A Series for the Ages
4/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Despite being around for only 10 years, the Crimson Tide and LSU softball programs have become the preeminent programs in the Southeastern Conference. Between the two of them, they have forged a rivalry and a history that's unlike any other series in the SEC.
The two teams have squared off a league high 42 times; they have the most post season head-to-head match-ups in the conference; they're the only schools to have multiple appearances in the Women's College World Series; they rank first and second in SEC history in conference wins; and the list goes on and on.
After a down season in the eyes of the LSU faithful, in which they finished 31-23 and did not qualify for NCAA Tournament play, the Tigers are back as they roll into Tuscaloosa ranked 11th in the country. Alabama has been a mainstay in the Top 10 all season and has picked up its first ever first place votes in both Top 25 polls this week.
As has often been the case in the past, this year's series could go a long way towards crowning this year's conference champion. The Tide comes in with a perfect 15-0 record in conference play while the Tigers come to town with a 12-3 record which should make for some spectacular games that could along side some of the other great games in Alabama-LSU history.
?? May 9, 1998 (Columbus, Ga. ?? SEC Tournament) - Alabama took a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning but the Tigers posted one in the sixth and another in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Each team scratched a run in the eighth. Finally, on the strength of a Kelly Kretschman leadoff solo home run in the 10th, Alabama came away with a 5-3, 10-inning victory.
?? May 7, 1999 (Baton Rouge, La.) - Bama traveled to Baton Rouge to take on the seventh ranked Tigers and after dropping the first game of the doubleheader 6-0, the Tide struck early in the second game taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Tigers tied the game in the third and the two teams remained dead locked over the next six innings. Alabama seemed on the verge of victory when Ginger Jones singled in Kelly Kretschman in the top of the 10th inning for a 2-1 lead. However, LSU plated two runs in the bottom of the 10th for a 3-2 come-from-behind victory.
?? April 6, 2002 (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) - Who could forget the match-up in 2002 featuring two of the greatest pitchers in SEC history, Shelley Laird for Alabama and Britni Sneed for LSU? The game went 11-innings and featured only five hits between the two teams. The pitchers combined for 25 strikeouts before Alabama scored in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 1-0 victory.
?? March 25-26 (Baton Rouge, La.) - Last season, Alabama pulled off its first ever sweep in the series, traveling to Baton Rouge and outscoring the Tigers 26-1 en route to the sweep. The Crimson Tide was hitting on all cylinders that weekend and it showed as they handed the Tigers a 13-0, five-inning defeat, the worst loss in LSU history since 1979 against Texas A&M, 15-2.
Returning to the Capstone will be four-time All-American and the lone Olympic softball gold medalist in the SEC Kelly Kretschman who was involved in many of the Alabama-LSU tussles. Kelly Kretschman Legend Day will be celebrated on Saturday prior to the start of the game.
Fans can come out and enjoy the conferences ??oldest' rivalry this weekend when the two teams get together for a Friday doubleheader at 5:00 p.m. CT followed by a single game on Saturday scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT. A limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased at the University of Alabama athletic ticket office or by calling the ticket office at 205.348.BAMA (2262). Fans can also purchase tickets at www.rolltide.com or at the gate on the day of the game.
