Alabama Softball to Face Missouri in First Game of SEC Tournament

Alabama softball gained’t need to wade by a lot tape in the case of scouting its first opponent within the SEC Event. After internet hosting Missouri for a three-game sequence over the weekend, the No. 2 Crimson Tide will open up in opposition to the No. 7 seed Tigers on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. CT within the quarterfinals of the single-elimination event. 

This 12 months’s SEC Event is being held at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.  

Alabama (41-10) took two out of three video games in opposition to Missouri (34-19) final weekend, dropping 3-2 in further innings on Friday earlier than recording back-to-back 3-1 victories on Saturday and Sunday. Because the No. 2 seed within the event, the Crimson Tide earned a bye heading into Thursday’s matchup. Missouri beat No. 10 seed Auburn 1-0 Wednesday to earn its place within the quarterfinals.

Whereas Alabama will probably be conversant in Missouri, the Tigers’ bats have additionally had have a look at Crimson Tide pitcher Montana Fouts, who made three appearances over the weekend, pitching 17⅔ of the sequence’ 22 innings. In fact, Missouri wasn’t in a position to do a lot with the additional reps as Fouts earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors, giving up simply 4 runs, three earned, on 12 hits whereas placing out 26 batters and issuing six walks within the sequence.

“The extra you face groups, it’s important to look extra about them additionally. I suppose how their swings work and stuff like that,” Fouts mentioned on Tuesday. “For me personally, it’s extra of trusting my protection as a result of I really feel like when I attempt to throw it actually onerous is when it will get hit actually onerous.”

If Fouts will get the beginning nod for Thursday’s sport, one in all her greatest duties will probably be slowing down red-hot Missouri shortstop Jenna Laird, who leads the Tigers with a .348 batting common and is presently driving a 10-game hitting streak. Laird went 4-for-10 on the plate in opposition to Alabama over the weekend, together with 3-for-7 in opposition to Fouts. Throughout Missouri’s win over Auburn on Wednesday, the sophomore went 2-for-3, knocking within the sport’s solely run with an RBI double.

Missouri’s lineup additionally options 4 gamers — Kimberly Wert, Brooke Wilmes, Kendyll Bailey and Kara Every day — who all have 11 or extra dwelling runs on the season.

The Tigers even have a pair of reliable pitchers in Jordan Weber and Lauren Krings.

Weber (14-6, 2.61 ERA) was the successful pitcher in Missouri’s lone victory in opposition to Alabama over the weekend. She additionally earned the win over Auburn on Wednesday, surrendering 4 hits and three walks whereas placing out eight batters in a complete-game shutout. 

Krings (13-8, 3.13 ERA) entered Wednesday ranked third within the SEC with 159 strikeouts. She is coming off a loss to Alabama on Saturday the place she gave up three earned runs on 5 hits whereas placing out 5 batters and issuing a pair of walks.

The winner of Thursday’s sport will transfer on to the semifinals the place it is going to face both No. 3 seed Tennessee or No. 11 seed Mississippi State on Friday at 3 p.m. After successful final 12 months’s SEC Event, Alabama is seeking to defend its crown whereas including a seventh convention event title to its trophy case. 

Methods to watch

Matchup: No. 2 seed Alabama (41-10) vs. No. 7 seed Missouri (34-19)

The place: Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, Gainsville, Fla.

When: 1:30 p.m. CT, Thursday 

TV: SEC Community

Alabama vs. Missouri this season