UNO completes sweep, extends Tide’s losing streak to five

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama baseball team’s hopes of snapping its losing streak were over almost before they began Wednesday night.

The Crimson Tide’s skid extended to five games as the University of New Orleans finished a sweep of a two-game mid-week series, blasting the Crimson Tide 17-8 at Sewell-Thomas Field.

The 17 runs were the most allowed by UA since an 18-12 loss to LSU in the 2000 SEC Tournament.

The Privateers (10-7) took a 12-0 lead in the first three innings en route to the victory.

The Privateers had a 3-0 lead after its first three hitters came to the plate thanks to a pair of singles and a three-run home run by second baseman Johnny Giavotello.

UNO pushed the lead to 4-0 in the second inning on Comarda’s solo home run, then exploded for eight runs in the top of the third. The Tide appeared to be on the verge of getting out of the inning with minimal damage, but shortstop Jeff Texada booted what appeared to be a double-play ball that might have ended the inning. The next hitter, Nick Mitchell, hit a grand slam that chased starter Miers Quigley from the game.

“The wind was blowing out and (Quigley) was throwing the ball up in the strike zone and that’s a dangerous combination,” said Tide head coach Jim Wells.

“You look at the double-play ball and say that maybe, on paper, we should have been out of the inning, but we still gave up the grand slam and allowed four more runs after that, so you can’t blame it on that.”

Alabama came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning, including a solo home run by Wes Henderson. It was the first home run of the season for Henderson, who was starting in place of Matt Bentley at first base. Bentley missed the game due to a death in the family.

The Privateers pushed the lead to 14-4 before Alabama added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. A two-run single by right fielder Kent Matthes was the key hit in that inning.

The Crimson Tide scored its final run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Texada, but the Privateers added two more runs in the eighth inning and an unearned run in the ninth inning to seal the victory.

Cory Myers (2-0), the second UNO pitcher of the game, earned the victory.

Wells said that Alabama was “concentrating on getting better” after the debacle.

“We are looking for positives,” Wells said. “[Del] Howell pitched better. [Jamie] Manning pitcher better. We are looking for anyone who can help right now.”

Howell, a sophomore left-hander from Tuscaloosa, allowed four hits and two earned runs in four innings of work. Manning allowed only an unearned run in working the ninth inning.

The game marked the fifth time in 19 games this season that Alabama has allowed 10 runs or more.

The Crimson Tide will be back in Southeastern Conference action this weekend, hosting Vanderbilt.

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0225.