Tide Softball Looks to Clinch SEC West Title this Weekend
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The ninth-ranked Alabama softball team (50-11,
20-7 SEC) can clinch its second SEC West division title in three years this weekend as the Tide closes out SEC regular season play against the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks (19-40, 4-22).
It's senior weekend at the University of Alabama Softball Complex, as seven Crimson Tide athletes will play their final regular season games at home this weekend. However, with the possibility of hosting an NCAA Regional tournament the seniors may not be putting their jerseys on for the last time in front of the home fans.
With two wins in the three game series, the Tide can clinch its second SEC West division title and the two-seed at next week's SEC Tournament in Gainesville, Florida. Alabama currently leads the Auburn Tigers by a half game and Bama's in-state rival has finished its SEC season.
Alabama leads the all-time series with Arkansas 24-7 including a 13-1 mark at home against the Lady Razorbacks. The Crimson Tide has won nine straight in the series and 15 of the last 16 games in the series.
Alabama comes into the series having dropped a three-game series in Athens last weekend to the Georgia Bulldogs after having gone on a 10-game winning streak. Arkansas was swept by the Ole Miss Rebels in a mid-week series and has lost five in a row.
Senior Ashley Courtney paces the Alabama offense, leading the team in hitting (.387), runs (45), hits (70), triples (6), RBI (37) and stolen bases (19).
Junior Stephanie VanBrakle leads the Tide pitching staff with a 25-5 record and 249 strikeouts in 186.2 innings pitched. Freshman Chrissy Owens is the staff leader with a 0.95 ERA and a national best 10 saves.
Tide seniors Ashley Courtney, Emily Currie, Deasy Phillips, Capper Reed, Leah White, Jackie Wilkins and Jennifer Wright will be honored prior to the start of the first game of a Saturday doubleheader.
The first game of the series is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Friday night followed by the Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Fans can follow all the action on www.rolltide.com where live stats and audio will be available. Saturday's doubleheader will be televised line on the Alabama Cable Network, channel 29 on Comcast in Tuscaloosa.
