Kentucky knows how rowdy Alabama fans will be this weekend. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Alabama advanced to this week’s Super Regional against Kentucky but not allowing a run in three regional games and amassing 44 strikeouts. That shutout streak extended Alabama’s Super Regional run. Alabama is the only team to play in every Super Regional since the format was adopted in 2005.
Alabama (48-7) has won 16 straight games, including 14 against ranked teams. The Tide has not trailed in 107 straight innings.
If that’s not enough to worry Kentucky and coach Rachel Lawson, Alabama senior ace Montana Fouts now has 19 games with 10 or more strikeouts.
“The thing about Alabama is really it’s going to have to be an SEC team that goes down in there. Only an SEC team or a Pac-12 team that plays in front, I mean maybe a Big 12 team, but the hostile crowd down there if you’re not used to that environment it can be something that is a little crazy,” Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson said Sunday after her team shut out Notre Dame in a doubleheader to advance to the Super Regional.
“So, it has to be a team like ours that’s used to playing there, that’s done it, that’s going to have a fighting chance. Obviously, they’re a great team. They know how to play. Montana Fouts is a great pitcher and also, they have an awesome offense.”
Game one of the series will be Friday at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN2. Game two will be at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN, with the third game, if needed, on Sunday at 4 p.m. EST on ESPNU.
Kentucky lost 5-1 in Tuscaloosa on May 13 in the SEC Tournament. But the last two three-game series UK has had with Alabama, it won both. The Cats opened Southeastern Conference play this year by winning two of three from Alabama, including a dramatic 5-4 comeback win in eight innings in game three.
Kentucky also went to Alabama in 2019 for a three-game series and twice, including a 3-2 13th-inning win.
“We’re a lot more familiar with them (than teams UK played in the regional) so that’ll be nice going in. Now, granted we’re still going to have to figure out how to beat them,” Lawson said.
Kentucky players are well aware of how ferocious Alabama fans can be supporting the Tide.
“You have just got to pretend they are cheering for you,” UK senior pitcher Grace Baalman said. “That’s what I do. Everybody should just do that.”
Outfielder Tatum Spangler says UK will have parents of players and some other fans in Tuscaloosa.
“But it is hard to play there because Alabama fans are so rowdy,” Spangler said. “We will have BBN back her cheering for us, too.”
Senior Autumn Humes has pitched against Alabama and knows keeping the Bama hitters off balance and speed off base is the key to winning.
“We cannot let power hitters jerk the ball over the fence,” Humes said. “When we are playing our best, I think we are a pretty good team.”
