Justin Kamplain Named SEC Freshman of the Week
3/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 26, 2012
Birmingham, Ala. - University of Alabama left-handed pitcher Justin Kamplain (Jasper, Ala.) was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. In his only start of the week, Kamplain threw a career-high 7.0 innings on Saturday, as the Crimson Tide defeated No. 17 Mississippi, 3-2.
Kamplain carried a no-hitter into the seventh, before allowing a leadoff single to start the inning. He retired the first 14 batters he faced in the game, before allowing one of his two walks with two outs in the fifth. He gave up another walk in the sixth, before his no-hit bid was broken up with a sharp single to center field.
In his seven innings of work, Kamplain allowed two runs on three hits with a career-high tying six strikeouts, while throwing 97 pitches. Due to the start of Kamplain, Alabama was able to keep the game close, setting up a two-out, two-run, walk-off home run by Brett Booth, to give the Crimson Tide its second win over a ranked opponent this season.
Kamplain did not factor into the decision in his fifth start and seventh appearance of the season. Kamplain (1-1) leads the Tide with a 2.54 ERA, while allowing a total of 19 hits and 14 runs (eight earned) in 28.1 innings pitched. Kamplain also leads the team with 26 strikeouts and a .186 opponent's batting average.
Kamplain is the second player for Alabama to be named the SEC Freshman of the Week this season. Catcher Ben Moore was named the conference's freshman of the week on Feb. 27. Arkansas' Tim Carver and Auburn's Ryan Tella shared the SEC Player of the Week honors and Tennessee pitcher Zack Godley was named the pitcher of the week.
