Baseball hosts first series of season

Alabama will host Southeast Missouri State in a three-game series this weekend, beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The two teams met last year in the 2002 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, with both clubs winning one game each by an identical 7-4 score.

Bama’s Weekend Schedule

Fri., Feb. 21 Alabama vs. SEMO 6:30 p.m. CTSN (WRTR-FM, 105.5) Sat., Feb. 22 Alabama vs. SEMO 4 p.m. CTSN (WRTR-FM, 105.5) Sun., Feb. 23 Alabama vs. SEMO 2 p.m. CTSN (WRTR-FM, 105.5)

RADIO: The games will be aired locally on WRTR-FM (105.5) in Tuscaloosa. David Crane and Chris Stewart will call the action.

INTERNET BROADCAST: Live stats (home games only) and audio broadcasts can be found at www.rolltide.com

TICKETS: Season tickets are available by calling the Alabama Ticket Office (205-348-2262). Single-game tickets are available for $5 each and the gates will open two hours prior to each game.

RANKINGS: Alabama and Centenary are unranked.

Home Openers

Since the opening of Thomas Field on March 27, 1948, Alabama has compiled an impressive 43-11 (.796) record in home openers, including a nine-game winning streak. The current nine-game winning streak is the longest in school history. Alabama's last loss in a home opener was a 6-5 setback to South Alabama in 1993. In 1996, Alabama also opened its home schedule with a 6-5 win over Centenary here at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The Records

Alabama (2-1) opened the 2003 season at the Minute Maid Park College Classic in Houston, Texas this past weekend. Playing a strong tournament field, Alabama went 2-1 with wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and No. 2 Rice. The Crimson Tide's lone loss came at the hands of No. 13 Houston.

The Coach

Alabama's Jim Wells is in his ninth season at the Capstone, compiling a 373-153 (.709) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 565-242 (.700) in his 14th season as a Division I head coach today.

Wells Equals Alabama Milestone

Alabama coach Jim Wells will tie former head coach Tilden "Happy" Campbell for second place on the all-time list for games coached at Alabama. The Centenary game will mark Wells' 527th game with the Crimson Tide.

Last Week’s Results

Alabama 9, UL Lafayette 3
Houston 7, Alabama 2
Alabama 6, Rice 5
(All games played at Minute Maid Park Classic in Houston)

SEC Pitcher of the Week, Allen Ponder

Freshman, right-handed pitcher (6-4, 235) from Opelika, Alabama

• The true freshman made his Alabama debut against the No. 2 Rice Owls turned in a strong outing for the Crimson Tide.
• Ponder worked five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out five in the upset win over Rice.
• He entered the game in the fourth inning with the Crimson Tide trailing 5-2 and runners on the corners. Ponder struck out Rice leadoff hitter Jeff Jorgensen and then got the No. 2 hitter in the lineup to ground out to end the inning.
• Alabama tied the game in the fifth and added the winning run in the sixth, making Ponder a winner in his debut against the No.2 Owls.
• Ponder limited the Owls to a .125 batting average (2-for-16), shutting down a team that won more than 50 games last year and played in the College World Series.

Alabama Notebook

• Alabama posted a 2-1 record at the 2003 Minute Maid Park College Classic in Houston this past weekend. The Crimson Tide joined Baylor, Rice and Texas A&M with 2-1 marks in the tourney.
• Senior outfielder Beau Hearod (3 G, .333, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and senior right-hander Brian Reed (2 G, 0-0, 0.00, 2 SV, 3.1 IP, 2 K) were named to the All-Tournament team this weekend.
• Hearod hit home runs against UL Lafayette and Rice and now has four home runs in his last four games, dating back to the 2002 NCAA Regionals.
• Alabama used eight first-time players this weekend, including three true freshman (Ponder, C Charlie Lyons and 3B Evan Bush). Bush (3 G, .429, RBI) started all three games at third base, while Lyons (1-for-4) started the game against Rice.
• Senior Travis Garner tied an Alabama single-game record with two sacrifice bunts in the win over UL Lafayette on Feb. 14. Adam Pavkovich was the last UA player with two sac bunts and he did it twice last season.
• Garner also celebrated his 22nd birthday on Feb. 16 as the Crimson Tide upset No. 2 Rice, 6-5.
• Junior catcher Bobby Burns (ankle) missed the classic with an injury, but celebrated his 23rd birthday in Feb. 14 as Bama beat UL Lafayette, 9-3.
• Alabama's win over UL Lafayette marked the 10th straight win for the Crimson Tide in season openers dating back to the 1994 season. The last loss was a 4-3 setback at South Alabama in 1993.
• Garner, Hearod and transfer Al Hecklinski (3 G, .385, HR, 2 RBI) hit safely in all three games this weekend.