Monday, February 24, 2003
TUSCALOOSA -- The University of Alabama baseball team overcame six errors in its 9-4 series-clinching win over Southeast Missouri State here at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
SEMO tried to keep pace by committing five errors of its own as the two teams combined for 11 errors on Monday afternoon. The 11 combined errors only led to five unearned runs in the game.
Despite the errors, Alabama got good pitching and a timely home run from shortstop Adam Pavkovich to win the series.
“We played very poorly today,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “We were lucky to win the game because they played as poorly as we did.”
The Indians (1-2) took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first inning. Justin Christian reached on an infield single to open the inning and moved into scoring position on an error by catcher Bobby Burns. Brian Hopkins reached on a two-out error by Allen Rice, allowing Christian to score the first run of the game.
Alabama (5-2) took the lead for good in the second inning, aided by shortstop Zach Borowiak’s two miscues. Al Hecklinksi walked and scored on the first of two Borowiak errors in the inning. Rice later reached on the second error, which scored Evan Bush from second base.
The Crimson Tide benefited from two more errors in the fifth inning to extend its lead to 4-1. Travis Garner singled and later scored on a throwing error by catcher Tristen McDonald. Beau Hearod walked, stole second and scored on an error by second baseman Christian.
The Indians cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth inning, chasing starter Jeffrey Norris. McDonald singled up the middle with two outs and scored on Hopkins two-run home run to right field.
Norris (1-0) earned the win, allowing three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for Alabama. He did not walk a batter and fanned three. He was charged with only two earned runs.
Jared Woodward pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing one unearned run, and Allen Ponder threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run. Senior Brian Reed pitched the final two innings, allowing two ninth inning singles to record his fourth save of the year. Reed also fanned two batters.
After seeing the lead trimmed to one run in the top of the sixth inning, Alabama scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-3 lead. Rice, who had a season-high three hits, led off the inning with a base hit to right and scored on a double to left-center by Burns.
Pavkovich smacked a two-run home run to left field to give the Crimson Tide a four-run lead. Despite making two errors in the field on Monday, Pavkovich had a stellar series at the plate, going 7-for-11 with two home runs and five RBI. He also walked three times and scored six runs.
The Crimson Tide added its final two runs in the eighth inning on a two-run single by Beau Hearod to score Garner and Pavkovich with the bases loaded.
Hearod also carried the Crimson Tide offense in the series, going 4-for-12 with two home runs and nine RBI. In seven games, he leads the Alabama team with 17 RBI. Freshman Evan Bush, who had seven RBI in the series, is second on the club with eight RBI this season.
SEMO starter James Beever (0-1) lasted only 3 1/3 innings and was charged with the loss. He yielded two runs and one hit, while walking one and striking out one batter.
Alabama returns to action on Wednesday night (Feb. 26) as they host Mississippi Valley State at 6:30 p.m. here in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide will entertain the Rhode Island Rams in a three-game series this weekend, beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
RTR,
Diamond Tide
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"They play like it is a sin to give up a point."-- Coach Bryant talking about his 1961 Defense.
TUSCALOOSA -- The University of Alabama baseball team overcame six errors in its 9-4 series-clinching win over Southeast Missouri State here at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
SEMO tried to keep pace by committing five errors of its own as the two teams combined for 11 errors on Monday afternoon. The 11 combined errors only led to five unearned runs in the game.
Despite the errors, Alabama got good pitching and a timely home run from shortstop Adam Pavkovich to win the series.
“We played very poorly today,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “We were lucky to win the game because they played as poorly as we did.”
The Indians (1-2) took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first inning. Justin Christian reached on an infield single to open the inning and moved into scoring position on an error by catcher Bobby Burns. Brian Hopkins reached on a two-out error by Allen Rice, allowing Christian to score the first run of the game.
Alabama (5-2) took the lead for good in the second inning, aided by shortstop Zach Borowiak’s two miscues. Al Hecklinksi walked and scored on the first of two Borowiak errors in the inning. Rice later reached on the second error, which scored Evan Bush from second base.
The Crimson Tide benefited from two more errors in the fifth inning to extend its lead to 4-1. Travis Garner singled and later scored on a throwing error by catcher Tristen McDonald. Beau Hearod walked, stole second and scored on an error by second baseman Christian.
The Indians cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth inning, chasing starter Jeffrey Norris. McDonald singled up the middle with two outs and scored on Hopkins two-run home run to right field.
Norris (1-0) earned the win, allowing three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for Alabama. He did not walk a batter and fanned three. He was charged with only two earned runs.
Jared Woodward pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing one unearned run, and Allen Ponder threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run. Senior Brian Reed pitched the final two innings, allowing two ninth inning singles to record his fourth save of the year. Reed also fanned two batters.
After seeing the lead trimmed to one run in the top of the sixth inning, Alabama scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-3 lead. Rice, who had a season-high three hits, led off the inning with a base hit to right and scored on a double to left-center by Burns.
Pavkovich smacked a two-run home run to left field to give the Crimson Tide a four-run lead. Despite making two errors in the field on Monday, Pavkovich had a stellar series at the plate, going 7-for-11 with two home runs and five RBI. He also walked three times and scored six runs.
The Crimson Tide added its final two runs in the eighth inning on a two-run single by Beau Hearod to score Garner and Pavkovich with the bases loaded.
Hearod also carried the Crimson Tide offense in the series, going 4-for-12 with two home runs and nine RBI. In seven games, he leads the Alabama team with 17 RBI. Freshman Evan Bush, who had seven RBI in the series, is second on the club with eight RBI this season.
SEMO starter James Beever (0-1) lasted only 3 1/3 innings and was charged with the loss. He yielded two runs and one hit, while walking one and striking out one batter.
Alabama returns to action on Wednesday night (Feb. 26) as they host Mississippi Valley State at 6:30 p.m. here in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide will entertain the Rhode Island Rams in a three-game series this weekend, beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
RTR,
Diamond Tide
------------------
"They play like it is a sin to give up a point."-- Coach Bryant talking about his 1961 Defense.
