Alabama Crimson Tide

Jake Smith led the Alabama Crimson Tide with two runs and five RBI to an 11-6 win over the Kentucky Wildcats in front of 4,145 fans on April 24th in the series opener at Sewell-Thomas stadium.

Smith’s grand slam in the seven run eighth inning was the sixth of the year for the University of Alabama and the second for Smith. It stretched his season record to 15 home runs, and marked his fourth go-ahead home run of the season.

Kentucky came into the second inning to score first on a homer by Chris Wade. The Tide responded by taking advantage of two wild pitches to advance Kent Matthes and Smith who scored the only two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a one point lead.

Matthes opened the bottom of the inning, smacking a double to left center before he moved to third on a wild pitch with Brandon May up to bat. Smith followed with a single and advanced to second as Wes Henderson was struck out. Vin Difazio hit a double to drive Smith home.

The third inning landed Kentucky’s Bryan Rose on first when he was hit by a pitch with one out before Chad Wright drove Rose home with his third homer of the season.

Matthes added a homer to his leading NCAA record with his 23rd career home run in the sixth inning, giving Alabama a 4-3 lead.

Kentucky took their second lead of the night as Mcclendon singled, then scored on a double by Nidiffer. Nidiffer crossed the plate on a throwing error by second baseman Chris Besson. Another single by Wright prompted a pitching change as Nathan Kilgrease came in for Hyatt.

Hyatt pitched six innings allowing five runs on seven hits, and striking out seven. He allowed no walks, stretching his record to no walks in the last 27.1 frames.

Kentucky added one run in the top of the eighth to take the lead at 6-4.

The cushion wouldn’t last Clint Tilford came in to relieve James Paxton at the mound, giving up seven runs on five hits. He struck out one and walked two.

Tilford started off to foul out Rutledge but the next five batters landed on base, one on a walk. Wilson opened the rally with a single to left field. Matthes walked, then May singled to load the bases with one out.

Smith made it count as he smacked a homer to left center to drive in Wilson, Matthes and May.

With empty bases, Tilford walked Difazio, who reached third on a single by Alex Kubal. Tilford tossed a wild pitch to Taylor Dugas, scoring Difazio. Rutledge smacked the game ending single to score Dugas and Kubal before ending the inning trying to steal second.

Kilgrease held Kentucky to no score in the ninth to pick up his first SEC win in his 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Tilford suffered his fourth loss of the year, erasing a solid 7 innings performance by James Paxton who struck out 11 alabama batters and allowing four runs on six hits.

John Dawson is a writer for LeatherBeltStore.com check out his Alabama Belts, Alabama Wallets or his Mens Designer Belts