No. 3 Softball Set to Open Play at SEC Tournament
5/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 6, 2009
ALABAMA (45-8, 21-6 SEC)
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 3 ranked Alabama softball team (45-8, 21-6 SEC) rides a 12-game win streak into Knoxville, Tenn. to take part in the Southeastern Conference Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Crimson Tide will face the tournament's seventh-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks (27-26, 10-16 SEC) on Thursday, May 7 at 1:30 p.m. ET at the University of Tennessee's Sherri Parker Lee Softball Stadium.
Last Time Out
Originally scheduled to play three games in Knoxville, Tenn. against the Lady Vols, Alabama was only able to squeeze in two due to inclement weather over the weekend. The Tide still managed to add a pair of victories to the win column as they swept Tennessee by the scores of 5-2 and 12-0, respectively on Saturday. Alabama trailed 2-0 in Friday's series opener before the game got suspended, but scored five unanswered runs when play resumed on Saturday to earn the win. Amanda Locke led the way for the Tide, hitting 2-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored on a home run. Ashley Holcombe, Jennifer Fenton and Lauren Parker each collected an RBI as well. Kelsi Dunne scattered five hits and struck out nine in the complete game effort to improve to 24-2 on the season. Alabama carried the momentum into game two by drowning the Lady Vols 12-0 behind an impressive one-hit showing from hurler Charlotte Morgan. The Tide jumped on top quickly by posting a run in the first inning, followed by eight more in the second to put the game out of reach. Seven different members of Alabama's lineup collected at least one hit, while Kellie Eubanks and Holcombe led the way. Eubanks hit 1-for-2 with four RBI and Holcombe added a 1-for-1 performance with three RBI of her own. Morgan tossed all five innings of the run-rule victory, allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out three to move her record to 14-6 on the year.
Who to Watch
Over the course of Alabama's 12-game win streak, two-way star Charlotte Morgan has picked up 15 hits in 28 at-bats for a team-high .536 batting average. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native has also collected 10 RBI, two home runs and leads the team in slugging percentage (.821) and on-base percentage (.643). In the last twelve games Ashley Holcombe has hit 16-for-33 with a .485 batting average that is second on the squad in that span. The senior backstop has driven in a team-high 21 runs and also leads the team with 11 runs scored and 26 total bases. Holcombe three home runs over the last twelve games are tied for first on the team with Amanda Locke and Kellie Eubanks. Sophomore hurler Kelsi Dunne has gone 7-0 while Morgan has collected the other five wins. The pitching duo sports a 0.55 ERA in 76 innings and have allowed only 10 runs, six earned, and 17 walks, while striking out 82 batters.
Scouting the Competition
Arkansas: The Razorbacks enter SEC Tournament play after recently dropping two games at home against Georgia. The two were originally scheduled to play three games but the first contest of the series was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Bulldogs outscored the Razorbacks 16-2 in two games on Sunday to earn the series sweep by scores of 8-0 and 8-2. Arkansas last picked up wins on Wednesday, April 29 in a doubleheader sweep of Missouri-Kansas City in Fayetteville, Ark. As a team the Razorbacks are hitting .257 and holding their opponents to a .291 mark. Arkansas holds a 4.36 ERA while the opposition has a 3.96 ERA. Whitney Cloer and Miranda Dixon lead the Razorbacks at the plate. Cloer sports a team-high .327 batting average and paces the squad with 51 hits and a .590 slugging percentage. Cloer also has 35 RBI and eight home runs. Dixon has collected 34 hits in 139 at-bats for a .244 batting average and leads the team in RBI (40) and home runs (11). Dixon also leads the Razorbacks in the circle with 17-11 record in 36 appearances and 27 starts. In 173.1 innings pitched, Dixon has given up 118 runs on 203 hits and has struck out135 batters for a 3.84 ERA. Kim Jones has made 18 starts and 28 appearances for an 8-11 record. In 132 innings pitched, Jones has struck out 85 batters and allowed 92 runs for a 3.92 ERA. Arkansas returns 20 letterwinners to team that went 37-29 in 2008.
Series History
Alabama sports an impressive 37-7 all-time record over Arkansas and enters the SEC Tournament as winners of 21 straight against the Razorbacks. The Tide faced Arkansas in a three-game series on April 18 and 19 at the UA Softball Complex in Tuscaloosa and picked up wins in all three contests to earn the series sweep. Alabama outscored the Razorbacks 25-2 in the three games by scores of 9-1, 7-1 and 9-0. The Tide blasted four home runs in the doubleheader to open the series with Ashley Holcombe and Charlotte Morgan combining for 10 hits, three home runs and 10 RBI. Kelsi Dunne picked up the win in game one while Morgan earned victories in the series' last two games.
SEC Tournament History
The Crimson Tide holds a 23-17 all-time record in the SEC Tournament and has won the conference tournament three times. In the second ever playing of the SEC Tournament in 1998, Alabama earned its first win. The Tide defeated Tennessee, LSU twice and Mississippi State to capture the title. Alabama won its second SEC Tournament title in 2003with wins over Auburn, LSU, Tennessee and LSU again in the final. The Tide's last tournament title was in 2005 where they collected wins over Mississippi State, Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia. In the 2008 SEC Tournament, Whitney Larsen, Charlotte Morgan and Kelsi Dunne were named to the SEC All-Tournament Team for the Crimson Tide.
