Baseball Team Faces Oklahoma State in NCAA Tourmament
5/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 27, 2009
Alabama's NCAA Tournament Game Notes 
2009 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE BASEBALL
Oklahoma State (32-22, 9-16 Big 12) vs. Alabama (37-19, 18-11 SEC)
Friday, May 29 (2:06 p.m. - CDT) - NCAA CLEMSON REGIONAL
Doug Kingsmore Stadium (6,217) - Clemson, South Carolina
FIRST PITCH: Alabama is making its 20th all-time NCAA Regional appearance as the Crimson Tide earned the No. 2 seed at the 2009 NCAA Clemson (S.C.) Regional, hosted by the Clemson Tigers. The Crimson Tide will be joined by No. 1 Clemson (40-19), No. 3 Oklahoma State (32-22) and No. 4 Tennessee Tech (30-22) in the four-team double-elimination tournament, which begins Friday, May 29 and continues through Sunday, May 31, with an if necessary game scheduled for Monday, June 1. Alabama will face Oklahoma State in first-round action on Friday, May 29, at 2 p.m. (CDT). Tennessee Tech and Clemson will meet at 6 p.m. (CDT) in the other first round game. The winner of the Clemson Regional will meet the winner of the Tempe Regional in next week's NCAA Super Regionals. Alabama's NCAA Regional history dates back to the 1947 NCAA District III Playoffs in Charlotte, N.C. The Crimson Tide has played in the NCAA Regional championship game 13 times, winning six regional titles in 1959, 1983, 1997, 1997, 1999 and 2006. Alabama is one of eight SEC teams to play in this year's NCAA Tournament, joining Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
RANKINGS: Alabama's recent play on the field has not gone unnoticed in the national polls. The Crimson Tide is ranked in all five polls with its highest ranking at No. 14 by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. The Tide is ranked 13th by Rivals.com and 20th by Baseball America and ESPN/Coaches poll.
HEAD COACH Jim Wells: Coach Jim Wells became the seventh coach in Southeastern Conference history to win 600 games when the Tide posted a lopsided 24-0 win over Alabama A&M on March 17. Wells joins former SEC greats Ron Polk (1,218), Skip Bertman (870), Keith Madison (735), Rod Delmonico (699), Roy Mewbourne (655) and Hal Baird (634) as the only coaches with 600 wins at an SEC school. Wells has compiled a 625-320 (.661) record in his 15th season as the Crimson Tide's head coach. He was named the school's 29th head baseball coach on June 4, 1995. He was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Jan. 16, 2009. Overall, Wells has compiled an 817-409 (.666) record in 1,226 games over 20 seasons at the Division-I level. Prior to Alabama, he spent five years at Northwestern (La.) State, where he compiled a 192-89 (.683) record and led the Demons to three Southland Conference championships and two NCAA Regional appearances.
WHO TO WATCH: Senior right fielder Kent Matthes (.365, 28 HR, 81 RBI), the 2009 SEC Player of the Year, is the NCAA co-leader with 28 home runs this season. He is tied with Middle Tennessee State center fielder Bryce Brentz for the national lead. The 28 home run are the most in a season by an Alabama player. Doug Duke held the previous record with 27 home runs set in 1986. Matthes tied Duke's record on the final day of the regular season at Auburn and then broke the record against South Carolina at the SEC Tournament. Matthes leads the team in average, home runs and RBI is looking to become UA's first triple crown winner since 1993. Freshman left fielder Taylor Dugas (.354, 2 HR, 27 RBI) was named to the 2009 Freshman All-SEC Team and was second on the UA team in hitting. He posted a 24-game hitting streak this season; the longest in the SEC. Sophomore second baseman Ross Wilson (.349, 9 HR, 46 RBI) enters the Clemson Regional riding a career-best 14-game hitting streak. Wilson was named to the 2008 Conway (S.C.) Regional after hitting .500 (7-for-14) with three home runs and five RBI. He tied an Alabama post-season record with two home runs in a 13-10 loss to Coastal Carolina on May 31, 2008. He finished the tournament with an 1.143 slugging mark. Junior Brandon May (.343, 12 HR, 68 RBI) will take over for the injured Jake Smith at third base during the post season. May has started five different positions this season, including eight starts at third base. Senior right hander Austin Hyatt (13 GS, 8-2, 3.14 ERA) will start the NCAA Regional opener against Oklahoma State. Hyatt is 2-0 in his two career post-season starts, including last year's win over East Carolina in the Conway (S.C.) Regional.
ALL-TIME NCAA OPPONENTS: Alabama has played 38 different opponents in its NCAA Regional Tournament history. The Crimson Tide faced Coastal Carolina and East Carolina last year for the first time in school history and post-season history.
