THE TIDE TIMES BASEBALL- Covering Alabama Crimson Tide Baseball- SEWELL-THOMAS STADIUM_...

BAMA BASEBALL HEADS TO COLUMBIA RIDING FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK

2010-04-30T03:01:00.005-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

The ALABAMA BASEBALL TEAM travels to Columbia, SC this weekend to battle the SEC leaders the South Carolina Gamecocks... S. CAROLINA enters this weekend's series with the tide with a32-8 overall mark including a 14-4 conference record, conversely BAMA has a 27-15 record compiling an 8-10 mark in SEC play. The tide does have some intangibles on their side as they are currently riding a five game winning streak including a sweep of SEC rival Mississippi State. The tide also has an abundance of left-handed pitching to deal with the overwhelming pressence of left-handed batters in the Gamecock lineup.

Saturday's game slated for noon central time and will be televised by CSS,internet coverage of Saturday's game can be found at espn3.com or espn360.com., while live video for Friday's & Sunday's games can be viewed online on a free basis by anybody that has windows or real player media player capability.

CLICK HERE... for the free online video feed...

PLEASE BE AWARE WHEN CLICKING THE LINK YOU MUST THEN SCROLL DOWN AS THE LINK IS A SCHEDULE OF A LIST OF FREE ONLINE COLLEGE BROADCASTS... SO YOU MUST SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE TO FIND ALABAMA @ SOUTHCAROLINA FRIDAY, APR. 30 OR SUNDAY MAY 2. THEN CLICK THE WMP HIGHLIGHED LINK BESIDE THE LISTING... *WMP STANDS FOR WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER FILE. ONCE YOU CLICK THE HIGHLIGHTED WMP LINK THE GAME SHOULD DISPLAY ON A WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER SCREEN ON YOUR DESKTOP, ENJOY ROLL TIDE!!!

FORMER SHELTON STATE BASEBALL PLAYER MATT ELLARD COVERS THE BAMA-UAB GAME AT REGIONS PARK FOR THE TIDE TIMES

2010-03-31T21:45:00.001-05:00

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY NICK TAYLOR & DAN HARRALSON

MOVIE MAKER PHOTO TAKEN OF REGIONS PARK SCOREBOARD OPENING ROUND OF 2009 SEC TOURNAMENT...

CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC

2010-03-24T14:53:00.004-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR
THE 2010 CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC-BAMA VS AUBURN MARCH 24 7PM

ALABAMA WILL TRAVEL TO MONTGOMERY TO PLAY AUBURN IN THE 2ND ANNUAL CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 24. IN LAST YEAR'S GAME BAMA WAS THE SOME TEAM, THUS MAKING AUBURN THE HOME TEAM FOR THIS YEARS CONTEST... ALABAMA WILL SEND JONATHAN SMART TO THE MOUND... THE PRE-GAME SHOW BEGINS AT 6:45 WITH A 7 O'CLOCK FIRST PITCH... CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE VIDEO WEBCAST OF THE GAME...

BAMA BASEBALL WEEK IN REVIEW MARCH 15-21

2010-03-21T20:33:00.005-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

The Alabama Crimson Tide Baseball Team entered this week ranked 21st in the USA TODAY COACHES POLL. Bama built on the 12-1 record they had complied entering the week by picking up two mid-week wins versus BIG TEN foe Minnesota. The tide then prepared to face the 16th ranked VANDERBILT COMMODORES in the opening SEC series of the season. Alabama won the opening game of the series 4-1, highlighted by great pitching from starter Adam Morgan and the bullpen. The tide also won on Saturday by the score of 8-2. Starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson pitched 6 2\3 innings striking out seven, while Ross Wilson provided all the offense the team would need when he belted a three-run homer his 4th home run of the season so far. David Head pitched 2 2\3 innings of scoreless relief to finish the game. The team went for a sweep on Sunday and jumped out to a 4-1 in the 4th inning before giving up the lead and losing the series finale to Vandy by the score of 5-4.

Alabama will travel to Arkansas for the next SEC series next weekend. Here are the other SEC series listings for the weekend of MARCH 26-28.

Florida at Mississippi

Georgia at Mississippi State

Kentucky at Vanderbilt

LSU at Tennessee

South Carolina at Auburn

Stony Brook's Matt Senk talks about the Alabama baseball series

2010-03-13T05:18:00.002-06:00

By Dan Harralson

Matt Senk enters his 19th season as the Stony Brook University head baseball coach with the Seawolves. Historically the Seahawks are known as one of the top programs in not only the America East, but also the Northeast Region. Prior to accepting the coaching position at Stony Brook, Senk spent three years as head coach at Kellenberg Memorial High School where his teams were successful in capturing league and division championships. Before coaching at Kellenberg, Senk was the head coach at St. Agnes Cathedral High School, guiding his team to a division championship and being awarded Nassau-Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year. Senk is a graduate of Cortland State where he earned his Bachelor's degree in psychology in 1980. While at Cortland, Senk was the Red Dragon's starting catcher for three seasons, a two-time All-SUNYAC selection and the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior. Senk later earned his master's degree in physical education from Adelphi University and is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. Here is the audio of the interview with coach Senk:

JIMMY NELSON TALKS ABOUT THE GOOD START FOR THE BAMA BASEBALL TEAM & STONY BROOK

2010-03-11T18:36:00.001-06:00

INTERVIEW BY NICK TAYLOR & DAN HARRALSON

Ross Wilson singles in the first inning vs. Michigan State

2010-03-10T20:00:00.001-06:00

ALABAMA HEAD COACH MITCH GASPARD DISCUSSES THE 8-1 START AND THE UPCOMING GAME WITH AUBURN IN MONTGOMERY

2010-03-09T19:43:00.003-06:00

INTERVIEW BY NICK TAYLOR & DAN HARRALSON

NOTE THE GAME WITH AUBURN SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT WAS RAINED OUT
& WILL BE MADE UP WEDNESDAY MARCH 24 IN MONTGOMERY AT 7 PM...

UAB COACH BRIAN SHOOP TALKS ABOUT CONFERENCE USA BASEBALL & PLAYING BAMA DURING THE 2010 BASEBALL SEASON

2010-03-04T09:05:00.000-06:00

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY NICK TAYLOR & DAN HARRALSON

MATT ELLARD-A FORMER SHELTON STATE BASEBALL PLAYER & A FRIEND OF THE TIDE TIMES GIVES A LIVE INTERVIEW DURING THE BAMA-GEORGIA GAME AT REGIONS PARK

2010-03-04T00:56:00.003-06:00

TIDE RANKED 27TH IN NBWA TOP 30 POLL

2010-03-01T17:35:00.003-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR
THE ALABAMA BASEBALL TEAM is currently ranked 27TH in THE NBWA TOP 30 POLL that was released Monday afternoon... Alabama is receiving votes in the other 4 major polls but is only ranked in the NBWA POLL. (NATIONAL BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION) POLL. The tide will now prepare to travel to Regions Park to take on SEC rival GEORGIA in a regular season game that is not sanction by THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE and will not count in the conference standings. The contest originally scheduled for March 2ND against in-state rival SAMFORD has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 12 in Birmingham.

