USA Softball Moves Up In Polls, Takes on #4 Alabama This Evening
South Alabama’s Softball team is starting to draw more national attention. Coming off of back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Championships they had high expectations for 2014 and they have not disappointed.
In the midst of a 13 game winning streak they have climbed to #11 in both the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll.
Earlier in the week Hannah Campbell became the first Jaguar female to be drafted professionally when she was selected third overall in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft. Then she and Farish Beard were both featured in an ESPNW.com article about South Alabama’s softball program and how it’s built on local players. (You can read it here.)
The Jaguars will have a big opportunity to make a big jump in the polls and to knock off the top ranked program in the state when they travel to #4 ranked University of Alabama this evening.
The Jags (29-3, 7-0 SBC) puts their 13-game win streak, 17-game road win streak and best-ever poll ranking on the line against Alabama (31-5, 11-1 SEC). USA enters with the best overall ERA in the nation and the highest ranking in program history, but the Tide lead the all-time series 8-0. Last season the Crimson Tide defeated the Jags 4-0 to snap the Jaguars 12-game winning streak.
USA has defeated then #17 ranked Georgia and then #21 ranked LSU this season to hold a 2-0 record against SEC opponents.
The Jags and the Tide get underway at 6pm in Tuscaloosa in what could very well be one of the best games of the season. The game can be heard through Jaguar All-Access.