ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga gets Alabama after all

By: Jim Tanner
(Contact)

Included in this article

Frank Reed

When rain washed out the Chattanooga Shootout at Jim Frost Stadium on March 19, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball players thought they had lost their shot at pulling an upset over national power Alabama.

But the Lady Mocs will get their chance after all when they take on the No. 3 Crimson Tide tonight at 6:30 in the Tuscaloosa Regional of the NCAA Division I softball tournament. Jacksonville State and Florida State also are competing in the double-elimination tournament, and they will play this afternoon at 4. The winner of UTC’s game will take on the Jacksonville State-Florida State winner on Friday, and the two losing teams will also meet.

UTC coach Frank Reed said Sunday that going to Alabama will be a good experience for the Lady Mocs.

“They’re excited about going to Alabama,” Reed said. “They’re great hosts. Alabama does an awesome job. They make you feel extra special.”

Senior infielder Tara Tembey said she and her teammates were not intimidated to be facing a top-five team when the NCAA tournament matchups were announced Sunday, and they have confidence in their prospects today.

“I’m very excited about it,” Tembey said. “I think we can do anything we can really put our minds to.”

Several players on the UTC team are familiar with tonight’s foe, having played a doubleheader against Alabama last season. Alabama defeated the Lady Mocs twice last year, notching 8-6 and 8-1 wins.

Despite the losses, several current Lady Mocs did have success against the Crimson Tide.

Junior outfielder Laci Upchurch hit home runs in each of last year’s games, and Toni Hutchison and Tembey each went 2-for-4 with Tembey recording an RBI in the first game against Alabama.

Sophomore pitcher Brooke Loudermilk was roughed up against the Crimson Tide, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits in six innings. Reed hopes that Loudermilk can put last year’s performance behind her and focus on continuing her late-season run of solid pitching.

“My approach to Brooke is not to say a whole lot to her. She’s more of a mental-type player. I think the more she thinks about it, the more it affects the way she pitches,” Reed said. “I think if we focus more on our side of the field — doing what we do well — I think it’s a whole lot better than focusing on Alabama.

“If we play Chattanooga ball ... then we should find a way to win.”

Reed said the focus in practice leading up to today’s game is on keeping the team loose and mentally sharp — and getting some rest after playing several games last weekend to win the Southern Conference tournament championship.

“We won’t be going over a lot of new stuff,” Reed said. “It’s basically keeping the rust off. ... Try to keep the intensity up.”

UTC pitching coach Lacey Swarthout said the pitching staff is feeling strong heading into NCAA tournament play, and she thinks that confidence will help them today against a more highly regarded opponent.

“Mentally, they’re pumped. Right now they feel like they can beat anybody,” Swarthout said at Sunday’s selection show party. “Which they can if they all play as a team.”

Comments