Alabama Crimson Tide Softball Hosts Chattanooga Lady Mocs
4/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The No. 17 ranked Crimson Tide softball team takes a break from non-conference competition this week as the Tide hosts three non-conference games at the UA Softball Complex beginning with a single game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs.
The series between the two schools is tied at 2-2 with Alabama dropping their most recent meeting, a 5-4 loss during the 2001 season at the UA Softball Complex. The loss, however, was on the tails of a 2-1, nine-inning victory by the Tide as the two teams split the doubleheader.
The Crimson Tide comes into the game in the final stretch of one of the closest conference races in SEC history. Alabama currently trails the Georgia Bulldogs by .005 of a point in winning percentage. Alabama has only one conference series left on its schedule, which is a three-game series from May 3-4 in Athens, Georgia against the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Lady Mocs come in on a hot streak having won eight games in a row. Chattanooga is led offensively by Jennifer Reed who has a team high .360 average, 10 home runs and 42 RBI.
Awbrey Winckler is the staff ace with a 1.85 ERA and a 16-12 record. She's also the staff leader with 182 strikeouts.
Alabama will look to offset Winckler with All-Americans Ashley Courtney and Jackie McClain. Courtney is the team leader with a .362 average and 34 runs scored. McClain leads Alabama with 42 RBI and .445 on-base percentage.
Freshman phenom Stephanie VanBrakle is the leader on a very balanced pitching staff. She currently is the team leader with a 1.43 ERA, 145 strikeouts and a .189 opponent batting average.
Following Tuesday's single game, Alabama will host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 26 which will be the Tide's final home regular season game this season.
