Softball to Play Inaugural Game at UAB Softball Field Tuesday
2/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2010
ALABAMA (7-2)
UAB (5-3)
Tickets: Available - Click Here
TV: None
Radio: WVUA-FM (90.7) - Tuscaloosa (Lake Koelling)
Internet Radio: RollTide.com
Live Stats: RollTide.com
Streaming Video: None
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 8 ranked Alabama softball team will head east Tuesday to take on in-state foe UAB in the inaugural game at the new UAB Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Birmingham.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UAB
The Blazers are no stranger to the Alabama softball team, as the two squared off twice in a home-and-home series last season. The Tide won both matchups in 2009, winning 8-1 in the game played in Tuscaloosa and 6-3 in the matchup in Birmingham. Amanda Locke picked up both wins against UAB in the circle for Alabama last year.
SERIES HISTORY VS. CONFERENCE USA
Alabama is 21-4 all-time against Conference USA opponents, including a 4-0 mark last season with two wins over Alabama-Birmingham, one win over East Carolina and one win over Memphis. The Crimson Tide outscored its Conference USA opponents by a combined 29-6 last season.
LAST TIME OUT
Alabama made a clean sweep of the competition at the Hatter Invitational including three wins over No. 14 Ohio State. The Crimson Tide is currently on a six game winning streak heading into Tuesday's game against UAB.
WHO TO WATCH
Alabama freshman Kayla Braud ignited the Tide at the plate last weekend by finishing her first road trip with a 3-for-3 performance, adding two runs and a stolen base. Over the weekend the freshman batted .615 (8-for-13) with four runs and five RBIs. The freshman from Eugene, Ore., was named SEC Freshman of the Week for her performance in Florida. Braud is batting .524 on the season, second on the team only to sophomore Cassie Reilly-Boccia and has also scored eight runs on the season.
BRAUD NAMED SEC FRESMAN OF THE WEEK
Alabama freshman Kayla Braud was named SEC Freshman of the Week by the conference office Monday. The rookie from Eugene, Ore., helped the Crimson Tide win the Hatter Invitational title with her performance in over the weekend in Florida. Braud batted .615 (8-for-13) with five runs, five RBI and three stolen bases.
TIDE CLAIM HATTER INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Alabama successfully completed its first tournament of the season by earning five wins at the Hatter Invitational played at Stetson University this past weekend. Alabama went a perfect 5-0, including three wins over No. 14 ranked Ohio State. The Tide opened the weekend with an impressive 17-3 win over Rhode Island and that momentum carried over to 5-4 and 5-3 wins over the Buckeyes and a 1-0 victory over host Stetson. UA capped off the invite with a 9-1 win over OSU. Freshman Kayla Braud batted .615 with five RBI and two stolen bases while sophomore Cassie Reilly-Boccia led the squad with a .667 average. Senior Alex Blewitt had a career weekend, batting .500 with two home runs and seven RBI.
MORGAN REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
Charlotte Morgan is already one of the most impressive players in Crimson Tide softball history from a statistical standpoint and looks to add onto her legacy in 2010. Morgan is in the top three of six major offensive and pitching records. The senior from Moreno Valley, Calif., with a strong season at the plate, could also look to break the Alabama career records in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs and could move into second for all-time total bases. Morgan currently holds two Alabama career records, one at the plate with the most career RBI in Alabama history and the other comes on the other side of the field. Morgan has given up the fewest walks per seven innings of any Crimson Tide player.
DUNNE MAKING HER OWN MARK WITH PITCHING RECORDS
Tide ace Kelsi Dunne continues to move her way up in the record books. Dunne already holds the career record for lowest opponent batting average and could possibly take the top spots at most strikeouts per seven innings and most shutouts by the end of the season. With two more strong seasons Dunne will have a strong opportunity to break Shelley Laird's record for most career wins at Alabama.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Crimson Tide will get back into tournament mode as they head to Columbus, Ga., for one of the premier softball tournaments in the country, the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Alabama's first game will be against Maryland Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST.
