[02/20/02]It took Taylor Tankersley all of five games to leap into the University of Alabama’s starting rotation.

The former Warren Central lefty will be on the mound tonight as the Crimson Tide play host to Georgia State. It will be Tankersley’s first collegiate start.

The freshman was unavailable for comment Tuesday night.

Alabama enters the game 4-0 and ranked No. 24 by Baseball America.

Tankersley posted a 13-0 record with a 0.44 ERA in leading Warren Central to the state championship last season.

He was offered to go in the sixth round to the Kansas City Royals in last year’s amateur draft, but opted for college instead.

Tankersley struck out 165 in 95 innings as a senior at WC.