Bama faces one of the toughest tests of the year in a trip to FSU.
ACCOLADES
The SEC dissed Alabama once again with no awards.
RAT POISON
- Softball America 13 ↑ 8 ↑ 6
- D1Softball 14 ↑ 10 ↑ 9
- USAToday/NFCA 15 ↑ 10 ↑ 9
- ESPN/USA Softball 16 ↑ 13 ↑ 8
SCHEDULE
The Crimson Tide travels to Tallahassee for the Dugout Club Classic.
- Fri, Feb 20 vs Elon 9am/10am
- Fri, Feb 20 at #6 Florida State 4:30/5:30
- Sat, Feb 21 at #6 Florida State 2pm/3pm
- Sat, Feb 21 vs Elon 4:30/5:30
- Sun, Feb 22 vs Dartmouth 9am/10am
HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY
There has been no announcement but assume that there will be no airing of the Elon or Dartmouth games. The pair against FSU will likely be available on ACCNX Streaming (ESPN+).
WEATHER
It should be beautiful weather.
FLORIDA STATE (8-2)
Following a 6-0 opening weekend, the Seminoles participated in the highly competitive Shriners Children’s Clearwater
Invitational. They lost 2-3 against #1 Texas Tech and 9-2 versus #3 Tennessee. However, they defeated #7 UCLA 11-7 and 9-5 over a strong #23 FAU team.
Senior Makenna Reid (7.35 ERA in 5 appearances) and junior Ashtyn Danley (6.13 in 5) have been getting uncharacteristically lit up which has led to coach Lonni Alameda to lean on sophomore Jazzy Francik (0.89 ERA over 27 innings). The team ERA is 3.32 and team WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning) is 1.28 – both high numbers for a nationally ranked team. [Alabama’s is third best in the nation at 0.74] So, there is an opportunity for the Crimson Tide to score some runs. As long as the Bama pitchers can tame some hot FSU bats.
Isa Torre has a .486 batting average and has scored 10 runs. Jaysoni Beachum is hitting .423 with 3 homers and 23 RBI. Team average is .355. The runnin’ ‘Noles are 14 for 14 in stolen bases.
The FSU defense is solid with only 4 errors through ten games.
ELON (1-8)
The one win for the Phoenix thus far was over Mount St. Mary’s – a team with whom they split at home. They’ve lost to the likes of Manhattan and Dayton. There is not much reason to think they will be competitive against the Crimson Tide.
DARTMOUTH (0-0)
The New Hampshire college has yet to play a game this season. They were 17-21 a season ago.
HEALTH
Jocelyn Briski looked really good in her Saturday start against Purdue (7 K, 0 baserunners), but only went 3.0 innings. It was only a 3-0 lead for the Tide when she exited the game. Patrick Murphy has not spoken on her injury since the preaseason. We will have to go on assumptions that she will be limited for awhile.
TEN CENT ANALYSIS
Elon and Dartmouth are not much of a threat. FSU is a different story. They are more on the level of the SEC talent and have a No. 6 ranking to prove it. These two games between the Crimson Tide and Seminoles should be highly entertaining, but more so, it will be a piece of the puzzle to help identify the image of this team.
