No. 4 Softball Welcomes Samford for Midweek Contest
4/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2009
ALABAMA 31-6 (10-4 SEC)
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 4 ranked Alabama softball team (31-6, 10-4 SEC) welcomes instate rival Samford (11-19, 5-10 SoCon) for a midweek showdown on Wednesday. The game was originally scheduled to be played on March 25 but had to be postponed due to inclement weather. The first pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Alabama Softball Complex.
Last Time Out
The Crimson Tide swept No. 6 Georgia in a three-game series over the weekend that featured a doubleheader on Saturday and the finale on Sunday. In game one Alabama run-ruled the Bulldogs by a 9-1 score. The Tide led 2-1 headed into the fifth inning when their bats caught fire and scored seven runs to end the game. Ashley Holcombe hit her second home run of the year while Charlotte Morgan and Amanda Locke hit back-to-back home runs to tally their sixth and fifth home runs, respectively. The second game of the twin bill was not as one-sided as the first, as Alabama would need extra innings to emerge victorious. With the game tied at two runs apiece in the bottom of the eighth inning, Whitney Larsen provided the walk-off hit to score Kellie Eubanks and send the Tide home with the 3-2 win. Sunday's series ender was another closely contested game. After playing the first three innings scoreless, Alabama broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth with a Cassandra Reilly-Boccia double down the left field line that gave the Tide the 2-0 victory. Kelsi Dunne started games one and three but picked up the win in game two as well. Charlotte Morgan pitched seven innings in game two and Dunne provided the relief in extra innings to earn the win.
Who to Watch
After the nine-run performance against Georgia in the opening game of the series that saw seven different Tide players collect a hit and three players hit home runs, Alabama only needed to score five runs over the next two games to earn the wins. In game one Charlotte Morgan went 1-for-3 with three RBI and senior Ashley Holcombe hit 1-for-1 with two RBI and two runs scored. Over the next two games Cassandra Reilly-Boccia went 3-for-6 with four RBI, while Kelley Montalvo finished the weekend 2-for-2 with two runs scored and reached base six times by drawing walks. Sophomore Kelsi Dunne picked up all three wins on the weekend as the starter in games one and three and the closer in game two. In 13 innings pitched over the weekend Dunne gave up eight hits, one run and struck out 11 batters to improve her record to 16-1.
Scouting the Competition
The Bulldogs come to Tuscaloosa with an 11-19 overall record and a 5-10 mark in Southern Conference play. Samford recently dropped two out of three at Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga. where their lone 6-4 win was sandwiched by 1-0 and 3-0 losses. As a team the Bulldogs are batting .256 and holding their opponents to a .301 average. Samford's pitchers combine for an 3.92 ERA and their opposition holds a 2.35 mark. At the plate Samford is led by Kristy Lawrence and Katie England. Lawrence has a team-high 30 hits off 87 at bats for a .345 batting average. Lawrence has collected 18 RBI, four home runs and a .517 slugging percentage. England has a team-high 21 RBI and four home runs that ties Lawrence and Aaren Fisher for best on the squad. In the circle the Bulldogs are led by Stephanie Royall and Amanda Barrs. Royall has appeared in 21 games and started 16 to bring her record to 6-7 on the season. In 92.2 innings pitched Royall has given up only 55 runs for a 2.79 ERA. Barrs has started 11 games and brings in a 2-9 record. In 68 innings pitched she has struck out 26 batters and given up 62 runs. Samford returns eight letterwinners to a team that went 25-29 in 2008.
Series History
With only 61 miles standing between them, Alabama and Samford continue a shared history as they get set to take part in the non-conference showdown. The Crimson Tide holds a 15-2 record against the Bulldogs with the most recent contest taking place on April 23, 2008 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama defeated Samford 7-1. In that contest Brittany Rogers collected two hits and two stolen bases while Kelley Montalvo drove in two. Kelsi Dunne earned the complete game win behind five strikeouts.
Last Five Games
Alabama sports a perfect 5-0 record over the course of its last five games, earning ranked wins over No. 1 Florida and No. 6 Georgia. The Crimson Tide has out-scored its opponents 29-8 over the last five games and is hitting at a .304 clip and holding a 1.75 ERA. Kelley Montalvo sports a .600 average while Cassandra Reilly-Boccia batted .417 with a home run and six RBI. Kelsi Dunne is a perfect 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 20 innings while Charlotte Morgan is 1-0 and holds an identical 1.75 ERA.
