Alabama Softball Hits the Road for the First Time
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The sixth ranked Alabama softball team (5-0) takes its show on the road for the first time this season as the team heads to South Florida to participate in the Dunkin' Donuts Invitational.
Bama is one of six teams including host school Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Long Island, Missouri State and SEC rival Ole Miss. Alabama has a combined 35-5 record against the field and a 6-3 record when Ole Miss is removed from the field.
The Crimson Tide has met with much success in recent years in the Sunshine State. Alabama traveled to Florida twice last season and came away with a 6-2 record (2-1 vs. Florida, 4-1 in the SEC Tournament in Gainesville). Bama didn't travel to Florida in 2004, but did win the 2003 SEC Tournament (4-0) which was hosted in Plant City, Florida as well as going 2-1 against Florida in Gainesville that same year. Earlier that season, Bama went 3-2 at an FIU tournament. Since the beginning of the 2003 season, Alabama has posted a 15-5 record in the Sunshine State.
The tournament will be a bit of a homecoming for the four players on its roster from Florida. All four originate from South Florida: Dominique Accetturo (Pembroke Pines), Michelle Menningmann (Palm Beach Gardens), Kelley Montalvo (Miami) and Chrissy Owens (Miami). In addition, student assistant coach Jackie Wilkins, an All-Region performer during her years with the Tide, also comes from Miami.
Alabama opens tournament play on Friday at 9:00 a.m. ET when the Tide takes on the LIU Blackbirds followed by an 11:00 a.m. ET tilt with the FIU Panthers. Bama will continue pool play on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET against the Missouri State Bears and will closer out the day with an 8:00 p.m. ET date with the host school Florida Atlantic Owls. A final game against an undetermined opponent will be played on Sunday.
Fans can follow all the action at www.rolltide.com where live stats and audio for each Bama game will be provided. In the Tuscaloosa area all Tide games can be heard on WVUA 90.7 FM.