ALABAMA SAMFORD GAME RESCHEDULED DUE TO FORECAST OF BAD WEATHER

2010-03-01T17:16:00.001-06:00

The Alabama-Samford baseball game scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham as been postponed due to the threat of inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m.

The forecast for Tuesday calls for rain and snow with temperatures in the high 30s, which prompted the two teams to reschedule the game.

Alabama (5-0) will host the Georgia Bulldogs on Wednesday, March 3, at 6:35 p.m. at Regions Park in Hoover. The game will not count towards the Southeastern Conference standings

Illinois-Chicago's head coach, Mike Dee, discusses the weekend series against the Crimson Tide

2010-02-24T12:05:00.002-06:00

MITCH GASPARD SITS DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH THE TIDE TIMES

2010-02-20T19:07:00.003-06:00

THE TIDE TIMES HAD A POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH ALABAMA BASEBALL COACH MITCH GASPARD FOLLOWING A 12-4 VICTORY OVER SOUTH ALABAMA, HIS FIRST GAME AS THE TIDE SKIPPER...

INTERVIEW BY DAN HARRALSON & NICK TAYLOR

GASPARD BEGINS FIRST SEASON AS TIDE HEAD COACH SATURDAY VS S. ALABAMA

2010-02-19T05:07:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

MITCH GASPARD

After spending six years as the head coach at Northwestern State (2002-2007), as well as serving 10 YRS as a top assistant for former tide coach Jim Wells, (1994-2001), (2008 and 2009); Mitch Gaspard will begin his first season as head coach of the Alabama Baseball program when the tide opens its 2010 schedule versus South Alabama on Saturday @ 2 PM at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. It is expected that Sophomore pitcher Adam Morgan will start on opening day for the tide. The audio broadcast can be heard in the Birmingham\Tuscaloosa area on 95.3 FM ''THE BEAR''. A live video feed can be purchased on a subscription basis for all home events via TIDE TV...

FORMER BAMA BASEBALL STAR ELECTED TO COLLEGE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

2010-02-18T15:34:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR-some stats courtesy of ROLLTIDE.COM
DAVE MAGADAN

Former Alabama All-American first baseman David Magadan became the second Alabama baseball player joining Joe Sewell-(a 2007 inductee) to be elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Magadan is a Tampa FL native & is also the current hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox was the top vote-getter among the 10-member induction class, the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame announced Thursday afternoon. Magadan was a three-time ALL SEC selection was the 1983 National Player of the Year after hitting .525 for the Tide.

Joining Magadan in the 2010 College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction class are Alan Bannister (SS, Arizona State), Bob Bennett (Head Coach, Fresno Stare), Eddy Furniss (1B, LSU), Don Heinkel (P, Wichita State), Wally Kincaid (Head Coach,
Cerritos College), George Sisler (P/OF, Michigan), B.J. Surhoff (C, North Carolina), Charles Teague (2B, Wake Forest) and Richard Wortham (P, Texas).

“This is a tremendous honor,” Magadan said Thursday afternoon from the Red Sox spring training complex in Ft. Myers, Fla. “This speaks a lot for the people that were around me at the University of Alabama and the coaching staff with Coach (Barry) Shollenberger, Roger Smith and the rest of the staff.

Shollenberger was the Crimson Tide’s head coach from 1980-94. He had the best seat in the house during Magadan’s record-setting season that ended with in the national championship game at the College World Series.

“Obviously, it’s a well-deserved honor,” Shollenberger said from his home in Valrico, Fla. “I will never forget the things he did, like hits in first six of seven at-bats as a freshmen and then tearing up the SEC in the (1983) SEC Tournament in Starkville. He is one of the few players that raised his average from the regular season through the post-season. He was a good hitter in the regular season, but when the pitching got better he raised his average. David only got one shot in Omaha and he made the most of it. I’m not surprised at all he was elected into that company, he certainly belongs there.”

He played in 162 games in his Alabama career and batted .439 (268-for-610) with 64 doubles, 14 home runs and 188 RBI. His .439 batting average still ranks among the leaders in Division I baseball and still sits atop the SEC standings as the highest career average in league history.

2010 BAMA BASEBALL ROSTER

2009-09-15T04:45:00.009-05:00

POSTED BY NICK TAYLOR

ALL CAPS REFERS TO PROJECTED STARTERS

(#1) TAYLOR DUGAS CF
(#2) JOSH RUTLEDGE SS
(#3) ROSS WILSON 2B
(#5) Brett Booth C
(#7) Brett Whitaker P
(#9) ANDREW MILLER LF
(#10) JON KELTON DH
(#11) Trey Pikington P
(#12) Brandt Hendricks OF
(#13) DAVID KINDRED RF
(#14) JAKE SMITH 3B
(#15) Cody Trotter C
(#16) CLAY JONES IB
(#18) ADAM SCOTT SP
(#20) Danny Collins INF
(#21) Adam Winsor P
(#22) CHRIS SMELLEY C
(#24) Matt Taylor P
(#26) Jonathan Smart P
(#27) Taylor Wolfe P
(#28) Nathan Kilcrease P
(#29) Jason Townsend P
(#32) ADAM MORGAN SP
(#33) David Head P
(#34) J.D. Smelser INF
(#35) Josh Sanders INF
(#36) Troy Sutherland P
(#37) Charley Waldrop C
(#38) Cal Tinsley INF
(#39) James Tullidge P
(#40) JIMMY NELSON P
(#41) Brock Bennett C
(#42) Allen Dye INF
(#44) Tucker Hawley P
(#46) Kelby Deerman P

STAFF
HEAD COACH-(#8) MITCH GASPARD
PITCHING COACH-(#19) KYLE BUNN
HITTING COACH-(#4) DAX NORRIS
GRADUATE ASSISTANT-(#25) ALEX KUBAL

FORMER TIDE BASEBALL STANDOUTS SHINE IN MLB SPOTLIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT

2009-07-22T03:12:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

FORMER TIDE INFIELDER MATT DOWNS

A pair of former bama baseball standout members of the Tide's 2006 regular season SEC CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM shined in the MLB spotlight Tuesday night. The first in the spotlight was Matt Downs, who found himself center stage and close to Tuscaloosa as a member of the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS against the Braves at TURNER FIELD in Atlanta after being called up from the minors yesterday. Downs found himself in the lineup and starting at second base. Downs and the Giants were dominated 8-1 by Braves pitching ace Derek Lowe. Despite the loss Downs made a positive impact on the game for his team as he laced a double down the left-field line in the top of the fifth inning and later scored the teams only run of the night in that inning. He also helped turn two double play balls on the night...

