Tide Softball Travels to No. 16 South Carolina
4/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The No. 17 ranked University of Alabama softball team hits the road this Easter weekend as the team travels to Columbia, South Carolina for a crucial three-game set with the South Carolina Gamecocks (31-12, 15-7 SEC).
The series will get underway on Friday beginning with a doubleheader scheduled for 5 p.m. (ET) and will conclude on Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET)
The series could be marked as the SEC series of the week as the Tide (36-15, 19-5) comes in as the top team in the conference, a half game ahead of Georgia and only three games ahead of the Gamecocks who have the third best record in the conference.
South Carolina comes in on the strength of a series sweep over SEC Eastern Division rival Florida while the Crimson Tide rolls into Columbia after a two to one series victory over Mississippi State.
Amber Curtis leads South Carolina with a .349 average while Debralee Troesh provides the power for the Gamecocks with a team high eight home runs and 33 RBI.
Stacey Johnson leads the USC pitching staff with a 1.19 ERA in 135.1 innings of work and 107 strikeouts.
The Crimson Tide will combat the Gamecock pitching staff with All-Americans Jackie McClain and Ashley Courtney. Courtney leads Alabama with a .368 average and 56 hits while McClain isn’t far behind with a .367 average while leading the team with 41 RBI and a .612 slugging percentage.
The Tide staff is led by freshman Stephanie VanBrakle who has a team low 1.39 ERA while leading the staff with 140 strikeouts and limiting opponents to a .190 batting average.
South Carolina leads the all-time series 12-6, however the series record could be closer than it is, as nine of the last 10 games have been decided by two runs or less.
