Graham Shines on Mound as Tide Beats Troy, 8-2
3/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? University of Alabama sophomore right-hander Austin Graham pitched into the seventh inning in his first start in nearly two years and the Crimson Tide offense scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning en route to an 8-2 win over Troy Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Graham (1-0), who was making his first start on the mound for Alabama since March 8, 2006 against South Alabama, held Troy to two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, with four walks and four strikeouts in helping the Tide snap its modest two-game losing streak. It was Graham’s first win since beating Florida International 12-2 on February 26, 2006.
“It felt good,” Graham said after his 111-pitch performance. “It was nice to pitch well and get a win.”
Alabama (4-5) scored two runs in the first inning to give the right-hander and early lead and then blew the game open with a four-run, third inning to take a 6-0 lead.
Junior DH Alex Avila’s first home run of the season, an opposite field blast off the scoreboard in left-center field gave the Tide a two-run lead. Josh Rutledge led off the game with a single up the middle and scored on Avila’s 20th career home run.
The Crimson Tide erupted for four runs on five hits in the bottom of third inning to take a 6-0 lead. Rutledge started the fourth-inning rally with a one-out single up the middle and moved into scoring position when Ross Wilson drew a four-pitch walk. After Avila struck out, Brandon May reached on an infield single to load the bases. Matt Bentley then slapped a ground-rule double down the left field line to score Rutledge and Wilson and extend the lead to 4-0. Kent Matthes then singled to left to score May and Bentley to make it 6-0.
“We got an early lead and then had the big inning where we scored multiple runs and that was the game,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said.
Troy starter Jeff Green (0-1) was charged with six earned runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. He added three strikeouts and walked one batter.
Troy (9-2) scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning to close the gap to 6-2. Bart Pettus reached on an error by Bentley and later scored on Charlie Williams’ two-out home run to right field. It was Williams’ first home run of the year.
Junior right-hander Robert Phares relieved Graham with two outs and two runners on base in the seventh inning to earn his first collegiate save. Phares blanked the Trojans on two hits over the final 2 1/3 innings, with two strikeouts.
Alabama added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning against TU reliever J.J. Whetsel. Bentley opened the inning with a double and moved to third on Matthes’ single to left field. Bentley later scored on a wild pitch to give the Tide a 7-2 lead. Matthes later scored on Mike Sharp’s RBI single to left field to put the Tide in front 8-2.
Alabama will host Youngstown State in a three-game series this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, beginning Friday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. The weekend will include a reunion of the 1983 College World Series team on Saturday, March 8.
GAME NOTES:
*Alabama now leads the all-time series with Troy, 15-6, following Wednesday’s 8-2 win at Tuscaloosa. The two teams have split the last six meetings, with two of Alabama’s wins coming in the 2006 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.
*Freshman shortstop Josh Rutledge (Cullman, Ala.) led off the game with a single to center field to extend his hitting streak to eight-games.
*Senior first baseman Matt Bentley’s (Huntsville, Ala.) bases-loaded double in the third inning was the Tide’s second hit of the season with the bases loaded. The Crimson Tide is 2-for-9 (.222) with the bases loaded this season through nine games.
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