TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Following a dominant doubleheader sweep of Bellarmine on Tuesday afternoon, the No. 21 Tennessee softball team returns to SEC play for a three-game weekend series with the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Sunday’s games will be broadcasted live on ESPNU, while Saturday’s matchup can be seen online on SEC Network+. All three games can be streamed through WatchESPN through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
All three contests can also be heard on your local Vol Network affiliate and online on UTsports.com. Brian Rice will be heard describing the action.
QUICK HITS
SHIP, SHIP, HOORAY
Junior catcher Ally Shipman found her offensive footing in Tuesday’s victories over Bellarmine. The Valencia, California native went 4-for-6 at the dish with five RBIs and five runs scored and blasted a two-run homer in game one to put the Lady Vols up 19-0.
BOMBS AWAY
Through 23 games the Lady Vols rank second in the SEC in home runs with 38 long balls (1.65 HR/game), behind only this weekend’s opponent, Alabama.
Their 1.65 homers per contest currently outpaces the HR/game ratio of the stellar 2015 squad that sent 100 pitches yard on its way to the 2015 Women’s College World Series.
SHE’S ONE TOUGH COOKIE
Redshirt-senior third baseman Chelsea Seggern was plunked with a pitch during Tuesday’s doubleheader, marking the sixth time she’s been hit by a pitch this season and the 35th time in her career. That number places her in a tie for first on UT’s all-time HBP list with LVFL Cheyanne Turango.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Record: 22-1 Overall, 3-0 SEC
Series Record: Alabama Leads, 25-37
Last Outing: A 4-0 win for the Crimson Tide on April 23, 2018 in Tuscaloosa.
Key Player/Stat: Alabama is off to a flying start to begin the 2020-21 season, holding a sparkling 22-1 overall record, while being fresh off a three-game sweep of in-state rival Auburn to open SEC play. Entering this weekend’s series, the Lady Vols and Crimson Tide hold the top two spots in the SEC in stolen bases, combining for 89 taken bags. Alabama also leads the SEC in team ERA (0.97) and ranks second in the league in strikeouts as a pitching staff, fanning 195 total batters through 23 games.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend’s series, Tennessee will return home for a mid-week twin bill with Kennesaw State on Wednesday night. First pitches for those contests are slated for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
-UT Athletics
