Softball Prepares for Arizona on Saturday
5/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 29, 2009
ALABAMA (52-10, 21-6 SEC)
TV: ESPN
Radio: None
Internet Radio: None
Live Stats: Rolltide.com
Video Streaming: ESPN 360
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The No. 4 nationally seeded Alabama softball team (52-10, 21-6 SEC) continues its stay at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., to take on No. 9 seeded Arizona (46-16, 13-7 Pac 10) at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. C.T. Alabama fell in its WCWS opener to Michigan while Arizona was tripped up by Florida as the two programs will not meet in an elimination game.
Last Time Out
Alabama dropped its WCWS opening game for the sixth straight time. The Crimson Tide fell in the opener to the No. 5 seeded Michigan Wolverines by the score of 6-1 Thursday night. Sophomore Whitney Larsen supplied the only offensive punch for the Tide as she drilled a RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to score pinch-runner Jennifer Fenton. Michigan scored a run in each of the second, third and fourth innings before putting the game away in with three runs in the sixth. Nikki Nemitz improved to 28-5 on the season with the win, allowing only one run on three hits for Michigan. Kelsi Dunne, allowed six runs, four earned and gave up six hits, was tagged with her fourth loss of the year, putting her at 27-4 on the season. Kirkpatrick's single in the second inning was the first hit Dunne had allowed in 13.1 innings.
Who to Watch
In six games during NCAA postseason play, Alabama has been able to put up impressive numbers. The Tide has outscored the opposition 48-10 and sports a .352 team batting average. Alabama has defined efficiency in the batter's box, scoring 48 runs off 50 hits. Freshman Cassandra Reilly-Boccia has been tearing through her first postseason. In 13 at-bats Reilly-Boccia has collected seven hits, scored seven runs, driven in six and hit a home run. The rookie paces the squad with a .538 batting average and her 1.000 slugging percentage and .684 on-base percentage are tops on the team. Seniors Kelley Montalvo and Lauren Parker enter the Arizona contest with identical .400 averages. Parker has eight hits and eight runs to lead the team while Montalvo has six hits, six runs and sports a .500 on base percentage. In the circle Kelsi Dunne is 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA and has only allowed 13 hits in 23 innings. Charlotte Morgan is 1-0 and has a perfect 0.00 ERA in nine innings of postseason play.
Scouting the Competition
Arizona (46-16) is making their 21st appearance in the Women's College World Series since 1988. The No. 9 seeded Wildcats come into the elimination game with the Crimson Tide after being shut out by Florida in their opening round game, 3-0 and only mustering two hits. Arizona is fueled by a power-hitting lineup that leads the nation in home runs with 134, shattering the NCAA record for most home runs hit by a team in one season, a record that previous stood at 126. The Wildcats are led at the plate by NFCA third team All-American Stacie Chambers, who leads the nation in home runs (31) and runs batted in (96). The Cats also feature two players with batting averages over .420 with Lauren Schutzler (.424) and Brittany Lastrapes (.484). Lastrapes also leads the team in hits (103) and doubles (19). Arizona is lead in the circle by junior Sarah Akamine who sports a 2.34 earned run average over 182.1 innings pitched. Akamine is 22-7 on the season and pitched five innings of shutout relief against the Gators Thursday night, only allowing three hits and striking out seven.
Series History
Arizona: The Wildcats remember Alabama well, as the Tide knocked Arizona out of the College World Series last year. Charlotte Morgan hammered the Wildcats in that game going 3-for-3 with three RBI, leading the Tide to a 5-1 win. The all-time record sits at 10-1 in Arizona's favor.
Alabama against the 2009 NCAA Tournament Field
The Tide played an impressive 20 teams in 2009 that were selected for the NCAA Tournament. Alabama played 45 games against those NCAA Tournament teams and posted a 37-8 (.820) record. The 45 games against tournament teams represented 73 percent of Alabama's 2009 schedule. The Crimson Tide also faced eight of the teams that received the No. 1-16 national seeds, holding a 10-6 (.630) record against those teams.
