Spring Break
Alabama challenges softball team's 10-game win streak
BEN BUSSARD
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
The streaking Georgia softball team (25-4; 7-2 SEC) heads to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a weekend series against the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
Winners of their last 10 games - including six straight SEC victories - the Bulldogs are looking to keep pace with Florida (36-3, 15-1 SEC) in the SEC Eastern Division standings.
The No. 6 Bulldogs are second in the division and have the second best overall record in the conference behind the Gators. Regardless of the team's recent success, head coach Lu Harris-Champer isn't proclaiming any complacency as far as where everyone stands on an individual performance level.
"Obviously there's a lot of room for improvement," Harris-Champer said. "That's why you play in the SEC … We have the opportunity to play great teams every week."
Alabama (28-6, 7-4 SEC) is sitting in third in the Western Division standings and coming off a Wednesday victory over Troy.
However, the No. 4 Crimson Tide has lost four of its last eight conference games and will be playing an SEC opponent at home for the second time this season.
The Bulldogs will look to continue the offensive and defensive success they have exhibited over their current 10-game winning streak.
Over the course of the streak, four Bulldogs are batting higher than .400 - sophomore outfielder Taylor Schlopy, sophomore infielder Alisa Goler, freshman catcher Kristyn Sandberg, and senior infielder Kristin Schnake.
Schlopy leads the Bulldogs with a .480 batting average and 13 runs scored during the streak, while Goler has knocked in 15 runs and is batting .429 over the same stretch.
Pitching has been a strength for Georgia throughout the winning streak as well.
Senior pitcher Christie Hamilton has posted a record of 6-0 with a 0.64 ERA while striking out 34 batters and walking just five. Sophomore pitcher Sarah McCloud has contributed as well with a 3-0 record and a 2.20 ERA over the last 10 games.
Winners of their last 10 games - including six straight SEC victories - the Bulldogs are looking to keep pace with Florida (36-3, 15-1 SEC) in the SEC Eastern Division standings.
The No. 6 Bulldogs are second in the division and have the second best overall record in the conference behind the Gators. Regardless of the team's recent success, head coach Lu Harris-Champer isn't proclaiming any complacency as far as where everyone stands on an individual performance level.
"Obviously there's a lot of room for improvement," Harris-Champer said. "That's why you play in the SEC … We have the opportunity to play great teams every week."
Alabama (28-6, 7-4 SEC) is sitting in third in the Western Division standings and coming off a Wednesday victory over Troy.
However, the No. 4 Crimson Tide has lost four of its last eight conference games and will be playing an SEC opponent at home for the second time this season.
The Bulldogs will look to continue the offensive and defensive success they have exhibited over their current 10-game winning streak.
Over the course of the streak, four Bulldogs are batting higher than .400 - sophomore outfielder Taylor Schlopy, sophomore infielder Alisa Goler, freshman catcher Kristyn Sandberg, and senior infielder Kristin Schnake.
Schlopy leads the Bulldogs with a .480 batting average and 13 runs scored during the streak, while Goler has knocked in 15 runs and is batting .429 over the same stretch.
Pitching has been a strength for Georgia throughout the winning streak as well.
Senior pitcher Christie Hamilton has posted a record of 6-0 with a 0.64 ERA while striking out 34 batters and walking just five. Sophomore pitcher Sarah McCloud has contributed as well with a 3-0 record and a 2.20 ERA over the last 10 games.
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