Softball Central: No. 7/10 Tennessee vs. No. 17/17 Alabama

Watch | Listen | Tennessee Notes | Live Stats

Knoxville, Tenn. – No. 7/10 Tennessee returns to SEC play this weekend when it takes on No. 17/17 Alabama for a three-game road series beginning Saturday at Rhoads Softball Stadium.

The Lady Vols (38-8, 8-7 SEC) come into the series on a five-game win streak that includes a sweep over then-No. 14 LSU last weekend. The Crimson Tide (27-13, 7-8 SEC) are coming off a win of their own after beating Southern Miss on Wednesday, 4-2.

GAME TIMES AND BROADCAST INFO

Opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide
Venue: Rhoads Softball Stadium
Game 1: Saturday, April 21 – 5:30 p.m. ET (Watch)
Game 2: Saturday, April 21– 8 p.m. ET (Watch)
Game 3: Monday, April 23 – 7 p.m. ET (Watch)
TV/Stream: SEC Network+ (Saturday) and SEC Network (Monday)
Radio: WMNL AM 990/UTSports.com
Live Stats: UTSports.com

Broadcast Info
The game on Saturday will be broadcasted on SEC Network+ with Gary Harris (PxP) and Chandler (color) on the call. Monday's games will be called by Beth Mowins (PxP) and Michele Smith (color), with Monday on SEC Network.

Brian Rice will be calling the game on the airways on Sports Radio WMNL (AM 990) and UTSports.com.

Series History vs. Alabama
Overall: Alabama leads 36-23
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads 14-12
In Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads 19-6
Neutral Site: Alabama leads 3-3
Last Meeting: April 16, 2017 (W, 2-0)

Tennessee won both of its games against the Crimson Tide last season. The Lady Vols picked up wins on April 15 and 16, but the final game of the series on April 17 was canceled due to inclement weather.

NEED TO KNOW

Senior Meghan Gregg is the NCAA Active Leader in career RBIs with 248. She is also tied for third in doubles with 57 and fourth in total bases with 473.
Gregg and Chelsea Seggern are ranked third and fourth in the NCAA in RBIs this season with 57 and 54, respectively.
Aubrey Leach leads the SEC in batting average (.464), runs scored (62) and on base percentage (.584). She also ranks high in the NCAA in runs per game (2nd), on base pct (5th), batting average (9th) and hits (6th).
Tennessee is 3-7 in its last 10 games at Rhoads Stadium and has never won a series against the Tide in Tuscaloosa.
The Lady Vols are currently 9-7 against teams that have been ranked in the top 25 in either the USA Today/NFCA and/or the ESPN/USA Softball poll.
Tennessee as a team is second in the SEC in hits (403) and batting average (.323).
UT's pitching staff is second in the conference in strikeouts looking with 81, led by Caylan Arnold's 50, which is good for third in the SEC.
Arnold ranks third in the SEC in total strikeouts with 175 and third in wins with 18.
Junior pitcher Matty Moss leads the SEC with five saves on the season. As a team, Tennessee leads the conference with eight saves.

OPPONENT SCOUT
Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 27-13 (7-8 SEC)
2017 Postseason: NCAA Super Regional
Patrick Murphy is in his 20th season as head coach of Alabama.
The Tide are 13-4 at home this season and are 3-3 over their last six games.
Freshman Kaylee Tow leads the way offensively. Tow has a team-high in batting average (.370), runs scored (28), hits (40) and home runs (10).
Sophomore Bailey Hemphill leads Alabama with 31 RBIs and has eight home runs on the year.
Alabama's pitching staff is third in the SEC with 79 strikeouts looking.
Senior pitcher Alexis Osorio is 10-6 this season with a 2.29 ERA.
Junior Courtney Gettins has an 11-3 record and a 2.13 ERA.

What's Next?
The Lady Vols return home next weekend for a three-game series against Kentucky at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.