Tide Baseball Team Holds Fan Day
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 7, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama baseball team wrapped up its 26th annual preseason barbecue and fan day by hitting four home runs as the Gray team downed the Crimson team, 8-2, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Seniors Kent Matthes and Kyle Moore, junior Cody Trotter and sophomore Ross Wilson all homered for Alabama on a sunny afternoon as temperatures topped 70 degrees.
Trotter and Matthes went 4-for-7 with two home runs and six RBI to lead the Gray team to the win. Matthes and Trotter both homered in a five-run second inning. Matthes opened the scoring with a two-run home run and Trotter capped the inning with a three-run blast.
"This is a good time to get hot," Matthes said. "We worked hard in the fall and that leads to this point in the season where it is time to get locked in and get focused with the season two weeks away. The ball did not carry well today. We could have easily hit seven or eight home runs. Power will be one the strong points for this team."
Trotter and senior Tyler Odle had three hits to pace the Gray team's 11-hit effort. In addition to his three-run home run in the third inning, Trotter added an RBI single in the sixth and picked up his third hit in the eighth.
"It does not matter if a practice, scrimmage or game, you always want to do well and help the team," Trotter said. "Matthes got things going with his home run. It was a good day to hit the ball. The hitters got the best of it today."
Sophomore Nathan Kilcrease pitched four innings for the Gray team and allowed only one run and two hits.
The Crimson team offense managed only three hits against Kilcrease, sophomore Jimmy Nelson and junior David Head.
Moore and Wilson both homered for the Crimson squad in Saturday's scrimmage.
The intrasquad game capped a great day of Alabama baseball on Saturday. The Crimson Tide opened the day with a free kid's clinic on Saturday morning with nearly 100 youngsters participating in the event that included fielding, hitting and base running drills.
The team then signed autographs for fans that participated in the 26th annual Grand Slammers preseason barbecue in the CAVE at Coleman Coliseum.
"We had a great turnout," Alabama Grand Slammers President Ron Houghtson said following the event. "It was great day and we appreciate all the hard work from our members to make this a great event today. We are all excited about the this team and the start of the season. We had a great day."
Alabama will hold its final scrimmage of the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 8 at approximately 2:30 p.m.
The Crimson Tide will open the 2009 season with a three-game series against Southeast Missouri State. The series opener is Friday, Feb. 20 at 6:35 p.m. The teams will also play Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2:05 p.m.