FORMER TIDE PITCHING ACE TOMMY HUNTER

The second former bama baseball standout to thrust himself in Tuesday's MLB spotlight was ace pitcher Tommy Hunter. Hunter who has been a member of the Texas Rangers since late May threw six innings and allowed only one run and recorded two strikeouts as his team defeated the Boston RED SOX 4-2 in Arlington TX Tuesday night. Hunter ran his record to 2-1 and has more impressively compiled an ERA of 1.52 in his last four starts... Both Downs and Hunter are expected to remain in the major leagues with their respective teams for at least the rest of the 2009 season and quite possibly beyond...

FORMER TIDE TWIRLER PITCHES 8TH INNING VERSUS BRAVES AT TURNER FIELD

2009-06-23T21:07:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

FORMER TIDE PITCHER DAVID ROBERTSON

The Atlanta Braves defeated The New York Yankees via a 4-0 shutout Tuesday night at Turner Field as former Alabama baseball standout David Robertson pitched the eighth inning for the Yankees. The outing was a mixed bag result for Robertson as he struck out two hitters in the frame, while serving up a solo homer to Braves catcher Brian Mcann. The season has been great so far for Robertson as he had struck out 23 batters in 15 innings. Tonight's home run was the first allowed by Robertson this season...

below are DAVID ROBERTSON'S SEASON STATS AND MLB CAREER TOTALS courtesy MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL...

SIX BAMA BASEBALL PLAYERS ALONG WITH THREE 2009 BAMA SIGNEES DRAFTED BY MLB

2009-06-12T10:56:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

The Alabama baseball team had two players taken on the final day of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, raising its three-day total to six MLB draftees.Senior right fielder Kent Matthes (4th round, Colorado Rockies), senior catcher Vin DiFazio (12th round, Texas Rangers), junior left-hander Del Howell (15th round, Milwaukee Brewers) and senior right- hander Austin Hyatt (15th round, Philadelphia Phillies) were all drafted on Wednesday.

Alabama signees Judd Golson (31st round, New York Yankees), Trey Plikington (46th round, New York Mets) and Matt Taylor (50th round, Pittsburgh) were also selected on the final day of the draft.

Redshirt sophomore Austin Evans and junior Brandon May were taken on Thursday, the final day of the 50-round draft. Evans was taken with the 1,085th overall pick by the Cleveland Indians in the 31st round. May was the 1,100th overall draft selection by the Chicago Cubs in the 36th round.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and a real honor for me,” Evans said. “It is something I have dreamed about for a long time. I am glad it happened. I wasn’t really expecting to go early after talking to some teams yesterday and today, it was more of a later round deal for me.

“I am only a sophomore, so I have two more years of school. The Indians are going to watch me this summer and see how things go. I am still a couple of months away from making a decision. The leverage is in my court because I have two more years of school.”

Evans compiled a 2-1 record and 6.06 ERA with two holds and two saves in 12 relief outings this past season. He earned his first career win and recorded a career best four strikeouts in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 5. He notched his first career save against Samford on March 11. He added another win and save in two relief stints against Mississippi Valley State. Evans will be pitching his summer for the Vermont Mountaineers in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Brandon May hit .347 (77-for-222) with 12 home runs and 69 RBI, all career highs, in 58 games this past season. He also added 18 doubles and scored 53 runs and was second on the team with 25 multi-hit games.

A three-year starter, May hit .334 (208-for-622) with 21 home runs and 132 RBI in his 168-game career for the Tide. He also added 131 runs scored, 95 walks and 40 doubles. He is one of 16 players in school history with 200 career hits and has recorded 62 career multi-hit games, including 10 four-hit games. He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2008, after hitting .365 (92-for-252) with nine home runs and 50 RBI as a junior. He also has 99 career SEC hits.

“It was exciting,” May said. “They are the Chicago Cubs. It would be cool to play at Wrigley Field. It is a great opportunity and I am not sure what will happen until I sit down with my parents and make a decision. It is a great organization to play for. Of course, everyone in college baseball dreams of winning the conference and going to Omaha, so if this does not work out, I will definitely come back and work toward those goals.”

COACH WELLS told THE TIDE TIMES Friday morning he expects the three underclassmen that got drafted; HOWELL, EVANS, AND MAY to return to school.

TIDE BASEBALL WELL REPRESENTED ON MLB DRAFT BOARD (ROUNDS 1-15)

2009-06-10T14:16:00.000-05:00

(Rounds 1-15) By Dan Harralson

The 2009 SEC Baseball Player of the Year, Kent Matthes, has been drafted by the Colorado Rockies. The right-fielder had a career year setting the University of Alabama single-season home run mark with 28 in 2009. Along with the home run mark, Matthes had 81 RBIs, hit .358, and had 73 hits. Kent was drafted 121st overall of the fourth round.

Catcher Vin DiFazio was also drafted in the 12Th round (364Th overall) by the Texas Rangers. DiFazio batted .329, hit 7 home runs, drove in 24 Rib's, and had 28 assists.

Pitcher Del Howell was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round (466th overall.) Left-handed pitcher Howell, put together a 5-3 record, 68 strikeouts, and 1 complete game.

Pitcher Austin Hyatt was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 15th round (467th overall.) In 2009, Hyatt had an 8-3 record, 88 strikeouts, and 2 complete games.

FORMER TIDE CATCHER PAUL PHILLIPS HAS CAREER DAY

2009-06-09T20:09:00.000-05:00

By Dan Harralson

Former Alabama catcher Paul Phillips had his career day yesterday for the Colorado Rockies. Phillips went 4-5, one home run, and three RBI's. Phillips' eighth-inning solo home-run extended the Colorado winning streak to a season high four games in a 7-2 win in St. Louis. Colorado catcher Chris Iannetta pulled a hamstring causing him not to play. The backup catcher Yorvit Torrealba was unable to replace Iannetta due to him being away from the club after his son and two family members were kidnapped and released in Venezuela. Paul was drafted in 1998 (9th Round) by the Kansas City Royals. He made his first MLB appearance in 2004 with the Royals, playing in 58 games over four seasons. Last season Phillips played in four games with the Chicago White Sox. In all, the former Tide catcher who played in the College World Series, has a total of four career home-runs, twenty RBI's, and a career .268 batting average.

