Softball Heads to Baton Rouge to Face LSU
4/24/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2013
| Games 48-50 | No. 4 Alabama (40-7, 12-6 SEC) vs. No. 12 LSU (37-11, 12-6 SEC) | |
| Location | Baton Rouge, La.| Tiger Park (2,489) |
| Tickets | Buy Here |
| Television | Thursday (ESPN2) | Friday (None) | Saturday (CST) |
| Radio | Listen | WDGM 99.1 FM | Chad Haynie |
| Live Stats | GameTracker (Gm 1) | GameTracker (Gm 2) | GameTracker (Gm 3) |
| Game Notes | Alabama Notes  | LSU Notes |
| Video Stream | WatchESPN (Thursday) | GeauxZone (Friday) | None (Saturday) |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama softball team (40-7, 12-6 SEC) will hit the road for what could potentially determine the Southeastern Conference Western Division title in a three game series in Baton Rouge against LSU (37-11, 12-6 SEC). The series will start on Thursday, April 25, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. CT at Tiger Park. Beth Mowins and Jessica Mendoza will have the call in the televised series opener on ESPN2.
LAST TIME OUT
The Crimson Tide took two of the three games in the weekend series against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. After dropping the series opener, 3-2, which broke the 27-game losing streak against the Tide for MSU, Alabama came back on Saturday with a vengeance with an 11-3 victory. The final game in the series proved to be a nail biter with the two teams battling all seven innings, ending with a walk-off single by sophomore Danae Hays. Junior Jackie Traina batted .500 (3-for-6) with four RBI and three walks while freshman Haylie McCleney batted .444 with a home run, three runs and three RBI in the series.
WHO TO WATCH
In the last five games Alabama freshman Haylie McCleney has led the Tide with a .538 average. The rookie has scored five runs, walked three times and stole two bases. Junior Jackie Traina follows with a .500 average, adding five RBI and four walks while freshman Andrea Hawkins has also batted .500, adding four runs. Junior Kaila Hunt has provided the punch over that span with a home run and seven RBI while chipping in a .438 average. Sophomore pitcher Leslie Jury is a perfect 3-0 with an unblemished 0.00 ERA while striking out 10 in 12 innings with only two walks.
SCOUTING LSU
LSU enters the week with a 37-11 overall record and a 12-6 mark in SEC play. The Tigers are batting .289 with 36 home runs and 84 stolen bases. LSU has outscored its opponents, 249-122. In the circle the Tigers sport a 2.05 ERA, have held opposing batters to a .191 average and have struck out 325 in 328 1/3 innings. The Tigers are led by sophomore A.J. Andrews with a .347 average and team-best 58 hits and 38 runs. She has also swiped a team-best 19 bases. LSU is led in power hitting by freshman Bianca Bell with 11 home runs and 43 RBI. Senior Rachele Fico (22-9) dominates the circle with a 1.99 ERA, striking out 206 batters in 186 1/3 innings. Beth Torina is in the midst of her second year at the helm of the Tigers with a 77-36 overall record.
SERIES HISTORY
The two SEC teams have met on 64 previous occasions with the Tigers holding a 35-29 advantage. The last time the foes met was in early April last season where the Tide took two of three games in Tuscaloosa. Alabama won the first game, 6-0, LSU tied the series with a 3-2 win, and Alabama took the series finale with another 6-0 shutout. In the series, junior Jackie Traina earned both wins, striking out 21 batters in 15 innings resulting in two shutouts. Traina also hit a home run and had three RBI in the series.
WESTERN DIVISION RACE
This weekend's series could determine the western division champion. The Tide and the Tigers are the only two teams to ever win the western division in the 16 years of competition. This series will break the tie, which currently holds at eight wins a piece. Alabama has claimed the western division title the last five years, starting the streak in 2008.
ALABAMA ON THE ROAD
The Crimson Tide has posted a 10-3 record on the road, going 6-3 on the road during SEC play. Alabama has outscored opponents, 65-35, and collected 15 home runs in opposing stadiums. Alabama has a .274 average in away games while the Tide's pitching staff has kept opponents to a .205 average and struck out 86 batters. Alabama is led offensively on the road by junior Kaila Hunt with a .429 average, adding 13 runs and 18 hits. She has also put up 11 RBI for the Tide and has six homeruns. In the circle, junior Jackie Traina holds a 2.40 ERA on the road with 70 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings.
RPI
In the fifth installment of the RPI, the Alabama softball team checks in at No. 5 overall, remaining the same from last week. Nine Tide opponents reside in the top 25, while three check in at the top 10.
ALABAMA IN THE NCAA
The Alabama softball team is ranked fifth in the NCAA in scoring, averaging 7.30 a game. The Tide is sixth in stolen bases per game collecting 105 in 47 games (2.23). Freshman Haylie McCleney ranks fifth individually in runs per game with 1.17.
ALABAMA IN THE SEC
Alabama places third in averages with a .336, fourth in runs scored with 343 and third in total hits with 420. The Tide has the second highest on base percentage with a .431 and is fourth in both RBI (297) and home runs (54). Alabama is first in steals with 106-of-117.
INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SEC
Freshman Haylie McCleney ranks second in batting average with .479 and in runs scored with 55. She is tied for second in hits with 69 and is fourth in on base percentage with .550. The freshman is fifth in stolen bases with 27. Junior Kaila Hunt is fourth in the SEC in RBI, batting in 51. Senior Kayla Braud takes fourth in batting with a .435 average and fifth in hits with 64. She is tied for first in stolen bases with 35-of-38. Junior Jackie Traina is fifth in the SEC for batters struck out with 176.
NEXT TIME OUT
Alabama will return home for the final series of the regular season against Kentucky. The series will begin Friday, May 3 at Rhoads Stadium.
