Alabama Softball Opens Three-Game Series at Tennessee Saturday on SEC Network
4/14/2017 9:52:00 AM | Softball
THIS WEEKEND
No. 9/10 Alabama (36-7, 10-5 SEC)
No. 16/14 Tennessee (37-5, 9-3 SEC)
Knoxville, Tenn. - Sherri Parker Lee Stadium
- Saturday, April 15 - 5 p.m. CTÂ (SECÂ Network)
- Sunday, April 16 - 6 p.m. CTÂ (SEC Network)
- Monday, April 17 - 6 p.m. CTÂ (SEC Network)
FOLLOWING THE TIDE
- Video: SEC Network
- Play-by-Play: Mark Neely
- Analyst: Amanda Scarborough
- Radio: 93.3 FM (praise933.com)
- Live Stats: rolltide.com
- Twitter: @AlabamaSB
SCOUTING NO. 9/10 ALABAMAÂ (36-7, 10-5 SEC)
- Last weekend, Alabama won two out of three games against eighth-ranked LSU in Tuscaloosa before defeating UAB, 8-0, on Tuesday. Alabama is now 35-7 overall and 10-5 in SEC play.
- The Crimson Tide leads the SEC in strikeouts (384), is second in walks (191) and opposing batting average (.165) and third in ERA (1.46), wins (36), hits allowed (165) and fielding percentage (.976). In conference-only games, Alabama is ranked second in hits (97), batters struck out (101) and wins (10) and is third in runs scored (63), total bases (135), walks (52) and opposing batting average (.214).
- Alexis Osorio leads the league and is third nationally with 217 strikeouts, one of eight pitchers in the country with over 200 strikeouts. Littlejohn is third in the SEC with 148 strikeouts, making Alabama and Florida the only SEC schools to have over 300 strikeouts between two starters. Littlejohn also ranks fourth in the SEC with a 0.93 ERA and Osorio is seventh at 1.12.
- The Tide remains at No. 12 in this week's NCAA Rating Percentage Index for the second-straight week while jumping up to No. 9 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
THE OPPONENT
Tennessee Volunteers
- Conference: Southeastern
- 2017 Record: 37-5 (9-3 SEC)
- Head Coaches: Ralph & Karen Weekly (16th Season)
- Starters Returning/Lost: 7/7
- Newcomers: 11
Tennessee Stat Leaders
- Batting Avg. - Meghan Gregg - .470
- Hits - Gregg / Vines - 55
- Home Runs - Meghan Gregg - 9
- Wins - Matty Moss - 19
- ERA - Matty Moss - 1.35
- Strikeouts - Matty Moss – 126
ALL-TIME VS. THE OPPONENT
36-21 vs. Tennessee
- Current Streak: Alabama 3
- First Meeting: March 22, 1997
- Last Meeting: Feb. 28, 2016 - W, 6-5 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Easton Bama Bash)
- Last Meeting in Knoxville: May 25, 2013 - L, 3-5 (NCAA Super Regional)
LAST TIME OUT: ALABAMA RUN-RULES UAB TUESDAY IN TUSCALOOSA
Alabama softball was efficient in its 8-0 win Tuesday over UAB, needing just 90 minutes to score eight runs, including a catcher's interference call to end it in the bottom of the fifth.
Aside from the game-ending call, timely hitting and patience at the plate gave Alabama all the cushion it would need over UAB with eight runs scored on six hits and five walks. Peyton Grantham went 2-4, including a third-inning grand slam, the first for Alabama this season and the second of Grantham's career. On the other side of the ball, Madi Moore tossed a gem in the circle, needing just 44 pitches over 5.0 innings. Stellar defense behind her helped the cause as well, turning a pair of inning-ending double plays.
ALEXIS OSORIO NAMED FINALIST FOR USA SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Junior pitcher Alexis Osorio is one of 34 finalists for this year's USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, the organization announced Wednesday.
Osorio, a Riverside, Calif., native, leads the SEC and is ranked fourth nationally with 217 strikeouts so far this season, an average of 1.7-per-inning, owning an 18-4 record and 1.12 ERA. She has thrown seven shutouts, helping lead the pitching staff to its highest shutout total in six years (22) and putting it just four shy of the single-season school record. In her first start of the 2017 season, she threw the fourth perfect game in program history with a school-record 19 strikeouts. In addition to her perfect game, she has pitched in two combined no-hitters this year and has posted double-digit strikeouts in 10 games.
Osorio is one of eight juniors on the list and one of 14 pitchers. She has made the Top 50 Watch List each of the last two seasons but this is her first appearance as a Player of the Year finalist. In 2015, she was one of three finalists for the NFCA Freshman of the Year award, earning Second Team All-America honors that season.
ZEROES IN THE RUN COLUMN
Wednesday's 8-0 victory over UAB marked the 22nd shutout of the season for Alabama. It is the most shutouts in a season since 2011 and tied for the fifth-most in program history, just four shy of tying the single-season record.
Most Shutouts in a Single Season at Alabama
- 26 - 2009
- 25 - 2001
- 24 - 2006
- 23 - 2008, 2007
- 22 - 2017, 2011, 2005
SEC LEADERS
- Bailey Hemphill is second in the league with 41 walks, just one of two players with over 40 free passes this season. Her .510 on base percentage is seventh in the SEC.
- As the two-hole hitters in 35 of Alabama's 42 games, Demi Turner & Chandler Dare have performed well in that role, leading the league with nine and seven sacrifice bunts, respectively. In conference play, Dare leads the SEC with four while Turner is right behind her with three.
- Alexis Osorio has struck out batters at an incredible rate this season, leading the league and ranking fourth nationally with 217 strikeouts. Her 70 strikeouts in conference play only trails Florida's Kelly Barnhill at 71 and she is tied with Barnhill and Auburn's Kaylee Carlson for the most SEC wins with seven.
- Peyton Grantham has found her power stroke in SEC play, leading the league with four home runs and 14 RBIs against conference opponents. Overall, her seven home runs and 39 RBIs lead the team.
UP NEXT
Alabama hosts three games next week at Rhoads Stadium, welcoming Southern Miss on Wednesday, April 19 before facing No. 12/13 Washington twice on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22.
- Wednesday, April 19 vs. Southern Miss - 6 p.m. CT - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Friday, April 21 vs. #12/13 Washington - 6 p.m. CT - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Saturday, April 22 vs. #12/13 Washington - 4:30 p.m. CT - Tuscaloosa, Ala.