April 30, 2006
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
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No. 6 Alabama broke open a close game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to a 9-1 victory over Auburn in a game delayed close to five hours due to rain at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Sunday night.
Alabama (34-13, 15-6 SEC) busted the game open in the fifth as Ryan Rhoden belted a two-out, bases loaded double to the wall in right-center, clearing the bases and giving the Tide a 5-0 lead, chasing Auburn starter Chris Dennis from the game. Rhoden came home a pitch later as Spencer Pennington singled into right on AU reliever Peter Wiggins' first pitch of the night to make it 6-0 Tide.
UA starter Tommy Hunter (7-2) went 8.0 innings in the win, limiting Auburn (22-25, 9-12 SEC) to just five hits.
The Crimson Tide had led 2-0 after three complete as Matt Downs singled in Emeel Salem and then scored himself on a busted double-steal as Kody Valverde was thrown out at second but Downs was able to scamper home on the thrown down to second.
Dennis took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits and a career-high five walks while striking out just one to fall to 3-4 on the year.
Auburn avoided the shutout when Bruce Edwards singled in pinch hitter Ben Jones with two outs in the ninth.
The game was delayed four hours and 59 minutes due to rain, with the first pitch coming at 7:05 p.m. CT.
The Tigers return home for six straight home games beginning with a three-game set starting on Friday night, May 5, against LSU (29-17, 8-13 SEC) at 7 p.m.