WELLS' ALL-TIME NCAA OPPONENTS: Coach Wells' teams have faced 32 different NCAA Regional opponents since his first trip in 1991. He has a winning record against 22 of those 32 teams.
ALABAMA VS. 2009 NCAA FIELD: Alabama has played seven teams in this year's NCAA Tournament, including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide has compiled a 10-10 record against the 2009 tourney field, with series sweeps against Arkansas and Vanderbilt.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Alabama is making its 20th all-time NCAA Regional appearance this season. The Crimson Tide owns a 59-38 (.608) all-time NCAA Tournament record, including Regionals, Super Regionals and College World Series play.
*The Crimson Tide owns a 46-26 (.652) record in NCAA Regional play since its post-season debut in 1947. Alabama has played in 13 NCAA Regional championship games in its history and has captured six NCAA Regional titles, including 1950, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2006.
*Alabama has hosted NCAA Regionals in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2006. The Crimson Tide has won four of the five regionals in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is 17-2 (.895) in NCAA Regional play at home, including an 11-game winning streak from 1996-99. The Tide has captured the 1996 NCAA South I Regional, 1997 South II Regional and the 1999, 2002 and 2006 Tuscaloosa Regional.
*Alabama hosted its first ever NCAA Regional in 1996, posting wins over Princeton, South Alabama, Stetson and Virginia en route to its first College World Series berth since 1983. The Tide swept through the 1997 NCAA South II Regional with wins over Troy, Wichita State, North Carolina State and Southern California to post its second straight trip to Omaha. The streak continued at the 1999 Tuscaloosa Regional with wins over Navy and Southern Mississippi (twice) to advance to the newly-created NCAA Super Regionals.
*The Crimson Tide had its 13-game home NCAA Tournament winning streak snapped with a 7-4 loss to No. 4 seed Southeast Missouri State to open the 2002 Tuscaloosa Regional. Alabama bounced back with wins over Auburn and SE Missouri to advance to the championship game with Florida Atlantic. The Tide posted a 7-2 win in game one, but dropped a 6-5 decision in the if necessary game as FAU advanced to the Super Regionals against Georgia Tech.
*Alabama swept through the 2006 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional with wins over Jacksonville State and Troy. After an easy win over JSU in the first-round, Alabama posted a hard-fought, 4-3, win over Troy to advance to the title game. UA won its sixth regional title with an easy 14-5 win over the Trojans to advance to its second NCAA Super Regional.
*Alabama has played 14 NCAA Regionals away from home, including 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1968, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2009. The Crimson Tide has won only two road regional's (1950 and 1983) with the last coming in the 1983 South Regional at Dick Hoswer Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. Alabama posted wins over Miami (6-4), Florida State (7-5) and Miami (11-9) to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1950.
*The Crimson Tide is 29-24 (.547) in NCAA Regionals on the road.
*Alabama's first appearance came in the 1947 South District III Playoffs in Charlotte, N.C. The Crimson Tide came out of the loser's bracket to force the if necessary game with Clemson and a shot at the College World Series. Clemson beat Alabama 4-1 in the championship game and advanced to the very first CWS in Kalamazoo, Mich.
*The Crimson Tide made its second straight South NCAA District III Playoff appearance in 1948, also in Charlotte, N.C. After an opening round win over George Washington, Alabama fell to North Carolina and George Washington and was eliminated.
*Alabama captured its first South District III championship in 1950, sweeping Clemson and Wake Forest (twice) in Kannapolis, N.C., to advance to the College World Series for the first time in school history. The 1950 CWS was the first one played in Omaha, Neb.
*The Crimson Tide would lose a best-of-three series with Rollins College in the 1955 South District III Playoffs in Winter Park, Fla. It would be 13 years before the school's next NCAA Regional game.
*Alabama captured the 1968 SEC Championship with a best-of-three series win over Eastern Division champion Florida to advance to the 1968 South District III Playoffs in Gastonia, N.C. The Crimson Tide had to win its final regular season series against LSU in Tuscaloosa to earn a share of SEC Western Division championship. The next day, Alabama beat LSU in a one-game playoff in Baton Rouge to advance to the SEC Championship series. The Crimson Tide lost to North Carolina and Florida State in two games in the 1968 tournament. On the way to Gastonia, N.C., Alabama head coach Joe Sewell arranged for the team to stop off at Fulton County Stadium to see the Atlanta Braves.
