2013 Softball World Series Tuscaloosa Regional Breakdown
#10 Alabama, Western Kentucky, USC Upstate, Jacksonville State
The Tide began the season ranked #2, and quickly found out that defending their 2012 World Series title would not be easy. Just 13-12 in the SEC (42-13 overall) is a reflection of losing five starters from their championship club. Freshman Haylie McCleney (.471 BA, 38 RBI, 27 SB) has made an immediate impact, and with Senior star Kayla Braud produce pressure on opposing defenses. Add to that Kaila Hunt and Jackie Traina’s combined 26 homers and 100 RBIs, and Alabama is tough to stop. Traina gives the Tide a chance to win every outing from the circle as well with her 200 strikeouts in 179 innings pitched. Sophomore Leslie Jury has also posted solid numbers (16-7, 2.69) in a supporting role. The Tide sports a Top 15 ranking in batting average, scoring offense, and stolen bases per game.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (41-16, 20-3 Sun Belt) will look to upset the Tide with offense from Olivia Watkins’ .385 batting average and 36 stolen bases. Preslie Cruce combines average (.320) with power (12 HR) and gets homer help from Amanda Thomas’ 14 dingers. The Toppers took 2 of 3 regular season tilts from South Alabama, but couldn’t get by the Jaguars in the Sun Belt Championship. Junior Emily Rousseau was 24-6 from the circle. USC Upstate battled back from the loser’s bracket to capture the Atlantic Sun title but may have belonged anyway, spending much of 2013 in and out of the bottom of the top 25. Meredith Barnes (Junior, OF, .380 BA, 12 HR, 39 RBI) and Shellie Robinson, (Sophomore, OF, .347 BA, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 15 SB) provide a potent punch, and Freshman Jamie Ujvari has been solid, posting a 19-3 record and a 1.78 ERA. Jacksonville State is the last team in this regional, hailing from the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks were 30-25 overall and 11-10 in conference competition. J-State ranks 8th in the nation with 1.61 doubles per game. Sara Borders and her .366 BA and 11 homers provides a large percentage of the offense.
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