BAMA BASEBALL SEASON COMES TO AN END

2009-05-30T17:42:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

ALABAMA BEASEBALL COACH JIM WELLS

The ALABAMA BASEBALL TEAM saw their 2009 season come to an end after dropping consecutive games at the CLEMSON regional. Bama was eliminated via a 6-2 loss to TENNESSEE TECH on Saturday. The tide finished their season with a 37-21 record but lost a disappointing 6 of their last 7 games to end the year. There were many positives to this season as COACH WELLS took UA to a regional for the 12th time in 15 seasons. This season marked the only time the crimson tide have dropped the first two games of regional play since COACH WELLS became the team's skipper in 1994...

Also Kent Mathes was the nation's co-leader in home runs with 28 and was named first team all-American earlier this week. All SEC third baseman and reliever Jake Smith as well as pitcher Austin Hyatt were third team all-American selections. Juniors Brandon May, Jake Smith, and Del Howell should be the leaders of the team statistically in 2010 should they decide to return.

On a personal note... I have enjoyed covering the team this year and will of course as always miss the guys who leave to pursue their dreams and their life after college. I want to thank my website partner DAN HARRALSON for making trips to Tuscaloosa during the season to help me gather photos and interviews for the site.

I especially want to thank COACH WELLS for his time and cooperation by granting me interviews and allowing me access to the team during practices and after games. Coach you are a HALL OF FAMER and a great coach and a great friend. I for one hope you decide to keep coaching for many years to come. Thank you for all you have done for me coach...

GOD BLESS YOU AND ROLL TIDE!!!

PHOTOS FROM BAMA BASEBALL REGIONAL IN CLEMSON

2009-05-29T23:20:00.000-05:00

THE TIDE TIMES would like to thank MATT ELLARD for helping us take these photos as we had equipment issues Friday in CLEMSON...

Friday's game recap of BAMA VS OK STATE BELOW PHOTOS...

DOUG KINGSMORE STADIUM PRESSBOX IN CLEMSON

TEAM ON FIELD

BAMA TEAM BUS

CLEMSON CELEBRATES WIN OVER TENN TECH

GROUNDS CREW PREPARES FIELD

COWBOYS CORRAL TIDE IN OPENING GAME OF REGIONAL PLAY

2009-05-29T21:33:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

OKLAHOMA ST SHORTSTOP TOM BELZA

The Alabama Baseball Team lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys 10-6 in the opening game of the Clemson regional Friday afternoon... The cowbays corraled the tide due in large part to the contributions of Oklahoma State shortstop Tom Belza who belted three home runs on the day, and collected six RBI'S; including a first inning grand slam off Alabama ace pitcher Austin Hyatt who was knocked out with only two outs in the third inning recorded. Belza who had only hit three home runs during the regular season doubled his season total with Friday's performance.

ALABAMA will play TENNESSEE TECH in an elimination game tomorrow at 2 o'clock central time, while the host CLEMSON will play OKLAHOMA STATE in the winners bracket game at 6 o'clock central. Bama will likely send freshman phenom ADAM MORGAN to the mound for tomorrow's start while Tennessee Tech's starter is TBA.

FORMER TIDE PITCHER TOMMY HUNTER IS CALLED UP FOR RANGERS DOUBLEHEADER TODAY

2009-05-29T14:43:00.000-05:00

By Dan Harralson

The Texas Rangers have called up former Bama pitcher Tommy Hunter to pitch Game 1 of today's doubleheader vs. the Oakland A's. Hunter is replacing pitcher Matt Harrison who is experiencing shoulder inflammation. Harrison has not yet been placed on the disabled list, meaning Hunter could be sent back down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Hunter started three games in his rookie season in 2008. He was 0-2 with 9 strikeouts. Game 1 is set to start at 4:05 CT from Arlington, TX.

CSS TO TELEVISE CLEMSON REGIONAL

2009-05-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

DOUG KINGSMORE STADIUM IN CLEMSON

Someone in Alabama Media Relations informed me Tuesday afternoon that CSS has agreed to televise the Clemson Regional this weekend. The regional is in a double elimination format. Here is the bracket and below will be television times...

1 CLEMSON
4 TENN TECH

3 OKLAHOMA ST.
2 ALABAMA

TV SCHEDULE ALL TIMES CENTRAL

FRI 2 Oklahoma State vs Alabama

FRI 6 Tennessee Tech vs Clemson

SAT 2 Loser, Game 1 vs loser, Game 2

SAT 6 Winner, Game 1 vs Winner, Game 2

SUN 2 Winner, Game 3 vs Loser, Game 4

SUN 6 Winner, Game 4 vs Winner, Game 5

MON 6 IF NECESSARY* Winner, Game 6 vs Loser, Game 6

Stay tuned to THE TIDE TIMES for complete coverage of ALABAMA BASEBALL throughout THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

NCAA BASEBALL TOURNEY BRACKET AND PREDICTIONS

2009-05-25T16:39:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR AND DAN HARRALSON

ROSENBLATT STADIUM IN OMAHA SITE OF THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

NOTE* THE TEAMS IN EACH REGIONAL WILL BE LISTED IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT- 4,1,3,2 SO THAT THE HOME TEAMS FOR THE OPENING ROUND GAMES WILL BE LISTED ON THE RIGHT OF EACH SET: SUPER REGIONAL PAIRINGS ARE ARE LISTED CONSECUTIVELY...N STANDS FOR NICK TAYLOR'S PICKS WHILE D REPRESENTS THE PICKS OF DAN HARRALSON...

Austin-Army Texas Texas ST. Boston College N-TEXAS D-TEXAS

Fort Worth-Wright ST. TCU Oregon ST. TX A&M N-TX A&M D-OREGON ST

CHAPEL HILL-Binghamton UNC Kansas Coastal CAR N-C.CAR D-UNC

Greenville-Binghamton E.CAR George M. S. CAR N-S.CAR D-E. CAR

Tempe-Kent ST. Arizona ST. Cal Poly Oral Roberts N-ASU D-ASU

Clemson-Clemson Tenn Tech Alabama Oklahoma ST. N- BAMA D-BAMA

Gainsville-Bethune Florida J-ville MIAMI N-Florida D-Florida

Atlanta-GA ST. GA TECH ELON S. MISS N-ELON D-GA TECH

Fullerton-Utah CAL ST. F. Gonzaga GA S. N-CSF D-CSF

Louisville-Indiana Loiusviile Vandy Mid Tenn N-Vandy D-Vandy

Baton Rouge- Southern LSU Baylor Minnesota N-LSU D-LSU

Houston-Sam Houston Rice Xavier K State N-Rice D-RICE

Irvine- Fresno UC Irvine SD state Virginia N-UC Irvine D-UC Irvine

Oxford-Monmouth Ole Miss W. KY Missouri N-Missouri D-Ole Miss

Norman-Wichita ST Oklahoma Wash ST Arkansas N-ARK D-Oklahoma

Tallahasse-Marist Florida ST Ohio st GA N-FSU D-FSU

NATIONAL CHAMPION PICK... NICK-LSU DAN-TEXAS

REGIONAL HOST SITES ANNOUNCED FOR NCAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

2009-05-24T15:08:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

The NCAA announced the 16 regional sites Sunday for the NCAA Baseball Tournament, which begins on Friday. The list of the host sites are listed below by conferences. The complete field as well the top 8 seeds will be announced Monday at 11:30 AM on ESPN.

