No. 1 Softball Welcomes UAB for Midweek Contest
3/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 3, 2009
ALABAMA (13-1)
TV: None
Radio: 90.7 (Play by Play - Brent Magnuson)
Internet Radio: thecapstone.ua.edu/rolltide.com
Live stats: rolltide.com
Video Streaming: Tide TV (rolltide.com)
Tickets: General Admission available
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 1/4 ranked Alabama softball team will return home after a couple weeks on the road to play a midweek contest before hosting the Easton Challenge. The Crimson Tide will play a midweek game under the lights against instate rival UAB on Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the UA Softball Complex. Alabama will then host No. 1 Washington and Baylor in the Easton Classic.
Last Time Out
Alabama headed to the Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. to play five games but due to inclement weather was only able to play one. The one game did prove to be a big win for the Tide as it downed No. 19 ranked Southern Illinois 8-0 in five innings. Junior Charlotte Morgan earned the complete game shutout victory and smacked a home run. Senior Kelley Montalvo also went deep and newcomer Cassandra Reilly-Boccia hit her first career home run. All three home runs came in the second inning.
Who to Watch
Alabama senior Kelley Montalvo has been justifying her ASA Player of the Year nomination. In her last six games Montalvo leads the team in batting average (.417), runs (5), RBI (7) and slugging percentage (.600). The Miami, Fla. native has also played a flawless third base and leads the team in attempts with 34 and has only made one error on the year.
Easton Challenge
Alabama will welcome three teams to Tuscaloosa for the Easton Challenge as games will be played from Friday, March 6 - Sunday, March 8. Washington will head to the tournament sporting a No. 1 ranking and Baylor and Georgia will also head to the Capstone. Washington and Baylor will play a total of five games each while Alabama and Georgia will play four apiece. A total of nine games will be played at the UA Softball Complex. The Huskies are just the second team in the Pac-10 to play in Tuscaloosa and Baylor is just the third Big XII team to face UA on its home turf.
Scouting the Competition
UAB: The last time out, the Blazers continued their winning streak by picking up two wins against Northern Illinois and Alabama State in the Magic City Classic on Feb. 28.In the two victories, UAB combined for 30 runs off 29 hits, including six home runs, six doubles, three triples and six stolen bases. The Blazers enter the midweek contest with a 6-8 record and a 1-2 mark on the road. UAB is hitting .308 as a team and holds a 7.22 ERA. At the plate, Martina Landrum leads the team with a .432 batting average and 11 stolen bases. Catherine Douglass follows with a .417 average, two home runs and 11 RBI. Lindsey Croft has started nine games and holds a 2-6 record with a 5.33 ERA. Opponents are batting .297 and sport a 7.17 ERA. Opponents have out-scored UAB 106-75.
Series History
Alabama holds a 5-0 record over the Blazers in the all-time series, winning the last contest, 8-1, in Birmingham, Ala., a season ago. Kelley Montalvo went 2-for-2 with two RBI while Whitney Larsen scored three runs in the contest. Kelsi Dunne struck out 10 and scattered four hits in the complete game win.
Hit Parade
Alabama has been dominating its opponents at the plate this season as the Crimson Tide has out-hit the opposition in 11 of the 13 games. Alabama has amassed double-digit hit performances in five games and recorded a season high 16 hits in the opener against Northwestern State. Opponents have tallied over five hits just three times while UA has banged out five or more hits in all but one game.
Alabama Ranked No. 1
For the third consecutive week the Alabama softball team checked in at No. 1. Alabama earned the nod in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 with 14 first place votes. Florida checked in at No. 2 with four first place votes while Washington received nine votes. In the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll Alabama received one first place votes but checked in ranked fourth in the poll. Washington was tabbed No. 1 with 19 first place votes. Florida and UCLA followed the Huskies, respectively.
SEC Rankings
Alabama checks into the week ranked second in the SEC in ERA with a 0.80 ledger in the circle. The Tide ranks third as a team in on base percentage (.448) and hit by pitches (13). UA also ranks third in the conference in stolen bases with 45 and in attempts with 50. The Tide also clearly out-distances the next conference team in pickoffs thanks in large part to catcher Ashley Holcombe and her six from behind the dish. Individually Kelsi Dunne ranks third in the SEC in ERA with a 0.56 mark and leads the league in opposing batting average, holding opponents to a .127 clip.
Nice Start
Alabama has been accustomed to coming out of the gates strong and the 2009 campaign is no different. The Crimson Tide has started the season with 10 or more straight wins every season since 2004. UA started 2009 with 10 straight before losing to UCLA. Alabama won 17 straight last year and in 2007 the Tide came out of the gates with 25 consecutive wins.
Preseason Awards
Alabama enters the 2009 season with numerous players up for awards. Seniors Brittany Rogers and Kelley Montalvo along with junior Charlotte Morgan were named to the ASA Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. Rogers, Montalvo, Morgan and Dunne were named to the Preseason All-SEC Team. Rogers was one of two players selected unanimously.
Holcombe Drafted by Rockford Thunder
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) held its 2009 Senior Draft on Tuesday night in Akron at the Cambria Suites with the Rockford Thunder using its first pick in the fifth round on Alabama senior catcher Ashley Holcombe. With the No. 21 pick the Thunder selected Alabama's Holcombe, a player highly regarded for her abilities behind the plate. She was a second team All-SEC selection in 2008, as well as a member of the SEC All-Defensive team, as she started and captained all 65 games for the Crimson Tide.
Sold Out
The success of the UA softball program under head coach Patrick Murphy can be seen by simply looking around the Alabama Softball Facility. As the wins have, the Crimson Tide fan base has grown steadily. UA sold out for an NCAA record second straight season for season ticket sales. Last season UA set its single game attendance record on 10 different occasions.
Next Time Out
The Alabama softball team will host the Easton Challenge and will welcome the other No. 1 team in the country in the Washington Huskies. UA will play Washington on the opening day of the tournament. The two teams will square off on Friday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m. The Crimson Tide will play a total of four games on the weekend.
