Miami University
Alabama
RedHawks Win Rubber Match At Alabama
3/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 2005
Story courtesy of University of Alabama sports information
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama's streak of 34 non conference series winning streak came to an end Sunday afternoon as the Tide lost a nail biter to the Miami Redhawks 11-10 in extra innings at Sewell Stadium.
Miami jumped on the board first when catcher Jon Franzese drove in third baseman Brian Canada to give the Redhawks a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
The Tide answered in the bottom half of the second when right fielder Morrow Thomley hit a two run home run to left field making the score 2-1 Bama.
It would be the third inning that would produce the most runs for both teams. In the top half of the third, Miami second baseman Geoff Orr hit a grand slam to put the Redhawks on top 5-2.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Bama put up a 6 run inning to take the lead. It started when Tide left fielder Brandon Belcher scored on a Redhawk throwing error to make the score 5-3. Thomley would then provide more damage, hitting an RBI single to score designated hitter Allen Rice. First baseman Matt Bentley would then double down the left field line to score Thomley and third baseman Evan Bush and give the Tide a 6-5 lead. Shortstop Cale Iorg doubled to left center to score Bentley and increase Bama's lead to 7-5. Catcher Kody Valverde provided the last run of the inning, driving in Iorg with an RBI single to give the Tide an 8-5 advantage over the Redhawks.
The next three innings would belong to the Redhawks, as a combined four runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings would put Miami back in the lead 9-8.
Alabama (14-5) fought back in the bottom of the seventh inning when Evan Bush hit his second home run in as many days to tie the game at 9.
Miami (4-6) took the lead in the top of the ninth, when right fielder Tyler Tabler singled to right field to score Canada.
In the bottom of the ninth, it was Iorg who would send the game into extra innings, doubling down the left field line to drive home Thomley and tie the game at 10.
The tenth inning belonged to the Redhawks when Orr provided what would be the game winning RBI, hitting a double down the left field line to score left fielder Michael Moljewski.
It was a long day for the Tide pitching staff, as seven pitchers were used in the loss. Freshman right hander Josh Copeland picked up the loss, throwing 3.1 innings, giving up 2 runs and 2 hits, and striking out 3 while walking 3.
Despite the loss, it was a career day for Tuscaloosa native Morrow Thomley, who tied a single game Crimson Tide record going 5 for 6 with 3 runs, 3 RBI, and a home run. Bush's home run in the seventh inning was the third baseman's 6th of the year. Second baseman Allen Rice kept his hitting streak alive, going 1 for 5 to extend his streak to 13 games.
Alabama's next home game is Wednesday night as the Tide takes on the Butler Bulldogs Wednesday night at "The Joe". First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.
GAME NOTES:
*Alabama and Miami played three one-run games this weekend in Tuscaloosa, with the Redhawks taking the series from the Crimson Tide.
*Alabama lost its first non-conference home series since March, 1994 as it lost two of three to Miami University at the Joe. The Redhawks posted a 5-4 win in the opener and claimed the series with an 11-10, 10-inning win on Sunday. The Crimson Tide had won 34 consecutive non-conference home series, including all 33 series under coach Jim Wells, dating back to the 1994 season. The last non-conference team to beat Alabama at home was Notre Dame in 1994.
*Bama also saw another streak come to an end Sunday afternoon as the Crimson Tide saw its 24-game winning streak come to an end when scoring 10 or more runs. Alabama lost the series finale 11-10 in 10 innings Sunday afternoon.
*The Sunday series finale saw five lead changes and two ties in the 10 inning game.
*Alabama scored 10 runs and pounded out 17 hits in the loss on Sunday. Alabama scored six runs in the third inning to take an 8-5 lead, but managed only two runs the remainder of the game.
*The Crimson Tide stranded 11 base runners in the loss, including eight in the final four innings. Bama left the tying run at third in the sevneth inning and at second base in the eighth inning. UA also left the bases loaded in the ninth.
*Senior RF Morrow Thomley went 5-for-6 in the loss to Miami and tied the UA single-game record with five hits. Thomley smacked a two-run home run in the second inning to give Alabama a 2-1 lead. He singled and scored in the Tide's six-run third inning and added another single in the fifth. Thomley singled and scored the tying run in the ninth inning and tied the UA record with a two-out base hit in the 10th.
*The last UA player to have five hits in one game was Travis Garner against South Alabama on April 16, 2003.
*Freshman SS Cale Iorg went 4-for-5 on Sunday with three doubles, one run scored and two RBI. Iorg doubled and scored in the Tide's six-run third inning and then plated Thomley with the tying run with a one-out double in the ninth inning.
*Iorg's three doubles are the most by an Alabama player since Greg Paiml had three two-base hits against South Alabama on March 31, 2004. Iorg missed the school record by one double.
*Junior 3B Evan Bush went 1-for-5 in the loss, but homered for the second straight day. Bush tied the game at 9-9 with a solo home run in the seventh inning. For the season, Bush leads Alabama with six home runs and 23 RBI.
*Senior DH Allen Rice went 1-for-5 in the loss and extended his hitting streak to 13 games with as second inning single.
*For one of the few times this season, the Alabama pitching staff really struggled on Sunday afternoon. Overall, the Tide used seven pitchers in the game against Miami.
*Senior LHP and starter Brent Carter had his worst outing of the season as he was touched for five runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.
*Sophomore RHP Ian Moore entered the game with the bases loaded in the third inning and got an inning-ending double play. He was not as fortunate in the next inning as he hit two batter and walked one before leaving the game with the bases loaded.
*Matt Downs pitched the next 2 2/3 innings and allowed three runs and four hits, with two strikeouts.
*Sophomore RHP David Laminack faced only one batter and allowed a two-run single to Brian Canada to give MU a 9-8 lead in the sixth.
*Freshman RHP Josh Copeland was the tough-luck loser in the game on Sunday, despite the longest outing of the game by a Bama pitcher. Copeland worked 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and two hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.
*Freshman RHP David Robertson retired two batters and allowed one hit and one walk. The hit was the game-winning double to Geoff Orr with two outs in the 10th inning. He also threw one wild pitch that set up the winning run.
*Junior RHP Jordan Davis retired the only batter he faced in the ninth inning and stranded both inherited runners. Davis had stranded all seven inherited runners this season.
*Despite its struggles, Alabama did strand nine of 12 inherited runners in the loss on Sunday.