Alabama in the NCAA Tournament
Alabama earned its 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid in 2009. Since the inception of the Super Regional format in 2005, the Crimson Tide has participated in the event every season and has won four of the five Super Regionals they have competed in (2005, `06, `08 & `09). The Tide has a 41-22 record in the NCAA Tournament (including regionals, super regionals and the WCWS) and hoist an impressive seven NCAA Regional titles (2000, `03, `05, `06, `07, `08 & `09) in just 13 years of existence.
Alabama against 2009 WCWS Participants
Alabama has faced four of the other seven teams competing this week in Women's College World Series. The Crimson Tide has defeated three of those four teams (Florida, Washington & Georgia) at least once this year, holding a combined 5-5.
Alabama Turns NCAA Record Five Double Plays
Alabama set the NCAA record with five double plays against Texas on May 17 in the championship game of the Tuscaloosa Regional. Tide shortstop Kellie Eubanks snagged a line drive off the bat of Desiree Williams in the sixth inning and quickly flipped to Lauren Parker at second base to force UT's Brittany Barnhill. Parker was involved in all five double plays turned as the first four all went 5-4-3. The previous record was four set on four different occasions.
Crimson Tide Makes Sixth Trip in 10 Years to WCWS
Alabama will be making their sixth trip in school history to the Women's College World Series this week. The six appearances (2000, '03, '05, '06, '08 & '09) since 2000 rank third in the NCAA, with only Arizona (9) and UCLA (8) making more appearances in that stretch. Alabama's six WCWS appearances by far lead the Southeastern Conference.
Dunne Sets NCAA Postseason No-hitter Record
Alabama has had five no-hitters this season on the strength of two no-no's in the Super Regional by sophomore Kelsi Dunne. Dunne has four this season, and her two in postseason play set a NCAA record for consecutive no-hitters. Her no-hitters were against Jacksonville State on May 22 and 23, Auburn on April 26 and against Kentucky on April 14. Dunne now has six on her career which breaks the record formerly held by Stephanie VanBrakle and her five no-hitters. Charlotte Morgan tossed her first career no-hitter against Georgia Tech on April 22.
Three Named NFCA All-Americans
Players from 32 institutions and 12 different conferences have been named to the 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America teams, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday afternoon. The University of Alabama had a total of three All-Americans, with two on the first team - the most among all teams. Alabama's three All-Americans include first team honorees pitcher Kelsi Dunne and at-large utility/pitcher selection Charlotte Morgan. During the regular season, Dunne posted a 24-2 record with a 1.21 ERA, striking out 211 batters in 167.1 innings of play. Morgan, the SEC Player of the Year, is known for her bat as well as her pitching, and she led the team with a .414 batting average and 48 RBIs. In the circle Morgan was 14-6 with a 2.09 ERA. Alabama's third selection was outfielder Brittany Rogers, a second-team honoree who is an All-American for the fourth time in her career. The Dacula, Georgia, native hit .393, fielded at a perfect 1.000 clip and was 42 of 48 on stolen bases. Rogers becomes just the third player in Alabama history to be named an All-American in four straight seasons.
Morgan Named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America
Alabama junior utility player Charlotte Morgan was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America second team as selected by CoSIDA. The honor is the second of her career as she was a third team selection last season. Morgan, a Moreno Valley, Calif. native holds a 3.69 GPA in Criminal Justice. On the field the junior was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. Morgan leads the team with a .414 batting average and 56 RBI. The USA Player of the Year top 10 finalist is the first player in Alabama history to collect 50 or more RBI in three seasons.
Coach Murphy Now on Twitter
Alabama head softball coach Patrick Murphy announced that he will begin "tweeting" updates on the popular social site Twitter. Updates ranging from coach's thoughts to team information can be found on his new Twitter page: twitter.com/UACoachMurphy.
Next Time Out
If Alabama is able to beat Arizona the Crimson Tide will play another game on Saturday that will start at 8:00 p.m. The Tide will face the loser of the Arizona State and Washington game that is being played Friday night.
