Second-ranked Alabama Beats BYU, 11-1

TUSCALOOSA,Ala. (February 10, 2000)--Second-ranked Alabama opened its baseball season Thursday night before a record crowd of 6,222 fans with an 11-1 victory over BYU.

The Cougars, now 2-5, took the initial lead on an unearned run in the first inning. Craig Peterson got the first of four BYU hits and advanced to third when Nick Day's drive to deep right field was dropped for an error. Peterson scored on Michael Davies' ground out to second.

BYU's three other singles came in the final three innings on lead-off hits by Kainoa Obrey in the seventh, by pinch-hitter Aaron Whitley in the eighth and by substitute third-baseman Tyler Perry in the ninth.

The Cougars stranded two runners in the fifth and eighth innings in the 58-degree temperature.

"They have a good club, but we made a couple of pitches at the wrong time," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "I'm pleased with a lot of things and still have a lot of confidence in what we can do."

Aaron Clark broke the game open for Alabama when his first of three collegiate hits was a three-run homer off Jeff Stone in the second inning. Teammate Brent Boyd belted a grand slam to left field in the sixth inning off reliever Sean Noorda and had five RBI for the night.

The sellout crowd at the newly expanded Sewell-Thomas Stadium began the night with a moment of silence for the late Alabama football star Derrick Thomas as the American flag hung at half mast. The Crimson Tide have a 15-game home winning streak.

The two teams continue the three-game series Friday evening at 7 p.m. CDT.