NASHVILLE: Bama chases Minor

By Chris Lee - April 07, 2007

Vandy's Mike Minor suddenly struggled with location in the sixth, and Alabama's making him pay with a lot of help from the Vandy defense.

Brandon Belcher reached on an error when Brad French couldn't handle a chopper, and with one out, Emeel Salem singled the other way through the hole between short and third.

The 'Tide tried a double-steal, and catcher Shea Robin double-clutched to throw Belcher out at third, then sailed a throw past Pedro Alvarez at third which scored Belcher and put Salem at second.

Cleanup hitter Kent Matthes singled sharply to right on perhaps the only hard-hit ball off him all day, advancing Salem to third. Now Minor hit Jake Smith with a pitch, prompting a second visit from coach Tim Corbin and mandating Minor's exit.

Minor had beel briliant until this inning, giving up just one hit and two walks coming into the inning. He leaves as lefty Cody Crowell takes the mound to try to get Vandy out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with No. 6 hitter Ryan Rhoden stepping in shortly.