May 27, 2000
STANFORD, Calif. - Alabama's Kelley Gulledge hit a game-winning two-run homein the top of the eighth inning as the Crimson Tide rallied from a 5-0deficit to defeat Nevada, 6-5, in Game #5 of the NCAA Regional atStanford. With the win, Alabama advances to Sunday's championship gameat 1:00 pm (PDT) against host Stanford. The Crimson Tide must defeat theCardinal twice on Sunday to win the regional title. Nevada has now losttwice in the tournament and is eliminated.
Jonathan Blakenship (6-6) pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless relief forthe Crimson Tide as he took home the win. After the third, Blakenshipwas dominating as he limited Nevada to four hits and one walk whilestriking out six in his performance.
The Wolf Pack scored a single run in the second and four runs in thethird to take the early 5-0 lead due to three errors by the CrimsonTide. Joey Herrera and Joe Inglett did contribute RBI singles in thethird.
Alabama responded with four runs in the sixth to cut the Nevada lead to5-4. An RBI single by Sam Bozanich with one out made the score 5-1 andthen things soon began to fall apart for the Wolf Pack. With two outs, awild pitch cut the lead to three runs and then an error by Nevada firstbaseman Don Price allowed two more runs to score.
Those four runs paved the way to Gulledge's heroics in the eighth. BrentBoyd led off the inning with a walk and then one out later Gulledge hitan 0-2 pitch over the left field walll off losing pitcher Matthew Rainer(6-5) for the game-winner.
Offensively, Gulledge and Bozanich led the Crimson Tide with two hits.Meanwhile, seniors Joe Inglett and Matt Ortiz chipped in two hits forthe Wolf Pack in their final collegiate game.