7-4 setback to Florida in 2002.
*Alabama has split two all-time SEC Tourmanent meetings with Georgia.
*Alabama and Vanderbilt have never met in SEC Tournament action.
ALABAMA’S SEC TOURNEY RECORD
School Record
Arkansas 4-1
Auburn 4-3
Florida 9-7
Georgia 1-1
Kentucky 3-1
LSU 5-6
Miss. State 7-3
Ole Miss 1-5
South Carolina 2-0
Tennessee 2-1
Vanderbilt 0-0
*Coach Wells owns a winning SEC Tournament record against every team with the exception of Ole Miss (1-3).
*Ole Miss has eliminated Alabama from the SEC Tournament each of the last two years.
*Ole Miss beat Alabama twice in 2005 and posted a 9-2 win last year in Hoover.
*Wells is 22-4 (.846) in SEC Tournament games against the seven other teams that make up the 2007 SEC Tourament field.
*Wells has compiled a 12-3 (.800) record in SEC Tournament play against the three teams in his 2007 SEC Tournament bracket.
*Wells is 4-1 against Arkansas, 8-2 against Florida and 2-0 against South Carolina.
*Wells has never faced Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament.
WELLS SEC TOURNEY RECORD
School Record
Arkansas 4-1
Auburn 3-2
Florida 8-2
Georgia 1-0
Kentucky 3-0
LSU 5-4
Miss. State 6-0
Ole Miss 1-3
South Carolina 2-0
Tennessee 1-0
Vanderbilt 0-0
BAMA EARNS BERTH WITH LATE RUN
*A trio of late season series wins against Top 20 teams has landed the Crimson Tide a berth in the 2007 SEC Tournament at Regions Park in Hoover.
*The Crimson Tide went 7-5 in its last 12 SEC games, which included series wins over No. 4 South Carolina, No. 6 Arkansas and No. 20 Mississippi State.
*Alabama tied Florida for sixth place in the overall league standings with a 15-15 conference record.
*The Crimson Tide closed the season with five wins in its last seven SEC games, including its first road series win of the year at Mississippi State to close out the season.
*During its last 12 games, Alabama batted .297 (122-for-411) with 15 home runs and 67 RBI.
*Bama averaged 6.2 runs and 10.2 hits per game over its final 12 SEC games.
*Salem led the offense with a .396 (21-for-53) average with two home runs and six RBI.
*Paiml hit .390 (16-for-41) over the last 12 games with four RBI.
*Bentley batted .333 (15-for-45) with five home runs and 11 RBI.
*Avila had a monster four weeks with five home runs and 22 RBI, an average of 1.83 RBI per game since April 27.
*UA opponents batted .281 (116-for-413) with 21 home runs and 70 RBI.
*Bama opponents averaged 6.3 runs and 9.7 hits per game over its final 12 SEC games.
*The Tide pitching staff went 7-5 with two complete games, three saves and 6.75 ERA.
*Hunter was 3-1 with 4.11 ERA in four starts, with one complete game at Mississippi State (May 17). He threw eight shutout innings in a 10-0 win over Arkansas (May 11).
*Stroup was 3-0 with one save and a 4.72 ERA in four appearances and three starts.
*He worked 7 2/3 innings in relief and earned the win against South Carolina (11-10) on April 29. He entered the game with UA traling 6-0 in the first inning and UA trailed 10-2 in the third inning.
*He tossed his first complete game in the series-clinching win over No. 6 Arkansas (May 13).
BAMA IS NO. 7 SEED AT SEC TOURNEY
*Alabama is the No. 7 seed at the 2007 SEC Tournament (May 23-27) this week at Regions Park, equaling its lowest seed in tourney history.
*The Crimson Tide was also the No. 7 seed at the 2003 SEC Tournament.
*Alabama was 14-16 in 2003 and clinched a tournament berth on the final day of the regular-season.
*The Crimson Tide won all four SEC Tournament games to win its sixth SEC Tournament title under Coach Wells.
*Alabama beat LSU 10-3 in the 2003 SEC Tournament championship game.
ALABAMA’S TOURNEY SEEDINGS
Year Seed
1996 1
1997 2
1998 5
1999 3
2000 6
2001 DNP
2002 2
2003 7
2004 DNP
2005 5
2006 1
2007 7
*Alabama is also the last No. 1 seed to win the SEC Tournament, capturing the league’s post-season title in 1996.
