The Alabama Crimson Tide have won the first game of the 2011 NCAA regionals by a score of 5-3 against the University of Central Florida Knights.
Alabama got a great start from Nathan Kilcrease as he went 7 innings giving up just four hits and two runs, he struck out ten and walked four. It was two of these walks that led to UCF's first run of the game. In the 4th inning Kilcrease walked Erik Hempe with a full-count to start the two-out rally, that led to a couple of hits that loaded the bases for UCF before another walk brought in the first run for the Knights that trailed 2-1. Kilcrease got the next batter with a strikeout that proved to be a key moment in the game as UCF stranded three runners.
Five of Alabama's starters had multi-hit games to lead the offensive attack. Austen Smith led the team on the day going 2-5 with two RBI's, and run scored with a stolen base. Smith blasted a home run in the 7th inning to extend the lead to 5-2 at that point and give the Crimson Tide some much needed insurance.
The Knights tried to rally in the 9th inning but Jonathan Smart got the save for Alabama as he got the tying run at the plate in UCF's Beau Taylor to line out to right field to end the game.