Atlantic Coast 4 (Clemson, Florida St., Georgia Tech, North Carolina)
Southeastern 3 (Florida, LSU, Mississippi)
Big 12 2 (Oklahoma, Texas)
Big West 2 (UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton)
Conference USA 2 (East Carolina, Rice)
Pacific-10 1 (Arizona State)
Big East 1 (Louisville)
Mountain West 1 (TCU)

NOTE* The top 8 seeds are guaranteed to host until the College World Series as long as they advance...

We will post the bracket tomorrow as well as predictions. Please visit our site for continuing coverage of ALABAMA BASEBALL during THE NCAA TOURNAMENT...

Kent Matthes Named SEC Player of the Year

2009-05-21T17:56:00.000-05:00

By Dan Harralson

Alabama Right Fielder Kent Matthes has been named the 2009 SEC Player of the Year. Matthes belted his 28th home run last night against South Carolina in the first round of the SEC Baseball Tournament. Matthes set the single-season home run mark at The University of Alabama. He passed Doug Duke's 1986 single-season record. Here are the rest of the 2009 All-SEC Honors:

SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR - *Kent Matthes, Alabama
SEC PITCHER OF THE YEAR - *Louis Coleman, LSU
SEC CO-FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR - Preston Tucker, Florida; Matty Ott, LSU
SEC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Ben Jones, Auburn
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR - Paul Mainieri, LSU

FIRST TEAM
1B - Rich Poythress, Georgia
2B - Ross Wilson, Alabama; Josh Adams, Florida
3B - Jake Smith, Alabama
SS - Josh Rutledge, Alabama; Brian Harris, Vanderbilt
C - Blake Forsythe, Tennessee
OF - *Kent Matthes, Alabama
OF - Avery Barnes, Florida
OF - Jordan Henry, Ole Miss
DH - Blake Dean, LSU
P - *Louis Coleman, LSU
P - Austin Hyatt, Alabama
RP - Matty Ott, LSU

SECOND TEAM
1B - Nick Ebert, South Carolina
2B - Chris Bisson, Kentucky
3B - Joseph Sanders, Auburn
SS - Chris Wade, Kentucky; Bobby Haney, South Carolina
C - Justin Dalles, South Carolina
OF - Steven Liddle, Vanderbilt
OF - DeAngelo Mack, South Carolina
OF - Ryan Schimpf, LSU
DH - Bryce Massanari, Georgia
P - Scott Bittle, Ole Miss
P - Anthony Ranaudo, LSU; Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss
RP - Billy Bullock, Florida

ALL FRESHMAN TEAM
1B - *Preston Tucker, Florida
2B - Riley Reynolds, Vanderbilt
3B - Colby May, Georgia
SS - Zach Osborne, Tennessee
OF - Taylor Dugas, Alabama
OF - Mikie Mahtook, LSU
OF - Jackie Bradley, Jr., South Carolina
DH - Aaron Westlake, Vanderbilt
P - Nick Routt, Mississippi State
P - Nolan Belcher, South Carolina
RP - *Matty Ott, LSU

ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM
P - Trevor Holder, Georgia
1B - Rich Poythress, Georgia
2B - Ross Wilson, Alabama
SS - Bobby Haney, SC; Brian Harris, Vanderbilt
3B - Jake Smith, Alabama
C - Micah Gibbs, LSU
OF - Matt den Dekker, Florida
OF - Whit Merrifield, South Carolina
OF - Trent Mummey, Auburn

* unanimous selection

Bama Gets Ready For Selection Monday After Dropping Elimination Game To LSU

2009-05-21T14:47:00.000-05:00

Video and Picture By Dan Harralson

Bama Drops Game To South Carolina In Eleven Innings

2009-05-20T14:06:00.000-05:00

TIDE TANGLES WITH GAMECOCKS TO OPEN SEC TOURNEY ON WEDNESDAY

2009-05-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

REGIONS PARK- HOST OF THE 2009 SEC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

College baseball postseason play officially heats up as many conference tournaments begin this week. The results of these tournaments may have more impact on the NCAA tourney bracket than ever before as there seems to be more parity and a higher level of intense competition, nowhere is this more evident than in the SEC where as many as 5 teams have a great chance to be regional hosts and as many as 3 of those 5 teams have a great chance to claim top 8 seeds in the NCAA tourney field.

Most college baseball experts\websites agree that SEC regular season co-champs Ole Miss and LSU; as well as Eastern division champion Florida have all locked up regional host sites and all 3 have a chance to obtain top 8 seeds if they progress deep into or win the SEC tournament. Alabama and South Carolina are both in contension to host regionals if they advance to Sunday's championship game. Since Bama didn't play South Carolina in the regular season the outcome of the game on Wednesday between the gamecocks and the tide could be pivotal in determing the fate of both schools regional host hopes as well as have a huge impact on shaping the NCAA TOURNEY BRACKET.

here's the tournament bracket and predictions
NOTE* the run-rule for SEC tourney games is 10 run lead after 7 innings...

Wednesday, May 20

Game 1 10:00 a.m. #7 Arkansas vs. #2 Florida [CSS HD] (XM 199) ARK
reason- DALLAS KIEKEL SHUTDOWN GATOR LINEUP.

