FPN Series of the Week: No. 5 Florida vs. No. 15 Alabama
This week we look at a Southeastern Conference series between No. 5 Florida (32-5) and No. 15 Alabama (24-9). Coming in with a multiple game winning streak, the Gators are looking to continue the momentum. All three games will be hosted by the Crimson Tide at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL. Approaching the halfway point in conference play, Alabama is hoping their home field record of 11-2 will help them start a streak of their own this weekend. Game one will take place Saturday, April 7th at 1:00pm ET and game two starts on Sunday, April 8th at 3:00pm ET. Both Saturday and Sunday’s games can be watched on ESPN 2. Monday night’s match-up will be shown on the SEC Network at 7:00pm ET.
At the Plate
The Florida Gators are all hitting consistently with a team average of .308. Leading the team is Amanda Lorenz with a .411 batting average with 36 RBI and a .720 slugging percentage. Nicole Dewitt comes in close behind for Florida, batting .360 but leads the team with 8 homeruns so far. Jordan Matthews also shows she can help produce runs for the Gators, coming in second on the team for RBIs with 34. Nine Florida players are currently hitting above .300 this season.
Alabama has been working hard at the plate to improve their .290 team average. They managed to score a season-high 24 runs and win two out of their three road games last week against Kentucky. The Crimson Tide will be running off that energy when coming into this weekend’s series. Kaylee Tow leads the team with a .385 batting average and a .725 slugging percentage. Tow is tied with Bailey Hemphill for the most homeruns with 7 each. Elissa Brown is also shining for Alabama on the bases after successfully executing 19 out of 20 stolen base attempts. She is also second on the team batting .329.
Edge: Alabama
In the Circle
Florida’s pitchers have managed to keep their total ERA very low with a 1.13 combined. Kelly Barnhill (15-1) continues to dominate on the mound for the Gators with her 0.74 ERA. Taking the lead with 177 strikeouts in her 104-innings pitched, Barnhill is a force that is hard to stop. Also contributing to the team’s ERA, Aleshia Ocasio (14-3) holds a .82 ERA on her own, allowing only five walks and striking out 98 batters in her 85-innings pitched. The two Florida pitchers have managed to only allow 26 runs to be scored on them throughout the season so far.
The Crimson Tide has a few solid pitchers to rely on this upcoming weekend. As a unit, the pitchers of Alabama manage to maintain a 2.14 team ERA. Leading the team with a 1.59 ERA and 120 strikeouts is senior standout pitcher Alexis Osorio (8-3). Courtney Gettins (10-2) has also come in clutch for the Crimson Tide with her 2.07 ERA in 74-innings pitched. Freshman Madison Preston (6-4) has also been called upon for 63 innings so far compiling a 2.89 ERA. Alabama has three pitchers with different strengths to help them keep themselves in the competition.
Edge: Florida
Opinion
Always providing a great match-up, Florida and Alabama never fail to give us an exciting game experience. Though Alabama has been struggling with the tougher teams this season, they have a strong team energy built up going into this weekend. The Crimson Tide may be able to take advantage of Florida by setting the stage as Senior Night commences and Florida suffered a tough 1-0 loss to UCF on Wednesday night. However, it’s not clear that their successful previous weekend and activities planned will be enough to drive them past the Gators in all three games this series. With Florida’s pitchers staying strong on the mound, the Gators are gaining some momentum of their own on offense and defense as the season progresses. The Gators proceed to have almost half of the errors on the field as the Crimson Tide and have an overpowering pitching staff with multiple options.
Pick: Florida 2-1
