Morgan has her third RBI of the day with a sac to right field -- that's a double and two sac flies.

Larsen makes it 8-0 and brings the run rule into play when she crosses the plate.

R-B up. Singles to right.

Kendall Dawson enters as a pinch hitter with runners on first and second, no outs.

Getting pretty breezy. I've got a third-floor view above the plate in an open-air roofed section atop the press box.

Dawson out 1-5-3 as for the second time an Alabama batter hits one off the glove of the pitcher, deflecting to a fielder who makes the throw to first for the out.

Scoreboard;

Arkansas 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Alabama 3 2 2 1 8 7 0

Called it: Locke on to pitch the fifth.

Not exactly a save situation, but a good chance to get the rook some postseason experience.

They played the UA fight song for the THIRD TIME on Morgan's sac fly in the fourth.

Emily Pitek, superfan former Alabama soccer player who now coaches soccer and softball at Sewanee, just led a pretty decent Thursday-afternoon Alabama crowd in an 'Ala-Bama ... Rolllllll Tide, Roll.' Cheer.

East out one on a pop-up for Locke.

And another.

And a fly foul to left field for out three.

Game over, Alabama 8-0.

Winning streak now at 13 games. Murphy's 599th career win. Largest margin of victory in an SEC tournament game in UA history. Etc. etc.

Florida vs. Auburn next, with LSU and Tennessee in the nightcap.

Alabama vs. Kentucky at 4 p.m. CT tomorrow, I believe (no bracket handy up here).

The thread will continue throughout the tournament as long as Alabama is playing.

Roll Tide! Lets go girls!
Thanks for the updates Tommy Deas.

RTR Ladies! Now go beat those Cats! Thanks Tommy.

Nice. Anyone know if they're showing these on WVUA in Tusc? They often show their regular season ones.

^
WVUA televises select home games.

Tennessee's athletics web site for women's sports (google Tennessee Lady Vols) has free live streaming -- you might have to do a free registration. I think there's also free audio for games, but 90.7 FM will have Alabama games on radio.

No TV today, but Saturday's final will be on Fox SportSouth.

The topic of the day was a mandate handed down by the SEC on Wednesday that coaches have to wear batting helmets when they're coaching bases at this event -- this apparently decided because a minor-league baseball coach died after being hit by a foul line drive.

When a foul ball went into the Alabama dugout yesterday, Patrick Murphy tossed his playfully into the dugout. It got a good laugh, but the ump made sure he put it back on before the next pitch.

Alabama was lucky because it traveled later due to exams (and proximity to bus here -- closer than other schools) so UA got the memo in time for someone to go out and buy a couple of crimson helmets for the coaches. Other schools had to drive around Knoxville to use them or borrow from Tennessee.

Most coaches don't like it, but realize they have to go along with it. Expect to see this rule applied nationally soon, althought I haven't heard anything about it being in place for the NCAA Tournament.

Alabama and Arkansas players joined for games of hacky-sack and frisbee after their game in the parking lot while waiting for their team buses to get ready. Alabama players and coaches were at the stadium for the Florida-Auburn game, scouting and probably also just to avoid getting cabin fever by spending too long in a hotel since Alabama played early yesterday.

Had a nice talk with Tennessee coach Ralph Weekly before Alabama's game. He said some very nice things about Patrick Murphy and the UA team and urged me to consider doing an article about SEC coaches wanting to go to a Friday-Saturday-Sunday three-game series with one game each day. That's something I'll probably work on for next spring to run around the time of the start of SEC play.

Murphy also made it clear to me that he wants to be in the championship game. He's smart enough not to call out Florida, since the Gators hadn't played their first game yet at the time we talked, but I think he clearly would covet another shot at the Gators.

ESPN.com's Graham Hayes is here, as is Jose Garcia, a great guy who runs Ultimatecollegesoftball.com, a great fan site if you've never checked it out.

Tommy,
I am curious about the advantages of going to a three day series in the view of the coaches?

I know this is what the PAC-10 does, but from a fans stand point it would be pretty difficult to have to come out to the park three days in a row? And to get to a Friday night game for those who come from out of town might not be easy.

Anyway I am sure there are positives that I wouldn't even think of and would like to know your thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by mickey2198:
Tommy,
I am curious about the advantages of going to a three day series in the view of the coaches?

I know this is what the PAC-10 does, but from a fans stand point it would be pretty difficult to have to come out to the park three days in a row? And to get to a Friday night game for those who come from out of town might not be easy.

Anyway I am sure there are positives that I wouldn't even think of and would like to know your thoughts.

Coaches are looking at it for competitive reasons -- a doubleheader day is a LONG day for a team, especially on the road. Including meals, warm-up, stretching, games, etc., you're probably looking at about a 9-hour day -- and many then get on a bus at the end for a long ride home.

They probably wouldn't admit it, but a lot of coaches also like the idea of playing one game a day and throwing their ace every day -- for the better teams with one pitcher, this would be an advantage that they feel might enhance their chances at better NCAA seeding.

I personally like doubleheaders. I also like the three-game series (some would like one game per day for two days) so someone actually wins the series, barring a rainout.

Bottom line, playing on Fridays would mean missing more classes and add the cost of an extra day of hotel and meals, which is why it was shot down by the ADs and/or presidents even though the coaches voted in favor of the three-day series.

If you missed my shameless plug thread, I posted a blog about a touching thing that happened last night -- Gene Stallings was in Knoxville to see his son's name honored:

Link

How would that affect attendance stats?

Thanks for answering my questions, and I would learn to live with it if it happens. I do think it could give teams with just one pitcher an advantage, but I would still take our number 2 against most anyone. And for those teams I would have to question the #1's stamina by the end of they year.

^
Another discussion for another day.

Seriously threatening skies here at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Kentucky and Alabama have both taken their warm-ups.

Kentucky in blue jerseys with the school name across the chest in big letters, white pants with a blue stripe and blue sox.

Alabama in white with red letters, but they're in the dugout right now and can't see them.

Still waiting for a lineup card -- we're up on the covered third-floor roof of the press box with a fantastic balls/strikes view looking down over the plate.

Alabama lineup:

cf Brittany Rogers
2b Lauren Parker
dp Charlotte Morgan
rf Cassie Reilly-Boccia
c Ashley Holcombe
1b Amanda Locke
3b Kelley Montalvo
ss Kellie Eubanks
lf Whitney Larsen

In the circle, RHP Kelsi Dunne (24-2, 1.21 ERA)

Pitching for Kentucky, RHP Chanda Bell (18-8. 2.50 ERA)

Wind blowing out hard in probably 20-25 mph gusts. Shifting from center to right-center.

Home-run hitter's day, especially lefty types.

Even though it's overcast and the lights are on, Kesli's wearing the wonder glasses.

(BTW, my lineup card and nearly my notebook got blown off the table and onto the backstop area.

Kentucky's Molly Johnson beats out an infield single to lead off the game, moves to second on a fielder's choice, beating out the throw from Dunne, giving the Cats runners on first and second.

Sac bunt moves them to second and third with one out.

Cervantes 15-pitch at-bat draws a walk to load the bases.

Smith pops up to third for out two.

Riley pops up to second to strand them all.

Rogers strikes out swinging -- slapping, actually.

Parker pops up to the pitcher.

Morgan flies out foul to the left fielder.

After one inning:

Kentucky 0 1 0
Alabama 0 0 0