Game 2 1:30 p.m. #6 Georgia vs. #3 Ole Miss [CSS HD] (XM 199) OLE MISS
reason- complete mismatch due to drew pomeranz and good hitting Rebs may runrule dogs

Game 3 5:00 p.m. #8 Vandy vs. #1 LSU [CSS HD] (XM 199) VANDY
reason- VANDY has the edge on the mound with Mike Minor & vandy is better defensively

Game 4 8:30 p.m. #5 S. Carolina vs. #4 Alabama [CSS HD] (XM 199) BAMA
reason- bama is a great fastball hitting team which is what SC ace Zam Dyson throws

Thursday, May 21

FLORIDA VS GEORGIA
Game 5 10:00 a.m. Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 [CSS HD] (XM 199) FLORIDA

reason- Floria's lineup full of gap and pull hitters will runrule and blowout Georgia

LSU VS S. CAR
Game 6 1:30 p.m. Loser G3 vs. Loser G4 [CSS HD] (XM 199) LSU
reason- LSU is saving their ace for day 2

ARK VS OLE MISS
Game 7 5:00 p.m. Winner G1 vs. Winner G2 [CSS HD] (XM 199) OLE MISS
reason- ARK has a lack of pitching depth after Dallas Kiekel

VANDY VS BAMA
Game 8 8:30 p.m. Winner G3 vs. Winner G4 [CSS HD] (XM 199) BAMA
reason bama's ace pitcher Austin Hyatt will dominate vandy as tide runrule DORES

Friday, May 22

FLORIDA VS ARK
Game 9 3:00 p.m. Winner G5 vs. Loser G7 [FSN] (XM 199) FLORIDA
reason- this will be a lower scoring game than normal but gator speed decides it late

LSU VS VANDY
Game 10 6:30 p.m. Winner G6 vs. Loser G8 [FSN] (XM 199) LSU
LSU has a better lineup and has better pitching depth other than the ace

Saturday, May 23

BAMA VS FLORIDA
Game 11 10:00 a.m. Winner G8 vs. Winner G9 [FSN] (XM 199) BAMA
BAMA has the advantage in pitching depth because of avoiding losers bracket & if my predictions hold true then ADAM MORGAN who shutdown UF earlier in the season would be the starter against the gators on Saturday

OLE MISS VS LSU
Game 12 1:30 p.m. Winner G7 vs. Winner G10 [FSN] (XM 199) LSU
reason- LSU is good enough to outslug the REBS as the tourney goes deeper

Game 13* TBD Winner G11 vs. Loser G11 [SECSports.com] (XM 199)
NOT NEC according to my predictions as bama is already in the title game.

LSU VS OLEMISS
Game 14* TBD Winner G12 vs. Loser G12 [SECSports.com] (XM 199) LSU
reason-OLE MISS lack of team depth and speed once again does them in

Sunday, May 24

BAMA LSU
Game 15* 3:00 p.m. Winner G13 vs. Winner G14 [FSN] (XM 199 BAMA

reason- In my opion LSU is the best team in the country and is my pick to win the NATIONAL TITLE in Omaha, BUT BAMA has enough talent and depth to defeat LSU if they avoid the losers bracket as I have predicted them to do...

* - If both bracket winners are undefeated, there will be no 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. games on Saturday and the championship game Sunday would be Game 13.

All Times are Central

[FSN] - FS South, FS Southwest, Sun Sports
[CSS HD] - Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast

bama blazes past uab 10-7

2009-03-25T13:43:00.000-05:00

BY BICK TAYLOR

BAMA BASEBALL SERIES RECAP VS OLE MISS

2009-03-22T18:59:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

DEL HOWELL

ALABAMA BASEBALL stormed out and defeated OLE MISS 19-6 on Sunday to avoid being swept this weekend. Kent Mathes, the nation's home run leader belted two homers to bring his season total to 15 & Del Howell pitched five scoreless innings to collect the win. Howell has now thrown 11 scorless innings while picking up 18 strikeouts in his only two starts this year after recovering from MONO at the beginning of the season. The tide lost 5-2 Saturday due to a lack of offensive production and a 5 run fifth inning by the rebels. ALABAMA lost the Friday game 8-7 in a sea-saw affair in that saw the tide enter the ninth inning with a 7-5 lead which they would fail to hold. The TIDE will play two mid-week games VS UAB. The 1st of the two games will be played Tuesday in TUSCALOOSA followed by a Wednesday contest @ REGIONS PARK FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE HOOVER MET. THE tide will then head to Gainsville for a weekend series VS THE FLORIDA GATORS...

BAMA BASEBALL EARNS SERIES WIN VS TOP RANKED GEORGIA

2009-03-16T00:52:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

ALABAMA BASEBALL took 2 out of 3 games this weekend against top ranked GEORGIA @ SEWELL-THOMAS STADIUM. The tide clinched a series win against the bulldogs by sweeping a doubleheader Saturday which was played due to a Friday night rain out, before dropping the series finale on Sunday. BAMA opened the day winning game 1 9-5 thanks to a strong start from AUSTIN HYATT AND HOMERUNS BY VIN DIFASIO AND KENT MATHES.

GAME 1 BOX

THE TIDE won game 2 11-6 behind a strong start from pitcher ADAM MORGAN, and a trio of home runs from CODY TROTTER TAYLOR DUGAS AND BRANDON MAY. MORGAN, who pitched into the eighth inning allowing four runs while tallying up nine strikeouts.

GAME 2 STATS

ALANAMA lost an opportunity to sweep top ranked GEORGIA Sunday dropping the final game 10-8 to the bulldogs largely due to a 7 run second inning from the visiting team. THE TIDE rallied with 5 runs in the bottom of the 2ND inning to close the gap to 7-5 and took an 8-7 lead a few innings later as KENT MATHES hammered his NCAA leading 13th homer of the season. The DOGS would regain the lead in the sixth by scoring 2 unearned ruuns without collecting a hit before adding an insurance run in the seventh to hold on to a 10-8 victory spoiling the Tide's hopes for a series sweep.

THE TIDE will next face in state foe ALABAMA A & M in a 2 game mid-week series scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

GAME 3 BOX

BAMA DEFEATS SAMFORD 11-6

2009-03-12T01:08:00.000-05:00

TAYLOR DUGAS

KENT MATHES hit his ncaa leading 11th homer and TAYLOR DUGAS collected 4 hits as bama baseball rolled samford 11-6. The tide will open up conference play Friday night vs GEORGIA.

OFFICIAL BOX OF BAMA VS SAMFORD

AUBURN MOUNTS A NINTH INNING COMEBACK TO STUN TIDE 8-7 IN CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC

2009-03-10T22:46:00.000-05:00

BAMA BASEBALL BANGS OUT 16 RUNS TO WIN WHATABURGER CLASSIC

2009-03-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

KENT MATHES

KENT MATHES went 3-4 with a pair of two run homers to bring his season total of homeruns to nine as bama defeated TEXAS A & M CORPUS CHRISTI 16-2 to win the Whataburger Classic Saturday night. Alabama will face rival AUBURN in a non conference scheduled game and will return home Wednesday to face SAMFORD before opening up conference play at home Friday night against GEORGIA.

