May 10, 2008

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The annual "Senior Day" ceremony, fly-over from the United States Naval Academy and a marriage proposal were the highlights of the University of Alabama's pregame events Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The 2008 Alabama baseball senior class - catcher Brian Clark, first baseman Matt Bentley, pitcher Josh Copeland and pitcher Will Stroup - were recognized prior to the Saturday's game with Florida and were accompanied on the field with family and friends.

Alabama head coach Jim Wells presented the four seniors with a framed photograph from their playing days at the Capstone.

Clark and Bentley also received their undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama during Saturday's 9 a.m. commencement exercises.

Clark has played in six games for the Crimson Tide and has compiled a .500 (2 for 4) batting average with one home run and one RBI. He has been awarded a post-graduate scholarship to Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., where he will begin a four-year program in pharmacology.

Bentley has compiled a .281 (129 for 459) average with 23 home runs and 90 RBI in his 156-game career at UA. In 73 SEC games, he is hitting .249 (55 for 221) with 15 home runs and 43 RBI.

Copeland is fourth all-time with 71 career appearances on the mound. He has compiled a 6-5 record with eight saves and 3.16 ERA. In SEC play, Copeland is 4-1 with four saves and 4.21 ERA in 29 career games.

Stroup has split time as both starter and reliever in his two-year career for the Tide. He is 8-3 in his UA career with a 4/37 ERA in 42 career games. In SEC play, he is 6-2 with one save and a 4.85 ERA. Stroup is four-time Academic All-Conference honoree.

In a surprise move, Stroup dropped to his knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Lauren Little, who responded with a hug and a yes!

The US Navy provided the pregame fly-over in an F-18 at Saturday's game. Lt. Jeremy Vaughn, a former Crimson Tide pitcher and three-time Academic All-SEC honoree, and Lt. Doug Watters, represented the VFA-122 Flying Eagles stationed in Lemoore, Calif. Vaughn was a three-year letterman from 1999-2001 and compiled an 8-7 record and 4.86 ERA in 36 career games for the Tide. He was the winning pitcher in the Tide's 1999 SEC Tournament Championship game win over Arkansas.

The fly-over is believed to be a first for a regular season college baseball game.

-UA-