Crimson Tide returns to national rankings for week six of the season
March 17, 2014
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After posting series win over No. 20 Kentucky to open Southeastern Conference play, the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-6, 2-1 SEC) will host the Alcorn State Braves (1-20, 1-5 SWAC) on Tuesday and Wednesday. The two-game midweek series between Alabama and Alcorn State begins at 6:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday, and concludes on Wednesday with a 5:05 p.m. CT first pitch. Both games will be played at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The games against ASU are the final two games of a season-long nine-game homestand for Alabama. The Tide is 6-1 on the homestand after sweeping Mississippi Valley State, defeating Samford and winning the series against No. 20 Kentucky. Following the home series win over Kentucky, the Tide is 10-3 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium this year. Alabama is 8-2 in its last 10 games and has won eight of its last nine games overall. With the home series win over the Wildcats, the Crimson Tide has won all four weekend home series this season, and is 4-1 in three-game weekend series this season.
After spending the last two weeks out of the national ranking, the Tide is back in the rankings with a No. 28 rank from both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball News. UA is receiving votes in both the USA Today Coaches poll and the Perfect Game USA poll.
No. 28 Alabama (12-6, 2-1 SEC) vs. Alcorn State (1-20, 1-5 SWAC)
Sewell-Thomas Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Schedule - Tuesday, 6:05 p.m. CT, Wednesday, 5:05 p.m. CT
Television - None
Steaming - RollTide.com (TIDETv subscription)
Radio - Tide 99.1 FM and CTSN
Livestats - Rolltide.com
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday - UA-Nick Eicholtz (Fr., RHP, 1-0, 1.23 ERA) vs. ASU-TBA
Wednesday - UA-Tucker Hawley (Sr., RHP, 0-1, 2.34 ERA) vs. ASU-TBA
Follow the Tide Live
All Alabama baseball games throughout the 2014 season will be broadcast by the Crimson Tide Sports Network (CTSN). The radio broadcast for all games of the 2014 season will be available on 99.1 FM in Tuscaloosa and available on the CTSN throughout the state. Chris Stewart and Lee Tracey will provide the call for both games of the Alcorn State series. The games will be available on the CTSN, locally on 99.1 FM in Tuscaloosa and online at RollTide.com, through the subscription plan on TIDETV. Livestats will be available on RollTide.com.
About the Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide is hitting .262 as a team, while averaging 4.6 runs and 9.0 hits per game. When the Tide scores three or more runs in a game they are 12-0. The Alabama pitching staff has been outstanding this season, posting the fourth best ERA in the SEC and ninth best ERA in the country at 1.91. In 165 innings, Alabama has given up 42 runs (35 earned) on 102 hits with 143 strikeouts and 59 walks. Opponents are hitting just .185 against the Tide this season, which ranks second in the SEC. Alabama is second in the country, allowing 5.7 hits per game. In 69.2 innings this season, the Tide bullpen has allowed just 12 runs (10 earned) for a 1.29 ERA, while allowing a .210 batting average.
Offensively, Alabama is paced by senior first baseman Austen Smith, who has team-highs with a .333 average and 14 RBI this season. Georgie Salem is second on the team with a .316 average, while leading the team in hits (25) and at-bats (79). Freshman catcher Will Haynie is hitting .298 for the season, after going 13-for-29 (.488) with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over his last eight games.
Alabama will start freshman RHP Nick Eicholtz (1-0, 1.23 ERA) on Tuesday and senior RHP Tucker Hawley (0-1, 2.35 ERA) on Wednesday. Eicholtz will be making his fourth start of the season. He has throwing 22.0 innings, recording 20 strikeouts with a .153 opponent's batting average. Hawley will make his first start of year, after making five appearances out of the bullpen. Hawley has throwing 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
About the Alcorn State Braves
Alcorn State enters the two-game midweek series against the Tide with a 1-20 overall record, while posting a 1-5 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference action. The only win this season for the Braves came in a 3-2 victory over Alabama A&M on March 1. Since the win over the Bulldogs, ASU has dropped 10 straight games. Alcorn State was swept in a three-game series by Wofford last weekend, after dropping two midweek games to Missouri. The Braves are hitting .242 this season, while averaging three runs and 7.6 hits per game. On the pitching side, ASU has an 8.60 team ERA, allowing 9.4 runs and 11.5 hits per game. Opponents are hitting .345 against the Braves' pitching staff.