Dunne Named National Player of the Week
Alabama sophomore pitcher Kelsi Dunne has been named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week for the week ending April 5, the NFCA announced on Tuesday. Dunne collected all three wins against then-No. 6 Georgia last weekend. In 13 innings in the circle, she gave up one earned run, struck out 11 and allowed eight hits, holding the Bulldogs to a .190 team batting average. For the week, Dunne posted a 0.54 ERA. The Port Orange, Fla., native allowed a single run in the first game against Georgia, then came back and earned the win by pitching an inning in relief in an extra-inning thriller in the nightcap. In Sunday's series finale, Dunne struck out 10 en route to the shutout.
Dunne and Reilly-Boccia Earn Conference Honors
Alabama sophomore Kelsi Dunne and freshman Cassandra Reilly-Boccia garnered weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference Monday. Dunne was named the Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season while Reilly-Boccia was named Freshman of the Week for the first time. The honors come after the Crimson Tide swept through its week 4-0 and handed No. 6 Georgia three straight losses. Dunne collected all three wins against No. 6 Georgia on the weekend. In 13 innings pitched, she gave up one earned run, struck out 11, and allowed eight hits. She held the potent Georgia offense to a .190 average and posted a 0.54 ERA on the weekend. Reilly-Boccia batted a team leading .556 with a home run and a team-best six RBI. The newcomer hit three doubles and a home run to record a 1.222 slugging percentage on the week. She also had two multi-hit games and recorded three multi-RBI games.
Tide in the RPI
The NCAA released its RPI rankings through games of March 31. Alabama checks in at No. 3 while Florida ranks No. 1 and Washington checks in at No. 2. The SEC has five schools in the top 10 and six in the top 20. Alabama is just one spot ahead of Georgia and LSU ranks sixth while Kentucky checks in at No. 9.
Three Named USA Softball POY Finalists
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its 25 Finalists for the 8th Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Alabama is represented by three players, senior Brittany Rogers, junior Charlotte Morgan and sophomore Kelsi Dunne. Rogers and Morgan were on the final list of 25 last season. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
Rogers 300-200-100
Alabama senior Brittany Rogers is only the second player in school history to bang out 300 hits, score 200 runs and swipe 100 bases. The All-American joins former Tide standout Kelly Kretschman to do so. Rogers sports 316 hits, 236 runs and 177 stolen bases. If Rogers is able to reach 200 stolen bases she would be the first 300-200-200 player in school history. Kretschman paces the Alabama record books with 368 hits and 288 runs scored. Rogers is the all-time leader in stolen bases. With the feat Rogers is one of only four players in the modern era to do so in SEC history.
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 17-1 record at the UA Softball Complex and has out-scored its opponents 120-23 in games played in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is batting .343 and sports a 1.11 ERA. Opponents are batting .216 and post a 6.84 ERA. Freshman Jennifer Fenton is batting .486 (17-for-35) and junior Charlotte Morgan follows at a .442 (19-for-43) clip. Three different members of the Tide have hit three home runs apiece while Amanda Locke has belted four. Morgan and Whitney Larsen leads the team with 13 home RBI. In the circle sophomore Kelsi Dunne is a perfect 9-0 with 0.12 ERA. Dunne has added 65 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings pitched.
SEC Stats
Alabama checks in as one of the leaders in numerous statistical categories. In all games played this season the Crimson Tide lead the league in stolen bases (105) and hit by pitches (40). Alabama checks in at second in the conference in ERA (1.88), on base percentage (.429), runs (232) and walks (138). UA ranks third in slugging percentage (.449), hits (296) and RBI (201). Individually Kelley Montalvo leads the SEC in on base percentage (.579) and walks (38). Brittany Rogers ranks second in stolen bases with 31 and Kelsi Dunne is third in ERA (1.30) and wins (16). In SEC games Alabama paces the conference in stolen bases (29) and hit by pitches (19). The Tide rank second in runs (74), RBI (70), batters struck out (99), wins (10) and on base percentage (.396) and check in at third in ERA (2.81), doubles (18), walks (52) and home runs (11). Individually Montalvo leads the league in triples (2) and ranks second in walks (15). Rogers leads the SEC in stolen bases (12) while Charlotte Morgan is second in RBI with 19.
Next Time Out
Alabama will prepare to hit the road once again for a three game series. The Crimson Tide will head to Columbus, S.C. to face the South Carolina Gamecocks for three games which will start with a doubleheader on Friday, April 10. The two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday.
