Alabama Crimson Tide Softball Begins SEC Play vs Top 20 Mississippi State

The non-conference slate comes to a close and SEC softball takes over.

MIDWEEK

Alabama 15, South Alabama 3 (5 Inn)

RANKINGS

Alabama’s rankings are just barely hanging in there at # 22, 24, 24, 25.

STOLEN BASE WATCH

Audrey Vandagriff: 34
Brittany Rogers: 60

UPDATED BAMA SCHEDULE

Due to projected severe weather on Saturday, there will be a doubleheader on Friday.

• Friday, Mar 14 vs Mississippi State, 2pm/3pm
• Friday, Mar 14 vs Mississippi State, 30 minutes after completion of Game 1
• Sunday, Mar 16 vs Mississippi State, 1:30/2:30 – Kali Heivilin Senior Day

HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY

#15/17/19/19 MISSISSIPPI STATE (22-4)

The Bulldogs also took part in the Clearwater Invitational in February but fared a bit better than Alabama did. They went 4-1 and took down #18 Texas Tech and #20 Nebraska. The one loss came at the hands of #14 Duke. Since that performance, it has been a long line of cupcakes. The only setbacks came against host Jacksonville State in the Rocket City Classic and for some odd reason Northwestern State who seems to give MSU fits. The Demons beat Clanga-clang 5-0 and lost by only 3-2 in another game – both in Starkville. Other than that, MSU has handled their opponents pretty well.

This past week, the Bulldogs thumped the same ULL team that was on their way to Tuscaloosa to the tune of 14-1 (5 inn). Then, they swept three games from #18 Auburn, as half of the SEC teams opened conference play this past weekend.

However, they then inexplicably turned around and lost to godawful Middle Tennessee (10-15) on Wednesday 3-2. MSU head coach Samantha Ricketts pulled a Gut® move. Bullies pitcher Delainey Everett carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before allowing a single. Ricketts yanked her pitcher for some odd reason and the bullpen blew the lead and the game. It is hard to know what to expect from this team on any given day.

BULLIES OFFENSE

Sierra Sacco is off to an All-American-like start. She is hitting .467 with 8 doubles, 6 home runs and 27 RBI. As a team, MSU has 38 round-trippers which is 15th in the nation (12th among Power teams). Five batters have slugged at least 5 each. Bully also has the 14th most doubles in D-I with 44. On the other side of the coin, they have only 3 triples and have swiped only 30 bases – more than half Alabama’s total of 71. In short, they are all about the modern power game while the Tide is sticking stubbornly steadfastly to the small-ball speed game.

BULLIES PITCHING

Raelin Chaffin (12-1, 1.31 ERA) transferred from LSU and is the ace of this MSU staff. So far, the senior has tallied complete game wins against Auburn (Game 1), Nebraska, and Texas Tech among others. She has 96 strikeouts versus 21 walks and has given up only one homer and no triples. Chaffin pitched in all three games of the Auburn series.

The rest of the staff is a little sketchy and/or inexperienced, but sophomore Delainey Everett has had some good moments.

BULLIES DEFENSE

22 errors with a .967 fielding percentage is not great but it’s much better than Alabama’s 34 boots and .954 FP.

TEN CENT ANALYSIS

Thankfully for the Tide, this series is being played in the friendly confines of Rhoads Stadium. That should help Alabama. Although Missy State is the visiting team, they are only an hour, 25 minute drive from Starkville.

Bama will try to kill ‘em with speed. MSU will try to slug their way to victory. Expect to see a lot of Chaffin. Crimson Tide fans should learn a lot about their team this weekend.

WEATHER

It could be sunny. It could be rainy. Be prepared for either.

#RollTide #Team29