Tuscaloosa, AL (U-WIRE) -- The Alabama baseball team did nearly as many things right as it did wrong during this weekend's series against the No. 5 Florida Gators.

But winning, especially after enduring a two-game losing streak, obscures the mistakes.

The No. 17 Crimson Tide salvaged the final game of the Florida series to remain in first place in the SEC West (second overall), but not without some ninth inning magic, something they have grown quite accustomed to.

Alabama entered the ninth down 6-3 and on the verge of being swept for the first time this year. The Tide then scored six runs on seven hits to erase the deficit and post a 9-6 win.

That game marked the 27th time Alabama has trailed in its 38 games this season. The Tide has recorded 15 come-from-behind wins, including its last four SEC wins.

"Sometimes it takes us a while to get into it," junior infielder Evan Bush said. "We know we're good; we just have to hit the ball better [in the earlier innings]."

That recent trend has seen Alabama total nine SEC wins through its first 15 games, just one shy of last season's SEC win total (10-20 SEC). The team is also three wins shy of tying last year's win total of 29 games. The Tide is 26-12 this season after 38 games.

"Our guys have gone out and done it," head coach Jim Wells said. "They're not fearful, and they're playing with confidence."

This season's turnaround can be attributed to some timely clutch hitting -- something that was missing last year -- as well as strong pitching performances. Even without sophomore ace Wade LeBlanc, who just returned after being out for the past month with a collarbone injury, the Tide's pitching staff has prospered in league play.

Alabama leads the SEC in strikeouts (370) and opponent's batting average (.230).

The Alabama team that lacked pop in 2004 has now begun to hit for power in 2005. Senior outfielder Gabe Scott has seven home runs in his past ten games and is batting .453 during a 25-game hitting streak.

Bush has already surpassed his team-high eight home run total from last year, having launched ten already this year.

"Last year I hit the ball everywhere," Bush said. "This year I've developed into more of a long ball hitter, but I still need to work on that."

For a team that was picked to finish fifth in a robust division, Wells' team has surpassed expectations so far this year.

There is, though, an answer as to why Alabama finds itself playing catch up, even with all the dazzling play.

After finishing 2004 with the third-best fielding percentage in school history, this year's edition is next-to-last in the SEC in team fielding.

Freshman shortstop Cale Iorg leads the team with nine errors; Bush has eight while third baseman Rocky Scelfo has seven.

Against Florida, the team combined for seven errors in the series -- four in Friday night's 9-8 loss, but that isn't diminishing Wells' optimism one bit.

"We're playing better defense, we're better up the middle and we're turning some double plays, which is something we haven't done in a long time," Wells said. "Last year, we couldn't turn the double play. This year we can turn it as well as anyone."

Alabama takes on Mississippi Valley State tonight at 6:30 at "The Joe."

(C) 2004 The Crimson White via U-WIRE