Across the Diamond: Alabama Softball Looks to Rebound vs. Ole Miss
Alabama softball closes the final home stand for the month of March with their first SEC home series against Ole Miss.
Following a heartbreaking series loss at Auburn to open SEC play, Alabama defeated UAB 10-5 on a chilly Tuesday night.
Sydney Booker’s Two Triples vs. UAB
After scoring eight runs in their previous five games, Alabama exploded for 10 runs in Tuesday’s victory over the UAB Blazers.
Four players recorded two hits each but one player stood out in the win. Senior shortstop Sydney Booker went 2-3 with two triples and a season-high three RBIs against the Blazers. The two triples tied a school record set by Ashley Courtney at Penn State in 2005 and by Kelly Kretschman against Wisconsin in 1998.
After the game, head coach Patrick Murphy discussed the hard work that
“She was due.” Murphy said. “She works her butt off. She came in yesterday (Monday) on a day off to hit, and it’s really cool to see a kid have success who’s earned it.”
Also following the game, Booker credited a slight tweak in her swing for her improved production from the plate.
“I’d been struggling at the plate recently, but I had made a small adjustment to my swing and it felt nice to see it actually work out.” Booker said.
Protecting the Rhoads House
Since 2000, Alabama softball has enjoyed one of the top home field advantages in the country thanks to a 516-83 record at Rhoads Stadium.
As Ole Miss travels to Tuscaloosa for a three-game weekend series, Murphy expressed the critical task that his team faces in defending their home turf.
“This is a huge series for us in the SEC. You got to protect your home turf big time in the SEC because it’s very, very hard to go on the road and win a series.” Murphy said.
The Alabama softball skipper also listed two areas his is looking for from his team this weekend.
“We need to get everybody back on the same page offensively and be a little more aggressive.” Murphy said.
Alexis Osorio Update
Earlier this week, Alabama softball announced that senior pitcher Alexis Osorio suffered a concussion resulting from a line drive that hit her in the head in Sunday’s game at Auburn.
The senior pitcher did not play Tuesday against UAB and during his appearance on The Gary Harris Show, Patrick Murphy elaborated on how the concussion has affected Osorio’s ability to attend her classes.
“She couldn’t go to school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Had to stay home from everything, didn’t even come to the game, loud noises, light, everything. She had to stay away from all that.” Murphy said.
Ole Miss Scouting Report
A season after appearing in their first NCAA Super Regional, Ole Miss has struggled in recent weeks losing eight of their last ten games and starting 1-5 in SEC play.
In their most recent game Wednesday at Memphis, the Rebels dropped a 9-3 decision to the Tigers. Memphis pinch hitter Kendall Lee gave the Tigers the lead with a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning. Ole Miss had to use four pitchers in the loss.
From the plate, the Rebels come in dead last in the conference with a .253 batting average, 11 home runs, 162 hits and 106 runs scored as a team.
Three players will make homecoming trips to the Yellowhammer State for Ole Miss. Sophomore utility player Kaylee Horton is from Jasper, senior pitcher Alyssa Clayton is originally from Section but played junior college softball at Shelton State Community College and freshman Abbey Latham hails from Livingston.
Alabama vs. Ole Miss Game Times
Friday - 6:30 PM (SEC Network Plus)
Saturday - 2 PM (SEC Network Plus)
Sunday - 1 PM (SEC Network Plus)
College Softball Tidbits around Alabama
Following their series win over Alabama, Auburn destroyed Alabama State 22-0 in five innings Wednesday evening. Twelve Auburn batters recorded at least one hit and one RBI in the game. The Tigers complete their seven-game home stand Friday through Sunday against Kentucky.
Troy dropped both games of a doubleheader Wednesday at Florida State losing 12-2 in six innings in game one and 9-1 in six innings in game two. The Trojans return home to face the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader and Sunday afternoon single game.
South Alabama had no mid-week game this week but returns to Mobile for a three-game series against Georgia State.
Jacksonville State and Samford open their conference schedules this weekend. The Gamecocks travel to UT-Martin for a Saturday doubleheader and Southeast Missouri for a Sunday twin bill. Samford begins Southern Conference play at ETSU. During their mid-week slate of games, Samford swept a Wednesday doubleheader from Alabama A&M while Jacksonville State lost 6-2 to Western Kentucky Thursday.
After mid-week losses to in-state competition, Alabama State and Alabama A&M head west for the weekend. Alabama State travels to Prairie View A&M while Alabama A&M goes to Grambling for their first road series in SWAC play.