SATURDAY'S GAME STATS

JONES HELPS BAMA SLAM ITS WAY TO WIN OVER TEX-PAN- AMERICAN

2009-03-07T02:45:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

CLAY JONES

THE ALABAMA BASEBALL TEAM got off to a sluggish start offensively but eventually defeated TEXAS PAN- AMERICAN 14-1 Friday night thanks to another solid start from Austin Hyatt who threw 6 innings allowing only 1 run...Tide catcher Cody Trotter came through with a 2 run single in the 7th which gave bama a 5-1 lead. Clay Jones would mash a grand slam to cap off a sixth run 9th inning that helped bama obtain the 14-1 victory. The TIDE will play TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI AT 6 O'CLOCK CENTRAL TIME Saturday night.

TEXAS PAN AMERICAN GAME STATS:

BAMA BASEBALL BEATEN BY TROY 6-2 TUESDAY

2009-03-04T17:03:00.000-06:00

KENT MATHES homered in his sixth straight game a bama baseball record
in the 6-2 loss at troy

MATHES NAMED SEC AND NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

2009-03-02T18:25:00.000-06:00

Kent Mathes was named National and SEC player of the week after his toroid beginning to 2008. The tide outfielder has belted 6 homers in the Tide's 1st seven games.

HYATT AND MATHES TEAM UP TO HELP EXTINGUISH FLAMES IN GAME 1 WHILE MORGAN COOLS OFF FLAME BATS IN GAME 2 TO COMPLETE DOUBLE HEADER SWEEP FOR BAMA

2009-02-28T19:26:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

ADAM NORGAN LEFT-AUSTIN HYATT RIGHT

The Alabama baseball team defeated ILL-CHI 4-2 in game one and 20-4 in game two to capture a doubleheader sweep of the flames Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas stadium. Austin Hyatt collected his 2nd win in as many starts as he threw seven strong innings alowing only 2 runs. All four bama runs in game 1 came courtesy of a pair of home runs; a three run shot by outfielder Kent Mathes in the sixth inning that put bama ahead 3-2. Alex Kubal added a solo shot in the seventh inning and Jimmy Nelson would secure the save to hold on to the win.

GAME ONE BOXSCORE

Freshman pitcher Adam Morgan tossed six innings allowing only one run against ILLINOIS-CHICAGO as the tide would cruise to a 20-4 rout of the flames in the nightcap of the doubleheader. Kent Mathes would add a solo homer in the nightcap to run his season total to six. Cody Trotter and first baseman Wes Henderson who entered the game in the fifth inning went 3-3 with a longball and 6 RBI. The tide's next game will take place Tuesday as they travel to TROY to battle their in state rivals the TROY TROJANS.

GAME TWO BOXSCORE

BASEBALL BRIEFING COURTESY ROLL TIDE.COM

2009-02-28T00:10:00.000-06:00

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Heavy rain and severe weather have forced the cancellation of the series opener between Alabama and Illinois-Chicago, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The scheduled four-game series has now been reduced to three games because of weather and UIC's travel schedule on Sunday. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1:05 p.m. (CST) and a single-game Sunday, March 1, at 12:35 p.m.

Fans should use "Game 7" tickets for admission to Saturday's double-header and "Game 8" tickets for admission to Sunday's game. All three games will be nine innings. Alabama will announce a make-up game to replace Friday's series opener at a later date. Fans should keep their "Game 6" tickets for admission to that game.

For ticket information and further updates on the weekend series, please check www.RollTide.com. The revised schedule for this weekend is as follows:

Saturday, Feb. 28

Illinois-Chicago at Alabama - 1:05 p.m.
Illinois-Chicago at Alabama - 30 minutes after game one
Sunday, March 1

Illinois-Chicago at Alabama - 12:35 p.m.

MATHES MASHES GAME WINNING HOMER AS TIDE DEFEAT NICHOOLS ST 8-7 IN EXTRA INNINGS

2009-02-25T23:20:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

TAYLOR DUGAS

Kent Mathes mashed a game winning solo homer as the Alabama baseball team came from behind Wednesday to beat Nicholls State 8-7 in ten innings. This was his 4th round tripper of the season. The game got off to a bad start for bama, as the tide found themselves trailing 7-0 after the top of the fifth inning concluded. Alabama's bats would wake up in the bottom of the 5th inning as the tide put up a 4-spot in that frame, thanks to a Taylor Dugas triple and a two-run homer by Tyler Odle. Bama would procreed to shut out Nichools state the last five innings thanks to great bullpen work by David Head. The tide would tack on a pair of runs in the eigth inning and one in the ninth to tie the score at 7-7 and send the game into extras where the tide would capture the victory after Mathes hit the game winning blast.

ALABAMA will play a four game series with Illinois-Chicago highlighted by a saturday doubleheader. game stats here

BAMA BASEBALL STAR BECOMES "CYCLIST"ON THE DIAMOND AS TIDE DROWNS NICHOLLS STATE 11-4

2009-02-24T22:50:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

KENT MATHES

Senior right fielder Kent Matthes hit for the cycle and knocked in a career-high tying five runs as No. 23 ranked Alabama beat Nicholls State 11-4 Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. This marks only the fifth time in school history a bama player has accomplished this feat, twice by DARREN WOOD and once each by ANDY PHILLIPS AND FRANK MENECHINO. The Tide got going early thanks to a two-spot highlighted by a first inning RBI double from Pre-season ALL-AMERICAN second basemen ROSS WILSON.
Bama also got a solid start from MIERS QUIGLEY,who bounced back after a rough start Saturday against Southeast Missouri State. Tonight's game became the first time this season that bama reached double digits in runs. The tide will play an afternoon matinee with Nicholls st Wednesday at 4:00, to be followed by bama basketball taking on Arkansas at 7 at Coleman Coliseum.

OFFICIAL GAME STATS:

REDHAWKS SOAR PAST TIDE 8-4 TO CAPTURE SERIES WIN

2009-02-22T17:33:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

KENT MATHES

Kent Mathes blasted two solo home runs but it wasn't enough to propel the tide to victory as The Alabama baseball team lost their opening series of the season after dropping an 8-4 decision to the redhawks of SouthEast Missouri state at Sewell-Thomas stadium sunday afternoon. SEMO catcher Jim Klocke went 2-for-5 with four RBI to help the redhawks soar to a series win against the tide. Klocke also came in to pitch the final two innings to collect the save and preserve the win for his team.

The day started out promising for the tide as freshman phenom Adam Morgan was practically unhittable as he only allowed a total of two hits in the games first five innings of play. Morgan would only retire one batter in the sixth inning while allowing three runs which at the time knoted the score at 3-3. The Redhawks scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. Klocke was again in the middle of the rally with a go-ahead, two-out, two-run triple . Cummings capped the innings with a two-run home run off Adam Scott to give Southeast Missouri State a three-run lead,after Kent Mathes hit his second home run to help bama regain a 4-3 lead the inning before.