Morgan Named SEC Player of the Year
Alabama junior Charlotte Morgan was named the SEC Player of the Year. Morgan, who was named to the first team for the second consecutive season becomes the first member of the Crimson Tide softball program to be named the SEC Player of the Year. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native led the league in hitting (.447) and RBI (34), and helped guide Alabama to a 21-6 SEC record and the Western Division title. Morgan was also a threat in the circle. The pitcher/utility player made eight starts and recorded a 6-4 record in 62 innings pitched with 63 strikeouts while only walking 10. At the plate, the USA Player of the Year candidate recorded 34 RBI on 34 hits in 76 at bats during league play.
Locke Named SEC Freshman of the Year
Alabama freshman Amanda Locke was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. This marks a SEC best sixth Freshman of the Year honor for the Crimson Tide and second straight. Locke, a utility/pitcher, who was also named to the all freshman team, hit .321, with 14 RBI and a team-leading five home runs in conference play. The Mesquite, Texas native also made four SEC pitching appearances and in 4.2 innings did not allow a run. Locke joins teammates Brittany Rogers (2006) and Kelsi Dunne (2008) as newcomer award recipients.
Seven Earn All Conference Accolades
Alabama had seven players garner accolades from the SEC. On the first team from the Crimson Tide was Brittany Rogers, Charlotte Morgan, Kelsi Dunne and Kelley Montalvo. Rogers is just the third player in Alabama history to be named to the first team in all four seasons. Montalvo and Morgan earn the honor for the second straight season while Dunne is on the first team for a career first. Amanda Locke and Cassandra Reilly-Boccia were named to the All-Freshman team while Ashley Holcombe joins, Rogers and Montalvo on the All-Defensive team.
Morgan in Final 10 for USA Player of the Year
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its 10 Finalists for the 8th Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award and Alabama junior Charlotte Morgan is on the list for the second consecutive 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.
Strength of Schedule
Alabama posted the toughest schedule in America according to warrennolan.com, ahead of Arizona and Washington. The Crimson Tide played 34 games against 2008 NCAA tournament participants and posted a 28-6 record. Alabama is 12-6 against top 25 teams this season and 6-4 against top 10 teams. Alabama has earned wins over No. 1 Florida and No. 1 Washington.
SEC Stats
As a team in SEC play, Alabama checks in at first in stolen bases (61), steal attempts (71), hit by pitch (38) and runners picked off (2). The Tide is second in batting average (.287), on-base percentage (.412), runs scored (155), RBI (140), doubles (33), walks (107), sacrifice flies (7), ERA (1.94), opposing batting average (.207), batters struck out (189), batters struck out looking (45), wins (21), runs allowed (61), earned runs allowed (48), doubles allowed (14), home runs allowed (12) and is tied for second in walks allowed (68) and triples allowed (1). Alabama is third in the conference in slugging percentage (.450), hits (190), home runs (23), total bases (298), hits allowed (130) and fielding double plays (12). Charlotte Morgan paces the conference in batting average (.447), RBI (34) and sacrifice flies (4) and checks in at third in on-base percentage (.521). In the circle Morgan is tied for second with 10 walks allowed. Kelley Montalvo is second in the league in on-base percentage (.532) and hit by pitch (10) and is tied for second in doubles (7) and walks (23). Kelsi Dunne's 19 starts lead the SEC as do her strike outs looking (34). Dunne is second in strikeouts (124) and wins (15) and checks in at third in ERA (1.71) and opposing batting average (.196). Brittany Rogers leads the SEC in stolen bases (20) as well as stolen base attempts (24). Ashley Holcombe has picked off two runners, which places her at first in the league. Amanda Locke is second in fielding double plays with eight while Kellie Eubanks is tied for third in that category with seven.
NCAA Stats
Alabama has numerous players ranked in the top of the NCAA statistics. Kelsi Dunne ranks 18th in the country in ERA with a 1.21 mark and 25th in strikeouts per seven innings with 8.8. Her 24 wins rank 14th overall. Charlotte Morgan and Kelley Montalvo both rank 26th with a .514 on base percentage. Morgan also paces the country in sacrifice flies with six. Montalvo checks in at fourth in walks with 47 and walks per game with 0.90. Brittany Rogers ranks third in stolen bases with 48 and third in stolen bases per game with 0.88. As a team Alabama ranks 13th in batting average with a .317 mark. Alabama ranks 14th in ERA at 1.60, in the field the Crimson Tide ranks 16th in the country with a 0.974 mark. UA ranks sixth in scoring with 6.45 runs per game, 19th in slugging with a .489 mark, first in stolen bases (157) and stolen bases per game (2.89). Alabama has the fifth best win-loss percentage at .849.