*Perhaps the Tide's most impressive regional championship came in 1983 at the South Regional at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., where UA defeated Miami, Florida State and Miami to advance to the College World Series. The four-team field also hosted a very talented South Alabama team, making it one of the top regionals in the nation that year.
*The Crimson Tide got a taste of post-season life at Mark Light Stadium in 1986, posting a 2-2 record at the Atlantic Regional. Following an opening round loss to South Carolina, the Tide beat Navy and South Carolina before falling to Georgia Tech.
*Alabama was the No. 2 seed at the Atlantic Regional in Tallahassee, Fla., in 1991, losing in the title game to Florida State.
*The Crimson Tide has played in 12 NCAA Regionals in 15 years under head coach Jim Wells. The Crimson Tide owns a 29-14 (.674) record in NCAA Regional play under Coach Wells.
*Alabama has hosted NCAA Regionals in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2006. UA also hosted the 1999 NCAA Super Regional in Tuscaloosa.
*Alabama made a school-record six straight NCAA Regional appearances from 1995-2000. The Tide was the No. 2 seed at the 1995 East Regional at Clemson, where it posted a 4-2 record before falling to the host Tigers in the championship game.
*The Crimson Tide hosted back-to-back NCAA Regionals in 1996 and 1997, earning the No. 1 seed on both tournaments. The 1996 NCAA South I Regional was the first ever post-season tournament held at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama also hosted the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional in 1999 and the first-ever NCAA Super Regional in 1999.
*Alabama posted a 13-game winning streak in home regionals from 1995-1999. The Tide went 4-0 in 1996, 4-0 in 1997 and 3-0 in 1999. Alabama also swept LSU in the 1999 NCAA Super Regionals at the Joe.
*The Tide won the 1996 NCAA South I Regional championship in Tuscaloosa. Alabama, hosting its first-ever NCAA Regional, defeated Princeton, South Alabama, Stetson and Virginia to advance to the CWS.
*Alabama won the 1997 South II Regional in Tuscaloosa to advance to Omaha for the second straight year. The Tide beat Troy State, Wichita State, North Carolina State and Southern California to make it back to the CWS.
*UA was the No. 1 seed at the College World Series in 1996 and 1997, the only team in CWS history to be seeded first in consecutive world was series.
*The Crimson Tide posted wins over Navy and Southern Miss (twice) to its the 1999 Tuscaloosa Regional and advance to the newly-created NCAA Super Regionals. In the first year of Super Regional play, Alabama swept LSU in the best-of-three series to advance to the CWS for the third time in four years.
*The Crimson Tide made two appearances at the Palo Alto Regional in 1998 and 2000, finishing second to Long Beach State in 1998 and Stanford in 2000.
*Alabama hosted the 2002 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional and finished second to Florida Atlantic. The Tide saw its 13-game home post-season winning streak snapped with an opening round loss to Southeast Missouri State.
*The Crimson Tide played on the road in 2003 and 2005. In 2003, Alabama was the No. 2 seed at Texas A&M and finished third in the regional, marking the first time a Wells-coached team did not reach the finals. In 2005, Alabama was the No. 2 seed at national seed Tulane at Turchin Stadium in New Orleans. UA finished second to the CWS-bound Green Wave.
*Alabama won the 2006 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, beating Jacksonville State and Troy (twice) to advance to its second NCAA Super Regional. The Crimson Tide lost to No. 5 North Carolina in the best-of-three series and finished second in the College World Series.
*The Crimson Tide was the No. 3 seed at last year's NCAA Conway (S.C.) Regional, its lowest seeding in four-team NCAA Tournament. After a lopsided win over No. 2 East Carolina in the tourney opener, Alabama dropped its next two games to Coastal Carolina and East Carolina to end its season.
*Alabama also has a 2-2 (.500) in Super Regional play, defeating LSU in 1999 and losing to North Carolina in 2006. Alabama swept LSU in a two-game series in the first NCAA Super Regional in Tuscaloosa to advance to its third College World Series in four years. North Carolina swept Alabama in a two-game NCAA Super Regional in 2006.
in 2006.
*Alabama is 11-10 (.524) all-time record in five College World Series appearances. The Crimson Tide has been the national runner up twice in 1983 and 1997.
*Since 1999, Alabama as been tabbed a national seed three times, including 1999 (No. 5), 2002 (No. 3) and 2006 (No. 4).
*Since 1983, Alabama has been the No. 1 seed five times and the No. 2 seed nine times and the No. 3 seed twice.