Moses Charles leads the team with a .381 batting average and is tied for the team lead with eight RBI. Scotty Peavey is hitting .291 with two doubles, five RBI and five runs scored. Earl Burl leads the team with a .429 slugging percentage, as he leads the team with five doubles and is tied for the team lead with Christian Hickman with two home runs. Burl is also tied for the team lead with eight RBI.
Ryan Fuentes has the team's only victory this season, posting a 1-3 record with a 3.60 ERA in a team-high 35.0 innings pitched. Fuentes has made six appearances with five starts, has one complete game and leads the club with 21 strikeouts. Colton Laird leads the team in appearances with seven, posting a 0-4 record with a 9.00 ERA.
All-time Series against Alcorn State
In a series that dates back to the 1987 season, this week's games between Alabama and Alcorn State will mark games 18 and 19 of the all-time series. Alabama holds a 16-1 record all-time versus the Braves, after winning both games played in Tuscaloosa last season. After the teams split a two-game series in 1987, Alabama has won the last 15 games in the all-time series. All 17 games of the series have been played in Tuscaloosa.
On Deck for the Tide
After the Tide's two midweek games against Alcorn State, Alabama will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for a three-game SEC series against the Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend. The series begins on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT from Baum Stadium. Game two will begin at 2:05 p.m. CT, and the series wraps up on Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. CT start. After dropping two of three games to the Razorbacks in Tuscaloosa last season, Alabama holds a 32-31 record all-time versus Arkansas.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
March 17, 2014
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After posting series win over No. 20 Kentucky to open Southeastern Conference play, the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-6, 2-1 SEC) will host the Alcorn State Braves (1-20, 1-5 SWAC) on Tuesday and Wednesday. The two-game midweek series between Alabama and Alcorn State begins at 6:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday, and concludes on Wednesday with a 5:05 p.m. CT first pitch. Both games will be played at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The games against ASU are the final two games of a season-long nine-game homestand for Alabama. The Tide is 6-1 on the homestand after sweeping Mississippi Valley State, defeating Samford and winning the series against No. 20 Kentucky. Following the home series win over Kentucky, the Tide is 10-3 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium this year. Alabama is 8-2 in its last 10 games and has won eight of its last nine games overall. With the home series win over the Wildcats, the Crimson Tide has won all four weekend home series this season, and is 4-1 in three-game weekend series this season.
After spending the last two weeks out of the national ranking, the Tide is back in the rankings with a No. 28 rank from both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball News. UA is receiving votes in both the USA Today Coaches poll and the Perfect Game USA poll.
No. 28 Alabama (12-6, 2-1 SEC) vs. Alcorn State (1-20, 1-5 SWAC)
Sewell-Thomas Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Schedule - Tuesday, 6:05 p.m. CT, Wednesday, 5:05 p.m. CT
Television - None
Steaming - RollTide.com (TIDETv subscription)
Radio - Tide 99.1 FM and CTSN
Livestats - Rolltide.com
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday - UA-Nick Eicholtz (Fr., RHP, 1-0, 1.23 ERA) vs. ASU-TBA
Wednesday - UA-Tucker Hawley (Sr., RHP, 0-1, 2.34 ERA) vs. ASU-TBA
Follow the Tide Live
All Alabama baseball games throughout the 2014 season will be broadcast by the Crimson Tide Sports Network (CTSN). The radio broadcast for all games of the 2014 season will be available on 99.1 FM in Tuscaloosa and available on the CTSN throughout the state. Chris Stewart and Lee Tracey will provide the call for both games of the Alcorn State series. The games will be available on the CTSN, locally on 99.1 FM in Tuscaloosa and online at RollTide.com, through the subscription plan on TIDETV. Livestats will be available on RollTide.com.
