Crimson Tide Travels to North Alabama
3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama baseball team travels to Florence, Ala., for the first time in more than four decades to the face the North Alabama Lions Tuesday, March 11, at 6 p.m. (CST) at University Field.
Alabama has not played in Florence since the 1967 season, when the Crimson Tide and Lions split a double header on the UNA campus. Tuesday’s game also marks the dedication game of the newly renovated University Field and the game is already sold out. A limited number of standing room only tickets will be sold on game day for $3 each in the University Field Box Office. Alabama and North Alabama are meeting for the first time since February 26, 2002 when the Tide posted a 2-1 win over the Lions at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama leads the all-time series with North Alabama, 18-3, in a series that dates back to the 1967 season. The Crimson Tide is playing on the UNA campus for the first time since the 1967, when the two teams split a two-game series. UNA won the first ever meeting between the schools, 10-3. Alabama came back with a 9-2 win in game two of the series. Alabama holds a 17-2 series lead over UNA in games played in Tuscaloosa. Alabama coach Jim Wells is 2-0 in his career against UNA, winning in 1998 (4-1) and 2002 (2-1). UNA head coach Mike Lane is 1-6 (.167) in his career against Alabama, with his lone win coming in Tuscaloosa in 1985.
Alabama (7-5) posted a three-game sweep of Youngstown State this past weekend in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide hit .286 (28-for-98) in the three-game series with five home runs and 25 RBI. The Tide averaged 9.3 runs and 9.3 hits per game against the Penguins. Junior catcher Alex Avila paced the Tide with a .600 (6-for-10) average against the Penguins, with one home run and four RBI in the series. Sophomore Brandon May went 5-for-9 (.556) in the series with six RBI, including a three-hit, three-RBI performance in the series finale. Junior Kent Matthes hit two home runs and knocked in four runs and freshman Ross Wilson had six RBI in the Tide’s 15-7 win in the series opener. The Tide posted a 4.33 ERA in the three-game series and got a pair of quality starts from junior RHP Austin Hyatt (7 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K) and junior LHP Miers Quigley (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K). Junior RHP Casey Kebodeaux was the winning pitcher in the opener with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, with three strikeouts.
North Alabama brings a 12-5 record into its home game with Alabama Tuesday night. The Lions were scheduled to play Bethel College on Monday afternoon in Florence. UNA has not played since losing a pair of 4-3 games at Ouachita Baptist on Wednesday, March 5. The Lions had two games cancelled due to weather this past weekend. North Alabama is hitting .365 (163-for-447) with seven home runs and 117 RBI this season. The Lions average 9.7 runs and 10.9 hits per game. Junior Jeffrey Ritter is the team’s triple crown leader through 15 games. He is hitting .536 (30-for-56) with five home runs and 33 RBI. Junior shortstop Cole Mitchell is hitting .440 (22-for-50) with a team-high six doubles and 18 runs scored. He is second on the team with 16 RBI.
The pitching staff has compiled a 12-5 record and 3.68 ERA this season. The staff has logged 115 innings and recorded 110 strikeouts. Junior LHP Matt Vandenheuvel leads the team with nine relief appearances this season. He is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA on the mound. Vandenheuvel has worked 20 1/3 innings and allowed four runs and 12 hits, with 23 strikeouts and four walks, while holding opponents to a .167 batting average. Junior RHP Brandon Tepe (4 GS, 3-0, 1.85 ERA), senior RHP Jeff Schafer (5 GS, 2-2, 4.50 ERA) and junior RHP Brennen Auerbach (3 GS, 1-0, 7.56 ERA) have combined for 12 starts on the mound this season. The Lions have made 16 errors in 15 games (.967) and turned six double plays.
Alabama is expected to send junior right hander Casey Kebodeaux (3 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 4.82 ERA) to the mound against North Alabama. The Lions did not name a starter for Tuesday. Following the trip to Florence, Alabama is back home Wednesday, March 11, against the Samford Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
-UA-
