The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Alabama
Tide's Ninth-Inning Rally Down Rebels
3/28/2004 | Baseball
March 27, 2004
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Matt Grooms scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Alabama to a 2-1 win over No. 5 (Collegiate Baseball) Ole Miss Saturday evening in front of 4,650 at Joe Sewell-Thomas Stadium, and even this weekend's three-game Southeastern Conference series. The Rebels won Friday's series opener 11-1.
With the loss, Ole Miss becomes the last SEC team to drop a conference game and falls to 19-3 on the season and 4-1 in the SEC. Alabama improves to 17-8 and 2-3 in the SEC.
The game was scoreless until the ninth inning when junior right fielder Seth Smith hit a two-out home run to right field to make it 1-0. The homer was his third of the season and his second of the weekend.
Second baseman Allen Rice doubled to start the bottom of the ninth for the Crimson Tide. Starter Brae Wright was then lifted for Brian Pettway, and Gabe Scott's sac bunt advanced Rice to third. With the infield drawn in, pinch-hitter Ryan Beagle hit a sharp grounder to second. Cooper Osteen made a diving stop but his throw home was not in time to get Rice and Alabama tied the game at 1-1.
Grooms came on as a pinch runner for Beagle and stole second to move into scoring position with one out. Pinch hitter Zac Welch was then intentionally walked to set-up the double play. Grooms stole third and scored on passed ball on a 1-2 pitch from Pettway to Rocky Scelfo.
Freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc (5-1) went the distance to earn the win. He scattered six hits and walked one and struck out eight.
Wright limited Alabama to five hits and two walks and was charged with one run in taking a no decision.
Pettway (0-1) was charged with the loss in relief.
Ole Miss out-hit Alabama 6-5 on the evening.
Osteen went 2-for-4 to lead the Rebels at the plate.
Designated hitter Carlos Sosa went 3-for-4 in picking up three of the Crimson Tide's five hits.
The two teams will meet in the rubber-match of this weekend's series Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Sophomore left-hander Stephen Head (2-0, 3.48 ERA) will draw the start for Ole Miss, while Alabama will counter with Belcher (2-3, 3.91 ERA), a freshman left-hander.
Alabama 2, No. 5 Ole Miss 1 (March 27, 2004 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.)----------------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss............000 000 001 - 1 6 3 (19-3, 4-1 SEC)Alabama.............000 000 002 - 2 5 1 (17-8, 2-3 SEC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - Brae Wright; B. Pettway(9). Alabama - LeBlanc.Win-LeBlanc(5-1) Loss-B. Pettway(0-1) T-2:43 A-4650HR UM - Seth Smith (3).Brae Wright faced 1 batter in the 9th.Game: UM0327
