Indians washed away by the Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The sun may not have been out Sunday afternoon, but that didn't stop the Southeast Missouri State baseball team from having a complete meltdown at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Alabama took advantage of seven walks, four hit batsmen, four passed balls, three balks and three errors, and was able to reach double digits in a single inning with 10 runs in the fifth, adding up to a 20-0 victory.

"I wouldn't say that we're jelling, but we're playing a little better," coach Jim Wells said.

However, it may be time for the Crimson Tide to earn some national recognition. Despite not being ranked in any of the four major polls, Alabama is 14-4 and coming off a strong week that included Wednesday's 9-3 victory against Southern Miss (No. 18 Collegiate Baseball).

"I think we deserve a shot to be ranked," said senior designated hitter Carlos Sosa," but it doesn't really matter where you're ranked because every day someone can beat you."

The Tide outscored the 4-8 Indians a combined 32-1 over the three-game series and had back-to-back shutouts for the first time since Tommy Milstead and Mark Roberts beat Ole Miss in 1991. Their starting pitchers allowed one run over 23 innings for a 0.39 ERA (0.33 overall).

Freshman left-hander Brandon Belcher, who threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings against Southern Miss, struck out eight and allowed five hits in seven innings to improve to 2-1.

Alabama hitters had 17 hits Sunday. Freshman right fielder Michael McCallister went 2-for-2 with two runs and two walks to bat .667 for the series, raising his season average from .189 to .283.

It was some yelling between the benches and a fifth-inning error that sparked Alabama.

Alabama's rally started on a single, two hit batsmen, a balk and a two-run double to left by Sosa. Immediately after, Indians coach Mark Hogan was ejected by home-plate umpire Eddie Loggins for arguing.

The Indians didn't get an out until Alabama's ninth batter reached the plate.

Sosa eventually capped the rally when his second double of the inning scored Rice, and along with freshman center fielder Emeel Salem tied a school record for hits in an inning (two).

The Tide scored four more runs in the seventh after junior reliever Ryan Forsyth walked the bases full. Following Salem's sacrifice fly, freshman pinch-hitter Greg Paiml tripled in two runs and later scored on a throwing error.

Sophomore Evan Bush hit a three-run home run to left in the eighth to complete the scoring.

Southeast starter Mike Fitch (0-2), the first of six Indian pitchers, took the loss. He allowed five hits and four earned runs.

Frankie Montiel, had two of the Indians' five hits, going 2 for 4.