Diamond Notes : DiFazio Leads Bama to Win in Opener, 5-1

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Feb. 20, 2009

Senior catcher went 2-for-3 with triple, home run and three RBI


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior catcher Vin DiFazio had two hits, including an RBI triple and a two-run home run, to lead No. 16 Alabama to a 5-1 win over Southeast Missouri State in the season opener Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

DiFazio, who has missed the last two years with a series of injuries, drove in the first run of the season for the Tide with an RBI single in the second inning and then capped his night with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“It was unbelievable,” DiFazio said after the game. “The atmosphere here was great and I’ve been doing a lot of praying to get this chance to come out here again and God has blessed me with the ability to get healthy, and I came out ready to play. Both hits were timely. I got the bat on the ball both times and hit the ball hard.”

Alabama (1-0) scored first with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to grab a 2-0 lead. Senior designated hitter Kyle Moore got things started with a double to left field and scored on DiFazio’s triple off the center field wall to give the Tide a 1-0 lead. It was DiFazio’s first career hit and first career RBI. Junior third baseman Jake Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score DiFazio and give the Tide a two-run lead.

The two runs seemed to be more than enough for senior right-hander Austin Hyatt, who took a shutout into the seventh inning. The Redhawks got back-to-back hits from Tyrell Cummings and Matt Wagner to chase Hyatt from the game.

Sophomore right-hander Jimmy Nelson replaced Hyatt and Southeast Missouri State managed one run in the inning, but stranded the tying run at third. Justin Wheeler followed the two straight hits with a sacrifice bunt and Trenton Moses’ infield ground chased home Cummings from third base to make the score 2-1. Nelson preserved the lead when he struck out Louis Haseltine to end the inning, stranding the tying run at third.

Hyatt (1-0) allowed one run and one four hits in six-plus innings with no walks and six strikeouts in his first career opening-day start.

The Crimson Tide got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a straight steal of home by center fielder Alex Kubal. The senior led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and ground out. With shortstop Josh Rutledge at the plate, Kubal broke for home on a 2-2 pitch and scored when the fastball got past catcher Jim Klocke to give the Tide a 3-1 lead.

The Tide added two more run in the eighth inning as DiFazio capped the scoring with his first career home run.

“He has been here three years and it was right that he would hit that big home run in that situation,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “I am very happy for him and all the hard work he has put in to get back on the field.”

Junior left-hander David Head, a transfer from Chattahoochee Valley Community College, pitched two scoreless innings in his UA debut for his first collegiate save.

Southeast Missouri State starter Kyle Gumieny (0-1) took the loss.

Alabama finished the game with 10 hits, including four doubles, two triples and one home run.

Alabama and Southeast Missouri State will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 4:05 p.m. (CST). Tickets are available on Rolltide.com - The Official Web Site of University of Alabama Athletics or at the Sewell-Thomas Stadium box office, beginning two hours prior to first pitch.

Game Notes:

*Alabama had two first-time starters in its opening day lineup, including freshman left fielder Taylor Dugas (Lafayette, La.) and junior first baseman Clay Jones (Centreville, Ala.). Junior Brandon May (Marietta, Ga.), who has been nursing a sore right hand, was not in the opening day lineup to snap his streak of 87 consecutive starts. Junior David Head also made his Crimson Tide debut in the game with two scoreless innings in relief.

*Senior catcher Vin DiFazio went 2-for-3 with a triple, home run and three RBI in the opener. He recorded his first career hit and first career RBI with a second-inning triple. He added a two-run home run, the first of his career, in the eighth inning.

*Senior right-hander Austin Hyatt made his first career opening day start on the mound against Southeast Missouri. In six innings, he allowed one run and five hits, with no walks and six strikeouts. In three career opening day appearances, Hyatt has worked 13 1/3 innings and allowed one run and five hits, with no walks and 15 strikeouts. He has one win and two saves to his credit.

*Alabama has out-scored its last three opening day opponents, 22-2.

*Senior center fielder Alex Kubal’s straight-steal of home was the first by Alabama since Matt Bentley turned the trick against No. 1 Vanderbilt during the 2007 season.

-UA-


RTR,

Diamond Tide