Softball Set to Host Hampton Inn Bama Bash
2/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? After months of waiting and nearly 1,600 season tickets sold, the University of Alabama softball team is set to open its highly-anticipated 2008 season on Friday when the Tide kicks off its campaign by hosting its own Hampton Inn Bama Bash. Alabama welcomes Purdue, Jacksonville State and South Alabama to Tuscaloosa for the two-day event.
Last season under head coach Patrick Murphy, now in his 10th season with the Tide, the team went 55-10, recording its third-highest win total in program history. Alabama advanced to NCAA play for the ninth straight season, capturing a Regional title before falling in the Super Regionals at Washington. Along the way, Alabama set a number of school and SEC records offensively with one of the most potent lineups in college softball.
Murphy welcomes back nearly all of that 2007 team, including three All-Americans. The two preseason polls have the Tide ranked No. 4 in the nation and the SEC’s coaches overwhelmingly picked UA as the favorite for the conference crown in preseason voting.
The road to Oklahoma City starts this weekend, however, with a competitive field at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash.
Jacksonville State finished the 2007 season with a 35-23 record and a second place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks are picked to finish second in the OVC again this season despite losing career hits, home runs, RBI and doubles leader Daniela Pappano to graduation. Twelve returnees, including All-OVC newcomer pitcher Karla Pittman as well as All-OVC outfielders Rachel Fleming and Chrissy O’Neal will look to fill the void left by Pappano. Jana McGinness leads JSU, her 14th year as head coach of the Gamecocks.
South Alabama enters its second softball season after a successful debut in 2007 with a 36-23 record. Eight starters return from last year’s team including two players chosen to the pre-season All-Sun Belt Conference team in second baseman Jenny Stevens and outfielder Evelyne Pare. The Jaguars were picked to finish fifth in the conference heading into the 2008 season and are coached by Beck Clark.
Purdue comes into the 2008 season with aspirations of an NCAA tournament berth following a 33-32-1 season last year. The Boilermakers return four starters and 15 letter winners from last season’s team. Purdue has only two seniors on its roster including third baseman Ashley Hall, who is coming off a first-team All-Big 10 season last year in which she batted .383 and had a school record 36 stolen bases. The Boilermakers are coached by third-year head coach Kim Maher.
Friday’s games are set for 11 a.m., 1 p.m, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Jacksonville State and Purdue square off in game one, followed by JSU and South Alabama. The Tide opens its season at 3 p.m. against the Jaguars and finishes the day at 5 against Purdue. On Saturday, the Tide faces Jacksonville State and Purdue at 3 and 5.
Although season ticket packages have been sold out, single-game tickets are still available at the UA ticket office. Live stats can be found on the UA official web site, RollTide.com, and the game can be heard on WVUA Radio at 90.7 FM in the Tuscaloosa area or at RollTide.com for those outside of the listening area.
Alabama returns to action at home next weekend when Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee and New Mexico come to the UA campus for the 2008 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic.