Seed Record Seed Record
1983 Tallahassee 2 40-9
1986 Coral Gables 2 41-18
1991 Tallahassee 3 39-18
1995 Clemson 2 39-21
1996 Tuscaloosa 1 45-18
1997 Tuscaloosa 1 48-12
1998 Palo Alto 2 43-16
1999 Tuscaloosa 1 46-14
2000 Palo Alto 2 38-22
2002 Tuscaloosa 1 48-13
2003 College Station 2 37-22
2005 New Orleans 2 38-21
2006 Tuscaloosa 1 41-19
2008 Conway, SC 3 34-26
2009 Clemson, SC 2 37-19
WELLS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Alabama coach Jim Wells has compiled a 31-18 (.633) all-time record in NCAA Tournament play. Overall, Wells has taken 14 of his 20 teams to NCAA Regionals, including 12 of 15 teams at Alabama.
*Wells is 30-14 (.682) in NCAA Tournament play in 15 seasons as head coach of the Crimson Tide. He was 1-4 (.200) in two NCAA Tournament appearances at Northwestern State (1990-94).
*He made his NCAA Tournament debut at the 1991 NCAA South I Regional in Baton Rouge, La., while the head coach at Northwestern State. The Demons suffered a 13-2 loss to the Tigers on May 24, 2991. Wells also took the Demons to the 1994 NCAA Midwest Regional at Stillwater, Oklahoma. He registered his first career post-season win with a 8-2 victory over Illinois State on May 28, 1994.
*Wells made his NCAA Tournament debut with Alabama at the 1995 East Regional at Clemson, S. C. In fact, Wells led Alabama to a school-record six straight NCAA Tournament berths from 1995-2000.
WELLS' NCAA TOURNAMENT YEAR-BY-YEAR
Year Site Seed Record
1991 Baton Rouge 6 0-2
1994 Stillwater 6 1-2
1995 Clemson 2 3-2
1996 Tuscaloosa 1 4-0
1997 Tuscaloosa 1 4-0
1998 Palo Alto 2 3-2
1999 Tuscaloosa 1 3-0
2000 Palo Alto 2 3-2
2002 Tuscaloosa 1 3-2
2003 College Station 2 1-2
2005 New Orleans 2 2-2
2006 Tuscaloosa 1 3-0
2008 Conway 3 1-2
2009 Clemson 2 0-0
Totals 31-18
SEC TOURNAMENT RECAP: Alabama was 0-2 at the 2009 SEC Tournament, with losses to No. 18 South Carolina (9-5, 11 innings) and No. 2 LSU (9-6) ... It was the Crimson Tide's second two-and-out in the last three years ... The Crimson Tide struggled offensively, hitting .230 (17-for-74) with one home run and nine RBI ... The Tide averaged 5.5 runs and 8.5 hits per game ... Matthes, Rutledge and Wilson combined for 10 of the 17 hits ... Matthes was 4-for-9 (.444) with one home run and two RBI ... Rutledge was 3-for-9 (.333) with three runs scored and two RBI ... Wilson was 3-for-9 (.333) with two runs scored ... The pitching staff had a 7.11 ERA in two games ... Alabama made four errors in the two games, including three errors in an elimination game loss to LSU.
WELLS' ROAD RECORD: Alabama is 157-159 (.497) in 316 road games under Wells since the 1995 season. The Tide was 10-10 (.500) on the road this season. This year marks the first time since 2006 that the Crimson Tide has had a .500 or better record on the road. UA went 11-10 (.524) on the road in 2006. The 2009 season marks the ninth time in school history that UA has had a .500 or better road record. Alabama was 17-6 (.739) on the road, it best road record in the Wells era. The Tide was 31-15 (.674) on the road in 1996 and 1997. The Tide has had only one winning road record in the last five seasons, posting an 11-10 (.523) record on the road en route to the 2006 SEC Championship.
NEUTRAL SITES: Alabama is 59-33 (.641) in neutral sites games since the 1995 season, including a 1-1 mark this season. Year-By-Year Neutral Site Record: 1995 (6-4); 1996 (10-3); 1997 (8-2); 1998 (2-3); 1999 (8-2); 2000 (5-4); 2001 (0-0); 2002 (6-1); 2003 (7-2); 2004 (0-2); 2005 (3-2); 2006 (2-2); 2007 (0-1), 2008 (1-2) and 2009 (1-3).
