Non-SEC foes cause big trouble for Tide

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama baseball team has positioned itself well in the Southeastern Conference Western Division race, but the Crimson Tide's out-of-conference play has been cause for concern.

The Crimson Tide is in sole possession of second place in its division, even with an 8-10 SEC record, after winning two out of three last weekend at home against Mississippi State. Alabama's postseason hopes beyond next month's league tournament in Hoover, however, are not enhanced by what it has done out of conference.

The Tide has two chances to improve its out-of-conference performance this week, with a home game against Lipscomb University tonight and a visit to South Alabama on Wednesday.

Alabama enters the game against Lipscomb University with a 14-9 mark in non-SEC games. The Tide has won five of its last seven out-of-conference contests, but lost to Southern Miss in last week's lone mid-week game.

Junior right-hander Casey Kebodeaux (2-5, 5.21 ERA) is tonight's likely starter. Senior lefty Will Stroup (4-1, 4.54 ERA) will likely start against South Alabama in Mobile.

The Bisons enter tonight's game having lost three of their last four games after dropping two out of three to South Carolina-Upstate last weekend and losing 8-1 to Vanderbilt a week ago. Vandy also beat Lipscomb 12-4 in March, giving the Bisons an 0-2 mark against SEC opposition this season. Alabama won the only previous meeting between the schools by a 15-2 scores in 2006.

The first six innings of tonight's game may be key for UA. Alabama came from behind to defeat Mississippi State on Sunday to win the series, marking the first time all year that the Tide has won a game where it trailed after six innings.

South Alabama is 22-18 overall going into tonight's home game against Jacksonville State. The Jaguars have done fairly well against SEC opponents, splitting a pair of games at Mississippi State in March, beating Auburn twice this month and falling twice at Ole Miss. Alabama leads the long-running series 50-45 and lost 5-4 to the Jaguars last year in Tuscaloosa.

Freshman shortstop Josh Rutledge is riding a 17-game hitting streak for Alabama. He is batting .438 with four doubles, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored since the streak began on March 26.

Freshman second baseman Ross Wilson hit three home runs last weekend against Mississippi State. His two-run homer in the seventh inning Sunday proved to be the game-winner against Mississippi State. In the first game of the series he hit two home runs in the same inning, both coming in the seventh inning of a 21-7 victory.

Lipscomb is led by junior catcher/third baseman Caleb Joseph, who is batting .291 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. He has scored 31 runs this season.