Tide Softball Begins Longest Road Trip of Season
2/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The University of Alabama softball team may need a map the next time they're scheduled to play at home as they play the first of what will be 16 straight road games before returning home to play on March 15.
The seventh ranked Tide begins its long trek in Troy, Alabama against the Trojans. Alabama currently holds a 7-0 series record against the ladies of Troy and have outscored the Trojans 20-3 in their seven previous meetings. First pitch between Bama and Troy is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Following the game, Alabama will board the bus and head to Columbus, Georgia for the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic. This year's Leadoff tournament features a 24 team field, 11 of which are ranked including three other Top 10 teams (Lafayette-6th, Michigan-8th and LSU-10th) besides Alabama.
The Crimson Tide will open pool play on Friday with the 18th ranked Oregon Ducks followed by a match up against the Florida Atlantic Owls. Saturday action will feature Alabama against Creighton to close out pool play after which tournament play will begin.
Over the years at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, the Crimson Tide has run up the highest winning percentage in tournament history at a clip of .789 (15-4). Bama has twice gone undefeated in the tournament (4-0, 2001 and 3-0, 2003) but both times rain cut the weekend short. In 2002 the Tide lost in the championship game to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 3-2.
Alabama has recorded a 10-3 record over ranked schools in the Leadoff Classic. Perhaps Bama's most memorable game in the tournament was its last one there. In 2003, the Crimson Tide trailed the 23rd ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-0 heading into the seventh inning before Bama struck for seven runs in the top of the seventh to claim the win.
In that same tournament Alabama and UMass tied for being the only two undefeated teams, however the Minutewomen were awarded the championship based on allowing one less run over the course of the three games.
The Crimson Tide is no stranger to the South Commons Complex in Columbus. Alabama participated in the SEC Tournament which was held there from 1997-2000 and won the conference tournament there in 1999. Bama has recorded a 22-11 all-time record there, 15-4 in the Leadoff Classic and 7-7 in the SEC Tournament.
First pitch between Alabama and Oregon is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET. Fans can follow all the action on WVUA 90.7 FM as Herb Ragsdale and Chad Anderson call all the pitches. Audio and live stats can also be found at www.rolltide.com.
