Softball Opens SEC Play at Home Against Missouri

THIS WEEKEND: NO. 5/5 ALABAMA (22-0, 0-0 SEC) VS. MISSOURI (11-7, 0-0 SEC)
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Rhoads Stadium
*SCHEDULE UPDATED 3/8*

Friday, March 8 (DH) – 4:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 10 – 1 p.m. CT *SEC Network*

SCOUTING ALABAMA

Alabama is undefeated at 22-0 to start the 2019 season and is the last remaining undefeated team in college softball
The 22-0 start is the fifth-best in program history and the Crimson Tide's best since 2013, when it also started the season 22-0
Seven of the Tide's nine regular starters are hitting above .300, led by sophomore Kaylee Tow and junior Bailey Hemphill at .365 with freshman Skylar Wallace close behind at .362
Alabama is second in the SEC and sixth nationally with 51 stolen bases. Individually, junior Elissa Brown and sophomore KB Sides rank second and fourth in the SEC with 17 and 12, respectively
The Alabama pitching staff is in the top four in the SEC in wins (1st - 22), ERA (2nd - 1.53), opposing batting average (3rd - .179), runs allowed (34), strikeouts (4th - 147) and walks allowed (4th - 34)
Freshman Montana Fouts leads the SEC and is seventh nationally with a 0.58 ERA, throwing more innings than five of the six ranked above her. With 74 strikeouts and 4 walks, she is just one of three SEC pitchers to rank in the top 10 in both strikeouts and fewest walks allowed

ALL-TIME VS. MISSOURI

Overall: Alabama leads 12-9
In Tuscaloosa: 7-5 | In Columbia: 3-3 | At Neutral Sites: 2-1
Current Streak: Missouri +1
Last Meeting: April 2, 2017 - Columbia, Mo. - L, 3-4 (9 Inn.)
Last Meeting in Tuscaloosa: March 28, 2016 - W, 16-2 (5 Inn.)

LAST TIME OUT: ALBAMA EARNS PAIR OF MIDWEEK WINS

Alabama 5, South Alabama 2: Alabama softball battled cold temperatures and a resilient South Alabama squad Tuesday night at Rhoads Stadium, defeating the Jaguars, 5-2. Alabama fell behind early after South Alabama scored in the top of the first, but the Crimson Tide answered quickly with a two-run home run from junior Bailey Hemphill in the home half of the inning. The Jaguars tied it at 2-2 in the fifth with a solo home run but a pair of scores in the bottom of the fifth and an insurance run in the sixth helped Alabama hold on for the three-run win to maintain its undefeated record.
Alabama 7, Mississippi Valley State 0: Alabama softball ended its pre-conference slate with a 7-0 shutout over Mississippi Valley State Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa. Junior Bailey Hemphill led the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring three times and driving in three runs on a second-inning home run, her team-leading ninth of the year. Senior Caroline Hardy drove in a pair on a bases-loaded walk and a solo home run. Junior Krystal Goodman threw 4.0 shutout innings in the start to earn her fourth win of the season, allowing just one hit and one walk. Sophomore Madison Preston and senior Courtney Gettins combined to throw three relief innings behind her with two hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

ALABAMA IN SEC PLAY

Alabama is 434-166 (.723) all-time in SEC play, including a 399-145 (.733) mark under head coach Patrick Murphy. With one more win, Murphy would be the first softball coach to earn 400 SEC wins
The Crimson Tide has won five SEC regular season titles (2006, '10, '11, '12, '14) and five SEC Tournament titles (1998, 2003, '05, '10, '12)
Alabama has never had a losing record in conference play, winning 20 or more conference games 11 times
Alabama has a winning all-time record against every SEC team except LSU
Alabama has played more games against LSU (78) than any other conference opponent. Florida (73), Mississippi State (70) and Auburn (70) are close behind with Texas A&M (17) and Missouri (21) at the bottom of the list

BEST STARTS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
At 22-0, Alabama is off to one of its best starts in program history

Best Starts in Alabama Softball History

27-0 (2001)
26-0 (2012)
25-0 (2007)
22-0 (2013)
22-0 (2019)

UP NEXT
Alabama spends its spring break in Honolulu, Hawai'i at the Rainbow Wahine Classic. Alabama will play six games over four days beginning Wednesday, March 13 against SIUE.

Softball Opens SEC Play at Home Against Missouri

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elissa Brown

Montana Fouts

Courtney Gettins

Krystal Goodman

Caroline Hardy

Bailey Hemphill

Madison Preston

KB Sides

Kaylee Tow

Skylar Wallace

University of Alabama Athletics

Softball Opens SEC Play at Home Against Missouri

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elissa Brown

Montana Fouts

Courtney Gettins

Krystal Goodman

Caroline Hardy

Bailey Hemphill

Madison Preston

KB Sides

Kaylee Tow

Skylar Wallace

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