ALabama will play a two game midweek series against the colornels of Nicholls state starting at 6:30P.M. on Tuesday, game two of the series will start at 4:00 P.M. on Wesnesday as part of a UA sports doubleheader that will be followed by a 7 o'clock tip-off @ Coleman Coliseum as men's basketball battles Arkansas.

Official game boxscore:

BAMA WOMENS BASKETBALL FALLS SHORT IN FAYETTEVILLE AGAINST LADY RAZORBACKS

2009-02-22T17:20:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

VARISA RAFFINGTON

Varisia Raffington scored 19 points for the tide in a losing cause as The Alabama Womens basketball team fell short in their bid to win their second consecutive conference game of the week,which would have also given bama their 2nd conference win of the season eclipsing last year's SEC win total of one. as they dropped a 74-69 contest to the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks in Fayetteville AR. Sunday afternoon. This was a game in which the tide trailed almost the entire duration of the contest, however they managed to be able to stay within striking distance throughout the majority of the game. The tide played great defense and rebounded the basketball fairly well early which lead to some putbacks under the goal. Alabama went to halftime facing a 36-29 deficit.

In the second half the tide would get as close as 70-69 in the final minute of play when Varisia Raffington misfired on a 3 point attempt that would have given bama the lead and perhaps the victory. Alabama will play its final game of the regular season against rival SEC west foe Miss ST.@ Coleman Coliseum Tip off is slated for 2:00 p.m.

For the official box score of the game click here:

LOCKE DRIVES IN WINNING RUN AS TIDE SOFTBALL BEATS HAWAII 1-0 IN EXTRA INNINGS

2009-02-22T01:21:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

AMANDA LOCKE

Amanda Locke drove in the winning run with an RBI singled that scored Kelley Montalvo from second base in the bottom of the 8th inning as the Alabama softball team defeated Hawaii last saturday night to run its record to 12-1 on the season. The tide won the game despite only managing four hits in the contest as Charlotte Morgan threw the first seven innings before being relieved by Kelsi Dunne in the 8th.

NOTE* It is an NCAA rule for regular season games that go extra innings that the hitting team starts the inning with their next hitter in the lineup being placed on second base.

The tide will next travel to Columbus GA to participate in the Leadoff Classic starting on friday FEB.27TH where they will face Southern ILLINOIS in the opening round of the tournament.

MONTALVO DRILLS GAME WINNING DOUBLE TO HELP TIDE SOFTBALL RISE PAST OKLAHOMA 4-3

2009-02-21T21:46:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

KELLEY MONTALVO

Kelsi Dunne threw yet another complete game as THE ALABAMA SOFTBALL TEAM came from behind in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Oklahoma 4-3 to run it's record to 11-1 on the year.The comeback and eventual win could be largely credited to standout 3rd baseman Kelley Montalvo who knocked in three of bama's four runs in the game, including a game winning two run double. Montalvo's other RBI came on a solo shot earlier in the contest. The team's other RBI was collected by Whitney Larsen who homered for the 2nd consecutive game.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REDHAWKS PRAY ON BAMA PITCHING AS THEY DEFEAT BAMA 8-3 IN GAME 2 OF THE SERIES

2009-02-21T21:09:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

CLAY JONES

Alabama baseball dropped game 2 of their series with SE Missouri saturday 8-3. The Tide got off to a bad start in the opening inning,as bama starter Miers Quigley struggled to get into a rhythm finding the strike zone. ALL-AMERICAN second baseman Ross Wilson also made a few uncharistic errors which didn't aide Quigley's cause.

Quigley departed the game in the 2nd inning and was relieved by an overall solid bullpen effort, especially from senior hurler Casey Kebodeaux who retired 8 of the 1 batters he faced during his appearance which spanned the latter part of the seventh inning through out number two of the ninth inning. This contest also marked the return of ALL-AMERICAN Brandon May to the lineup, who was held out opening night as a precautionary measure due to a sore wrist. Perhaps the game's most exciting moment came in the 7th inning when Clay Jones, the tide 1st baseman belted his first career homerun to left-center field. In the end though inconsistent pitching, lack of timely hitting, and critical errors proved to be too difficult for the tide to overcome. The tide will try to capture a series when sunday against SEMO as they send freshman hurler Adam Morgan to the mound. First pitch will be approx 2:05 at Sewell-Thomas stadium...

BAMA RIDES TIDAL WAVE PAST MISS ST IN DOUBLE OVERTIME

2009-02-21T20:55:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

ALONZO GEE

Alabama defeated miss st 87-85 in an epic double overtime contest at Coleman Coliseum Saturday afternoon. The game was a sea-saw affair with numerous lead changes in both halves. The game started out as a ragged defensive game but quickly evolved into a much more explosive and offensively oriented contest after halftime that lasted through both overtime periods until the game concluded.

The Tide was lead by Alonzo Gee's 28 points,11 of which came during the two overtime periods. Senario Hillman also chipped in 21 points with 19 coming after the halftime intermission. In my opinion though this game was one where the statistical data did not necessarily tell the whole story but rather a game in which intangibles such as good free throw shooting 31-39from the line for the game, and effort on both ends of the floor made the difference for bama.

The Tide moved to 14-12 overall and 4-8 in the sec. Alabama will host Arkansas wednesday night at 7PM.

for a complete game boxscore click the ALONZO GEE link above his photo...

BRUINS TAME TIDE 4-1 IN POTENTIAL CWS PREVIEW

2009-02-21T01:23:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

WHITNEY LARSEN

Whitney Larsen collected the only RBI for the no.1 ranked TIDE softball team in their 4-1 loss to pac-10 softball powerhouse UCLA friday night.The loss was the 1st of the season for bama now 10-1. The CRIMSON TIDE managed only 3 hits for the entire game,as Bruin ace pitcher Donna Kerr suffocated bama's offensive attack. Alabama will play a double header saturday against Oklahoma and Hawaii at 5:30 and 10P.M. CST respectively.

TIDE BASEBALL DECLAWS SEMO REDHAWKS THANKS TO DIFAZIO'S HELP

2009-02-21T00:22:00.000-06:00

BY NICK TAYLOR

vin difazio

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.In his postgame remarks coach wells opined the following statement about DiFazio; "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."

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.

Tide ace pitcher Austin Hyatt hurled 6+ innings allowing only one run and Alabama also received 3 combined innings without allowing an earned run, from jimmy nelson in the 7th and junior david head a transfer from Chattahoochee Valley Community College in the final two frames.

The TIDE did strand a few runners,but perhaps the most impressive thing about the win was preseason ALL-AMERICAN Brandon May & junior bullpen standout Del Howell were out due to a wrist injury and mono respectively. Alabama and Southeast Missouri State will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 4:05 p.m. (CST