Tide Softball Drops to 18th as Team Hosts Auburn
4/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
 |
|
In the latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25, the University of Alabama found itself in the No. 18 slot having dropped two spots after going 1-3 in the state of Louisiana last week.
The Crimson Tide (26-13, 9-3 SEC) is set to host the Auburn Tigers (19-20, 7-8) in a mid-week series beginning with a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday. It will be Alabama Softball Whiffle Ball Bat giveaway day as the first 500 kids, 12 and under, will receive a free bat the gate.
The Tide will not be able to spare any of its bats for the giveaway, as they managed 24 hits in their last three games against No. 11 ranked LSU.
The Crimson Tide offense will look to continue to click as the team looks to exact some revenge on the Tigers after Auburn swept the Tide on the Plains last year. Alabama did get a bit of revenge in the SEC Tournament eliminating Auburn from contention.
The Tide offense is led by senior Pelham, Alabama native, Jennifer Reach who ranks seventh in the SEC in hitting with a .392 average. Stephanie VanBrakle is the team leader in home runs with five while Jackie McClain leads Alabama with 31 RBI.
VanBrakle is also the Alabama pitching staff leader with a 1.29 ERA while Gardendale, Alabama native Erin Wright leads the staff with a 12-5 record.
Alabama leads the all-time series 13-9 including a 3-0 record at the UA Softball Complex.
Auburn comes into the series after dropping two of three games against the South Carolina Gamecocks, while Alabama comes in having dropped two of three to rival LSU.
Two Alabama players that love to see Auburn on the schedule are senior catcher Lacy Prejean and McClain. Prejean is hitting a lifetime .429 (15-35) against AU with 12 RBI and six runs scored in three years. In two seasons, McClain has collected a .429 (9-21) average and nine RBI.
All the action for the entire series can be followed at www.rolltide.com.