SEASON NOTEBOOK: Alabama dropped its opening series to Southeast Missouri State and has lost three of its last four season-opening series' ... Hyatt has one win and two saves in three career opening day appearances ... UA starting pitchers did not issue a walk in 22 2/3 innings from Feb. 24-28 ... The Crimson Tide bullpen posted 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 5 ... Alabama and Auburn played at the inaugural Capital City Classic at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium and the game was played in front of 7, 489 fans, the second-largest crowd in stadium history ... Alabama snapped Georgia's 14-game winning streak on March 14 ... The Tide took the series from the Bulldogs and has won seven of eight series against the No. 1 ranked team ... Alabama's 24 runs against Alabama A&M were the most since a 26-7 win at Kentucky in 2001 ... Coach Wells picked up his 600th win for the Crimson Tide on March 17 ... Alabama homered in a school record 18 straight games from Feb. 20-March 18 ... Alabama's 19-6 win over Mississippi on March 22 marked the third-most runs scored by the Tide against the Rebels ... The Tide committed a season-high six errors in a loss to Florida on March 28 ... The Tide blew an 8-2 against the Gators and suffered a 9-8 loss on March 28 ... Alabama was swept at Florida for the first time since 1994 ... Hyatt retired the first 15 batters he faced in win over Tennessee on April 3 ... Wells notched his 800th all-time win on April 5 against Tennessee ... Alabama tied the school record with two grand slams against Troy on April 7 ... The Tide hit five solo home runs, including three in the ninth inning, against LSU on April 12 ... Alabama's 10-4 win at Vanderbilt on April 17 marked the Tide's first Friday night win in Nashville since 2000 ... The previous two trips were losses to Jensen Lewis and David Price ... Alabama swept Vanderbilt in Nashville for the first time since 2000 ... South Alabama beat Alabama 21-16 on April 22 in Mobile, the highest-scoring game in series history ... The 21 runs were the most allowed by Alabama since a 21-9 loss to Tennessee in 2000 ... The 16 runs equaled the most runs scored by Alabama in a loss in school history ... Hyatt went 25 innings without a walk from April 4-May 1 ... Alabama swept Mississippi State in Starkville for the first time since 1973.
ALABAMA OFFENSE AMONG SINGLE-SEASON LEADERS: The Crimson Tide offense ranks among the school's single-season leaders in several categories heading into NCAA Regional play. Alabama ranks in the top 10 in hitting (5th, .331), runs scored (6th, 501), hits (8th, .668), RBI (5th, 466), doubles (6th, 133), home runs (4th, 107), hit batters (4th, 72) and sacrifice flies (t7th, 29).
500 RUNS AND COUNTING: Alabama has scored 501 runs this season, the sixth-most runs in school history. The 2009 season marks the fifth time in the Wells era that Alabama has scored 500 or more runs. The school record is 679 runs set in 1997. The 1999 (617), 2000 (543), 1998 (532) and 1983 (510) teams have also tallied 500 runs.
MAY RECORD: Alabama has compiled a 145-77 (.653) record in the month of May under Coach Wells in 220 games. The Tide is 7-4 (.636) in the month of May, including back-to-back SEC series sweeps against Mississippi State and Arkansas. Alabama had won seven straight SEC series in the month of May before dropping the final series of the year at Auburn. The streak included series wins over Arkansas (2007), Mississippi State (2007), Arkansas (2008), Florida (2008), Georgia (2008), Mississippi State (2009) and Arkansas (2009). The Tide was 9-6 last season in May, winning all three SEC series against Arkansas, Florida and Georgia. The Arkansas and Georgia series were on the road. From 1995-2001, Alabama went 88-25 (.793) in the month of May. The Crimson Tide went 29-2 (.935) in May during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Since 2002, Alabama is 57-50 (.533) in the month and has had losing records in 2003 (7-10) and 2004 (4-8). Alabama is 70-50 (.583) in SEC games in the month of May since 1995. The Tide went 10-2 (.833) in SEC play in the month of May in 1996 and 1997. In addition, the Tide has compiled a 56-23 (.667) record in the postseason during the month of May.
MAY DAY: May has had a phenomenal career during the month of May the last three seasons at Alabama. The junior is hitting .380 (60-for-158) with seven home runs and 32 RBI in 38 games. He has also added 10 doubles and scored 32 runs in the month of May. The Marietta, Ga., native has hit safely in 30 of 38 career games in the month and posted a 21-game hitting streak from 2007-09. The streak ended with an 0-for-5 game against LSU at the SEC Tournament on May 21, 2009. May was 4-for-4 at Florida on May 4, 2007. Last year, he was named SEC Player of the Week (May 5), after leading Alabama to a road series win against Arkansas. May was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, two home runs and four RBI in series-clinching win on May 3. He also added four hits against Florida (May 11) and Kentucky (May 23) last season. He was named SEC Player of the Week on May 4, after leading UA to sweep of Mississippi State. May went 3-for-6 with two home runs and seven RBI in 17-16 win on May 2. Both of his SEC Player of Week honors and multi-home run games have come in the month of May.