*The Crimson Tide beat the No. 1 seed in the championship game in 1997, 1999 and 2002.
*LSU (2003) is the last No. 1 seed to play in the SEC Tournament championship game.
*Vanderbilt is the No. 1 seed at this year’s SEC Tournament.
HOW NO. 1 SEED HAS FARED
Year Team Finish
1996 Alabama Trny Champs
1997 LSU 2nd Place
1998 Florida 5th Place
1999 Arkansas 2nd Place
2000 South Carolina 3rd Place
2001 Georgia 5th Place
2002 South Carolina 2nd Place
2003 LSU 2nd Place
2004 Georgia 5th Place
2005 Florida 3rd Place
2006 Alabama t3rd Place
SEC TOURNAMENT STREAKS
*With three consecutive SEC Tournament appearances, Alabama has the fourth-longest active streak among SEC teams.
*Alabama has been to the SEC Tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
*South Carolina holds the longest active streak at 11 straight SEC Tournament appearances, having reached the field every year since 1997.
*Arkansas is second with six consecutive appearances and Ole Miss is third with five straight trips.
*Here is the longest active SEC Tournament streaks.
SEC TOURNAMENT STREAKS
Team Streak
South Carolina 11
Arkansas 6
Ole Miss 5
ALABAMA 3
Vanderbilt 2
Florida 1
Mississippi State 1
Tennessee 1
Auburn 0
Georgia 0
Kentucky 0
LSU 0
ALABAMA AT REGIONS PARK
*Alabama might as well call Regions Park (formerly known as the Hoover Met), its home away from home. The Crimson Tide has had a tremendous amount of success at the ballpark since its opening in the late 980s.
*Alabama has compiled a 31-13 (.705) record at Regions Park, including a 2-1 win over UAB on April 4, 2007.
*The Crimson Tide beat UAB 14-3 o April 26, 1989 in its inaugural game in Hoover and has enjoyed much success since.
*Regions Park is also the home to the 2007 SEC Baseball Tournament (May 23-27) and the Crimson Tide has captured four SEC Tournament titles (1996, 1999, 2002 and 2003) in Hoover.
*Alabama is 6-3 (.667) in nine regular-season games at Regions Park.
*Alabama is 25-10 (.714) in SEC Tournament games here.
*Here is a year-by-year look at the Crimson Tide’s success here at the Regions Park.
ALABAMA’S REGIONS PARK RECORD
Year Record
1989 1-0
1990 0-1
1992 1-0
1995 0-1
1996 6-1
1997 0-1
1998 3-2
1999 4-0
2000 2-2
2002 4-1
2003 4-0
2004 1-0
2005 2-2
2006 3-2
2007 0-0
REGIONS PARK RESULTS (Regular Season)
Year Result
1989 Alabama 14, UAB 3
1990 UAB 6, Alabama 4 (10)
1992 Alabama 6, UAB 0
1995 Auburn 6, Alabama 1
1996 Alabama 7, Auburn 1
1997 UAB 10, Alabama 2
2004 Alabama 5, UAB 4
2006 Alabama 14, UAB 8
2007 Alabama 2, UAB 1
REGIONS PARK RESULTS (SEC Tourney)
Year Result
1996 Alabama 3, Kentucky 2
Alabama 3, Tenn 1 (14)
Florida 7, Alabama 3
Alabama 16, Kentucky 8
Alabama 10, Florida 5
Alabama 15, Florida 5
1998 Auburn 11, Alabama 8
Alabama 8, Kentucky 3
Alabama 3, Florida 2
Alabama 4, Auburn 3
Auburn 9, Alabama 1
1999 Alabama 7, Ole Miss 6
Alabama 4, MSU 3
Alabama 12, MSU 11
Alabama 9, Arkansas 3
2000 Alabama 9, MSU 3
LSU 18, Alabama 12
Alabama 12, Georgia 4
LSU 6, Alabama 5
2002 Alabama 12, MSU 2
Alabama 7, Florida 4
Florida 7, Alabama 4
Alabama 11, Florida 9
Alabama 6, USC 2
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