Tide Ride 12 Game Winning Streak
Alabama has been peaking at the right time by winning 12 straight heading into the postseason. Over the last 12 games Alabama has out-scored its opponents 85-10 and has hit at a .303 clip while sporting a 0.55 ERA. Individually Charlotte Morgan has batted .536 (15-for28) with two home runs and 10 RBI. Senior Ashley Holcombe has followed with a .485 (16-for33) average with a team-leading three home runs and 21 RBI. In the circle Kelsi Dunne is 7-0 with a 0.34 ERA. Dunne has fanned 54 in 40 2/3 innings and tossed two no-hitters. Morgan has been almost as impressive by going 5-0 with a 0.82 ERA. The southpaw struck out 28 and only walked two in 34 1/3 innings with her first no-hitter.
Dozier Named to the SEC Community Service Team
Alabama sophomore infielder Catherine Dozer was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service team, as announced by the conference office Tuesday. The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 20 league sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to her community in superior service efforts. Dozier participated in more than 70 hours worth of community service as she has worked at the Lakeshore Foundation for various events including teaching wheelchair-bound children to play sports and the mini-slam Kids Camp. She also participated in the Together We CAN Drive,
Alabama No-hitters
Alabama has had three no-hitters this season on the strength of two no-no's in just the past two weeks Sophomore Kelsi Dunne has two this season, both by the way of seven inning gems. Her no-hitters were against Auburn on April 26 and against Kentucky on April 14. Dunne now has four on her career which places her one no-hitter behind Stephanie VanBrakle and her five no-hitters. Charlotte Morgan tossed her first career no-hitter against Georgia Tech on April 22.
Attendance Record
Alabama broke the all-time NCAA attendance record of 55,746 set in 1999 by Fresno State. The Crimson Tide sports a 2009 total attendance to date of 62,435 in 27 home games played for an average to date of 2,312. In 2008 the Tide led the country with 51,024 in 27 home games played for an average of 1,890. The single game record was also shattered this season when the Tide welcomed 3122 fans to the game against Auburn on April 25.
Murphy Closes in on 600
Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy is rapidly approaching 600 career victories. The 12th year head coach sits at 598 heading into the SEC Tournament. With two more wins this season Murphy will have become just the second coach among the current SEC coaches to accomplish the feat in just 12 seasons at the helm. The only other coach to do so in 12 seasons is Lu Harris-Champer of Georgia, who tallied the majority of her wins at Nicholls State and Southern Miss. Murphy spent one season as the interim head coach at Northwest Missouri State where he guided the Bearcats to 28 wins. Since those 28 wins the Iowa native has guided Alabama to 567 wins in just over 10 years. Including this season no current coach in the SEC has more wins over the last 10 seasons than Murphy. Over the last 10 seasons Murphy has compiled 528 wins. Ralph Weekly at Tennessee has compiled 508 wins and Harris-Champer has 504 wins.
Tide in the RPI
The NCAA released its RPI rankings through games of May 5. Alabama checks in at No. 2 while Florida ranks No. 1. The SEC has three schools in the top 10 and six in the top 25. Alabama is three spots ahead of Georgia at No .5 and Tennessee follows at No. 13. LSU ranks 17th overall and Kentucky follows at No. 21. Auburn and Mississippi are just out of the top 25 at 30 and 35, respectively.
Bama Walks
Alabama has had no problems getting on base this season and in addition to all the hits, it is the walks that have propelled the Tide to one of the best on base teams in the nation. Alabama has walked 208 times and sports a .430 on base percentage. Four Tide players sport more walks than strikeouts. Kelley Montalvo, who ranks fourth in the country with 47 free passes has struck out just 12 times and holds a .514 on base percentage. With just four more walks Montalvo would break the single season walk record of 51 held by Kelly Kretschman from the 2000 season. Cassandra Reilly-Boccia has walked 29 times and struck out 22 while Kellie Eubanks has walked 27 times and been punched out 19 times. Charlotte Morgan has been issued a free pass 24 times and struck out 13 times to sport a .514 on base percentage.
Morgan Aims for Three 50 RBI Seasons
Alabama junior Charlotte Morgan is in line to become the first Crimson Tide player to drive in 50 or more runs in three seasons. Morgan sports 48 RBI this season and drove in an SEC record 79 last year. As a freshman the Moreno Valley, Calif. native drove in 52. Kelly Kretschman had two seasons of 50 or more RBI. The former Team USA member drove in 64 in 1998 and 58 in 2000. No other Alabama player has had two or more seasons on 50 or more RBI.
Rogers Invited to Team USA Tryouts
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced its initial list of 27 athletes who have accepted an invite to the 2009 USA Softball Women's National Team Selection Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., June 8-12. Rogers was one of the 27 to accept the invite and will try and make the club that will play in several international event, including the World Cup of Softball presented by KFC in Oklahoma City, Okla. July 16-20. The World Cup will feature the top four finishers from the 2008 Olympic Games including a Gold medal game rematch between Japan and the United States.
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 331 hits, 248 runs and 188 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.
Next Time Out
Alabama will look to move on in the SEC Tournament and make the semifinal round. If so Alabama will face either the winner of the Georgia and Kentucky at 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 8. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted on Fox Sports.
