Tide Softball Opens SEC Season against Florida
3/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The fifth-ranked Alabama softball team (15-3) continues its 11-game home stand on Tuesday as the team hosts the Florida Gators (17-6) in a three-game mid-week series.
Alabama leads the all-time series against Florida 19-9; however the last time the two teams go together in Tuscaloosa, the Gators won two out of three games from the Tide. Alabama responded last year taking two of three from Florida in Gainesville. Alabama also went to claim the 2005 SEC Tournament title which was hosted by the Gators, but the two teams never met in tournament action.
The Florida series will kind of be a reunion of sorts for Allison Moore's family. The Moores, of Tuscaloosa, currently have Allison (freshman) playing for Alabama. However, during the 2001-2004 seasons, Allison's oldest sister Amanda was a four-year letter winner for the Gators.
Alabama comes into the series off a championship in the Crimson Classic this past weekend having won four of five games. Florida won the Cox Communications Classic in Gainesville, going 4-1 in the tournament with wins over Central Michigan, Southern Miss and Seton Hall.
Sophomore Dani Woods leads the Alabama offense hitting at a clip of .405 with three home runs and 14 RBI, both team highs. Freshman Brittany Rogers is the team leader with 14 hits.
Senior pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle leads and Alabama pitching staff that owns a 0.73 ERA. VanBrakle has a team best 0.48 ERA which ranks fourth in the SEC. She also has a staff best 105 strikeouts, third best in the conference, in 58.1 innings pitched.
The Tide and the Gators will get the series started on Tuesday with a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The teams will close out the series on Wednesday with a single game scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Fans can follow all the action at www.rolltide.com where live stats and audio will be available. In the Tuscaloosa area all the balls and strikes can be heard on 90.7 FM WVUA.