About the Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide is hitting .262 as a team, while averaging 4.6 runs and 9.0 hits per game. When the Tide scores three or more runs in a game they are 12-0. The Alabama pitching staff has been outstanding this season, posting the fourth best ERA in the SEC and ninth best ERA in the country at 1.91. In 165 innings, Alabama has given up 42 runs (35 earned) on 102 hits with 143 strikeouts and 59 walks. Opponents are hitting just .185 against the Tide this season, which ranks second in the SEC. Alabama is second in the country, allowing 5.7 hits per game. In 69.2 innings this season, the Tide bullpen has allowed just 12 runs (10 earned) for a 1.29 ERA, while allowing a .210 batting average.
Offensively, Alabama is paced by senior first baseman Austen Smith, who has team-highs with a .333 average and 14 RBI this season. Georgie Salem is second on the team with a .316 average, while leading the team in hits (25) and at-bats (79). Freshman catcher Will Haynie is hitting .298 for the season, after going 13-for-29 (.488) with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over his last eight games.
Alabama will start freshman RHP Nick Eicholtz (1-0, 1.23 ERA) on Tuesday and senior RHP Tucker Hawley (0-1, 2.35 ERA) on Wednesday. Eicholtz will be making his fourth start of the season. He has throwing 22.0 innings, recording 20 strikeouts with a .153 opponent's batting average. Hawley will make his first start of year, after making five appearances out of the bullpen. Hawley has throwing 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
About the Alcorn State Braves
Alcorn State enters the two-game midweek series against the Tide with a 1-20 overall record, while posting a 1-5 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference action. The only win this season for the Braves came in a 3-2 victory over Alabama A&M on March 1. Since the win over the Bulldogs, ASU has dropped 10 straight games. Alcorn State was swept in a three-game series by Wofford last weekend, after dropping two midweek games to Missouri. The Braves are hitting .242 this season, while averaging three runs and 7.6 hits per game. On the pitching side, ASU has an 8.60 team ERA, allowing 9.4 runs and 11.5 hits per game. Opponents are hitting .345 against the Braves' pitching staff.
Moses Charles leads the team with a .381 batting average and is tied for the team lead with eight RBI. Scotty Peavey is hitting .291 with two doubles, five RBI and five runs scored. Earl Burl leads the team with a .429 slugging percentage, as he leads the team with five doubles and is tied for the team lead with Christian Hickman with two home runs. Burl is also tied for the team lead with eight RBI.
Ryan Fuentes has the team's only victory this season, posting a 1-3 record with a 3.60 ERA in a team-high 35.0 innings pitched. Fuentes has made six appearances with five starts, has one complete game and leads the club with 21 strikeouts. Colton Laird leads the team in appearances with seven, posting a 0-4 record with a 9.00 ERA.
All-time Series against Alcorn State
In a series that dates back to the 1987 season, this week's games between Alabama and Alcorn State will mark games 18 and 19 of the all-time series. Alabama holds a 16-1 record all-time versus the Braves, after winning both games played in Tuscaloosa last season. After the teams split a two-game series in 1987, Alabama has won the last 15 games in the all-time series. All 17 games of the series have been played in Tuscaloosa.
On Deck for the Tide
After the Tide's two midweek games against Alcorn State, Alabama will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for a three-game SEC series against the Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend. The series begins on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT from Baum Stadium. Game two will begin at 2:05 p.m. CT, and the series wraps up on Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. CT start. After dropping two of three games to the Razorbacks in Tuscaloosa last season, Alabama holds a 32-31 record all-time versus Arkansas.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
