No. 4 Softball Welcomes Troy for Midweek Matchup
3/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2009
ALABAMA (27-6, 7-4 SEC)
TV: WVUA
Radio: 90.7 (Play by Play - Brent Magnuson)
Internet Radio: thecapstone.ua.edu/youcastr.com
Live Stats: rolltide.com
Video Streaming: rolltide.com/Tide TV
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 4 ranked Alabama softball team (27-6, 7-4 SEC) will return home for the first time in two weeks to host a midweek contest against Troy (28-7, 11-1 Sun Belt) on Wednesday, April 1 at 6:00 p.m. The Trojans enter Tuscaloosa after winning 13 of its last 14 games. The Crimson Tide dropped its series at Florida but was able to beat Stacey Nelson and the No. 1 Gators in the finale. The game between the two instate programs can be seen on WVUA.
Last Time Out
The Alabama softball team dropped two games against No. 1 Florida this past weekend in Gainesville. The Crimson Tide was able to bounce back and win the series finale by the score of 6-4. In the first two games Alabama fell by the scores of 9-1 and 10-1, respectively. The back-to-back run rule losses are a first for the Alabama program since 2002 against Arizona. Kelsi Dunne earned the lone win, throwing over 200 pitches en route to a season-high 13 strikeouts. Six different members of the Crimson Tide banged out two hits on the weekend. Freshman Jazlyn Lunceford and senior Brittany Rogers led the Tide with two RBI apiece. Lunceford and Kelley Montalvo added triples and Rogers added a double to account for the extra base hits on the weekend. Junior Charlotte Morgan saw her hitting streak come to an end at 17.Her streak ties her with Jackie McClain for the fourth longest in school history.
Who to Watch
Jazlyn Lunceford led the Crimson Tide in their win over No. 1 Florida with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. For the season Lunceford upped her batting average to a team-high .487 with 15 RBI off of 19 hits. Lunceford is showing aggressiveness on the base paths with 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts. Her .795 slugging percentage is also a team best. Kelsi Dunne picked up the win over the Gators, scattering six hits in seven innings and striking out 13 batters. With the win Dunne improved to 13-1 on the season.
Scouting the Competition
Troy: The Trojans come to Tuscaloosa with a 28-7 overall record and an 8-1 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. Troy completed a three-game sweep of Western Kentucky over the weekend by the score of 2-1 in both games on Saturday's doubleheader and 2-0 for the closing game on Sunday. As the team the Trojans are batting .293 and holding their opponents to a .198 mark. Troy's pitchers combine for an ERA of 1.53 while amassing a 4.10 ERA against the opposition. At the plate the Trojans are led by Tasha Elmore and Heidi Johnson. Elmore is pacing the team in batting average (.377), hits (40), home runs (6) and slugging percentage (689). Johnson has been equally effective with a team-high 29 RBI off 36 hits. Her five home runs and .544 slugging percentage are second on the squad. Troy is led in the circle by Ashlyn Williams and former Tide player Allison Moore. Williams has appeared in 27 games with 20-5 record and a 1.45 ERA. In 163.2 innings pitched Williams has struck out 231 batters. Moore sports an 8-2 record and an ERA of 1.66 after 13 starts on the season. In 84.1 innings pitched Moore has fanned 84 hitters. Troy returns nine letterwinners to a team that went 33-23 in 2008.
Series History
In 10 meetings between the instate rivals, Alabama holds the perfect 10-0 record over Troy. The Tide was last victorious on April 10, 2008 with an 11-0 shutout at the Troy Softball Complex. Dani Woods knocked in four RBI while Charlotte Morgan batted 3-for-4 with a RBI. Kelsi Dunne and Chrissy Owens combined to one-hit the Trojans in six innings.
Last Five Games
Alabama sports a 3-2 record over the course of its last five games. All five contests have been on the road. Jazlyn Lunceford leads the team with five hits and a .556 batting average. Charlotte Morgan is batting .385 and leads the team with seven RBI. Alabama has out-scored its opponents 26-23 and has stolen 11 bases to only three by the opposition.
Number Ones
The Alabama softball team has downed two number one teams already this season. It is the first time in program history that Alabama has earned two victories over a number one ranked team. The Crimson Tide last played two number one teams in 2002 when it opened the season against Arizona. Alabama defeated number one Washington at the Easton Challenge by the score of 6-0. The Crimson Tide then downed the Florida Gators 6-4 this past weekend.
Rogers Named Lowe's Finalist
Alabama senior outfielder Brittany Rogers was named a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Rogers is one of 10 senior student-athletes that have been selected as a finalist for the 2009 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the Softball division. Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the third annual winner, who will receive the award during the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. The finalists were chosen from a list of 30 candidates based on personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete. It is the second straight season that Alabama has had a finalist for the award. Jordan Praytor was part of the final 10 last season.
Home Cooking
Alabama has historically been dominate in front of the home fans and this season is no different. The Crimson Tide sports a 14-1 record at the UA Softball Complex and has out-scored its opponents 103-22 in games played in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is batting .351 and sports a 1.24 ERA. Opponents are batting .222 and post a 6.67 ERA. Freshman Jazlyn Lunceford is batting .611 (11-for-18) and senior Brittany Rogers follows at a .500 (15-for-30) clip. Four different members of the Tide have hit three home runs apiece while Whitney Larsen leads the team with 13 home RBI. In the circle sophomore Kelsi Dunne is a perfect 6-0 with 0.00 ERA. Dunne has added 54 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings pitched.
Next Time Out
Alabama will remain at home to host a three game SEC series against Georgia. The Crimson Tide will begin its three-game set against the Bulldogs on Saturday, April 4 for a doubleheader that begins at 1:00 p.m. Saturday has been declared Brittany Rogers day while the Sunday contest that begins and at 1:30 p.m. is been tabbed Lauren Parker day.
