Alabama Softball Hosts #13 Ranked Tennessee This Weekend
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The seventh-ranked Crimson Tide softball team (20-3, 3-0) opens SEC home play this weekend as Bama hosts the Tennessee Lady Volunteers (22-5, 4-1) who come to the Capstone with a No. 13 national ranking, the first time they've been ranked when facing the Tide.
UT reached as high as 11th earlier in the season while Bama has checked in as high as 6th this year. Alabama leads the all-time series against the Lady Vols 14-5 having won seven of the last eight meetings and 13 of the last 15 games. The last time the two teams got together Alabama needed extra innings, defeating Tennessee 3-2 in eight innings in Plant City, Fla. in the 2003 SEC Tournament. The Tide went on to win its second tournament championship.
The Crimson Tide is currently riding an 11-game winning streak including a three-game sweep of the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks in Fayetteville last weekend to open SEC play. Tennessee comes to the Tuscaloosa on a four-game winning streak including a three-game mid-week sweep in Lexington of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Alabama enters the series with one of the deepest pitching staffs Head Coach Patrick Murphy has ever enjoyed. The Tide has spread its 153.0 innings pitched evenly on the season between senior Erin Wright, junior Jennifer Wright and sophomore Stephanie VanBrakle and each one has responded. Erin Wright leads the Tide with an 8-1 record, Jennifer Wright leads Bama with a 0.90 ERA and VanBrakle is the team leader in strikeouts with 81.
Tennessee's pitching staff on the other hand is a one-person show in the form of freshman lefty Monica Abbott who leads the SEC in virtually ever pitching category. Her 131.2 innings pitched is tops in the conference along with her 251 strikeouts and 19 victories. She also ranks sixth in the SEC with a 0.69 ERA.
Leading the way offensively for Alabama is sophomore shortstop Dominique Accetturo with a .415 average. She's tied for the team lead in home runs with three and ranks second with 14 RBI.
Not to be lost in the hoopla of No. 7 vs. No. 13 is Murphy's quest for his 300th career victory. He is currently sitting on 298 wins and an all-time winning percentage of .720 which is the eighth highest winning percentage in NCAA history.
Also taking place on the weekend is Angela Johnson Day. Every year, each senior on the team receives their own day of honor and appreciation. Angela Johnson magnets will be handed out at the gates and ceremonies will take place prior to the start of the first game.
First pitch between the Tide and the Lady Vols is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the second game following 20 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. Fans can follow all the action at www.rolltide.com where national-award winner Jarrod Shadrick will call all the balls and strikes along with broadcast partner Chad Anderson. The broadcast will also air in Tuscaloosa on New Rock 90.7 FM, WVUA. Live stats will also be available at www.rolltide.com.
