Alabama 2012 Softball World Series Capsule

Alabama Crimson Tide
SEC (47-7, 23-5)

Alabama has had another fine season under Coach Patrick Murphy. This is a Crimson Tide team that has way too many offensive weapons for most teams to handle. The lineup is pretty much loaded from top to bottom. It is hard to keep the top of the lineup off of the bases and once they are there they can steal their way into scoring position or simply wait for the power hitters to bring them home.

Big Wins: 3/21 vs Tennessee (3-2), 3/13 vs Oregon (5-1), 4/20 vs Georgia (8-3)
Bad Losses: 4/17 vs Georgia State (1-5), 4/28 vs Arkansas (1-8), 4/7 vs LSU (2-3)
Coach: Patrick Murphy (14 seasons at Alabama)

Why They Can Surprise:
The Crimson Tide has one of the best scoring offenses in the nation. They have players who can hit for average and power and plenty of speed. Outfielders Jazlyn Lunceford, Kayla Braud and Jennifer Fenton may be the best outfield trio in the nation. Lunceford, a senior, has a great eye at the plate and hits for a great average. Braud and Fenton are not too far behind Lunceford when it comes to batting average. However, Braud and Fenton have superb speed and that is a big plus for the Crimson Tide on the base paths and in the outfield. When Alabama needs a little more power, they will call on Amanda Locke and Kaila Hunt. Locke and Hunt are the usual power hitters who drive in the talented outfielders that usually sport the beginning of the lineup. Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Courtney Conley, not to mention pitcher Jackie Traina, are also more than capable of knocking in some runs.

Why They Can Disappoint:
Alabama has been very, very consistent across the board, but if they falter it will likely be because of their pitching. Traina is a great pitcher who has shut down some of the best offenses in the nation. When Traina starts a game, she usually finishes it, but she cannot do it all game in and game out. Leslie Jury has had a fine freshman season and has shown plenty of signs of greatness. However, Jury does not often go the distance and that puts a lot of pressure on the Alabama bullpen. Coach Murphy does not often go beyond Traina and Jury, but at some point he will have to and that is when Alabama will be in trouble.

Key Field Players:
Jazlyn Lunceford, Senior, OF, .349 BA, 6 HR, 35 RBI
Kayla Braud, Junior, OF, .359 BA, 18 RBI, 35 SB
Amanda Locke, Senior, UTL, .354 BA, 17 HR, 50 RBI
Jennifer Fenton, Senior, OF, .344 BA, 4 HR, 34 RBI, 35 SB
Cassie Reilly-Bocci, Senior, OF/1B, .328 BA, 9 HR, 41 RBI
Jackie Traina, Sophomore, UTL, .326 BA, 9 HR, 29 RBI
Kaila Hunt, Sophomore, IF, .313 BA, 18 HR, 57 RBI

Key Pitchers:
Jackie Traina, Sophomore, Pitcher, 1.78 ERA, 31-2 W/L, 25 CG, 204.2 IP, 268 SO
Leslie Jury, Freshman, Pitcher, 2.75 ERA, 11-4 W/L, 5 CG, 79.0 IP, 70 SO

By the Numbers:
Batting Average: .318 (14th in nation, 1st in conference)
Earned Run Average: 2.17 (37, 6)
Fielding Percentage: .962 (99, 7)
Scoring Offense: 7.32 (3, 1)
Home Runs per Game: 1.62 (2, 1)
Doubles per Game: 1.30 (48, 1)
Triples per Game:  0.17 (78, 6)
Stolen Bases per Game: 2.08 (6, 1)
Slugging Percentage: .574 (3, 1)
Double Plays per Game: .19 (220, 9)

 
Recent Postseason Appearances:

*all team stats through 5/6

 
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