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Alabama Softball eliminated from SEC Tournament with loss to Ole Miss

By Chris Dodson

Jul 5, 2015; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of Deanna Manning Stadium as Team Japan outfielder Mikko Eguchi bats during the seventh inning against Team USA at Deanna Manning Stadium. Team USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of Deanna Manning Stadium as Team Japan outfielder Mikko Eguchi bats during the seventh inning against Team USA at Deanna Manning Stadium. Team USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama Softball fell to Ole Miss 4-1 in the SEC Tournament semifinal and was eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Alabama now awaits their position in the NCAA Regional. It will take some major adjustments if they want to make a deep run to the Women’s College World Series.

Alabama Softball made a slightly deeper run than expected, knocking out 4-seed Texas A&M on Thursday. Ole Miss had the momentum, however. After winning their first game, they knocked off 1-seed Florida and are now headed to their first SEC Tournament final ever. While there were a few plays that were the result of a “wrong place, wrong time”, Ole Miss deserved to win that game.

Now that the SEC Tournament is behind them, Alabama awaits the fate of their position in the NCAA Regionals, which start next week. Their qualification into the tournament isn’t a question, but where they will land is one. Even then, Alabama is going to need to adjust their play if they have any hope of even making it to Oklahoma City.

Prepping for the Women’s College World Series

The NCAA will reveal the 64-team bracket and the top 16 seeds Sunday at 9pm CT on ESPNU. Alabama’s question isn’t qualification, but rather position. It is likely that Alabama will be a top-16 seed and also likely it’s no higher than the 12-seed. That puts Alabama at hosting a regional at the very least.

However, that seed is merely just a number. Alabama’s going to have to make some adjustments if they hope to make a deep run.

Alexis Osorio pitched extremely well in the ten-inning game against Texas A&M. Her style is getting her outs at the plate via strikeouts. Sydney Littlejohn, however, pitches to contact. This is a great strategy in that it usually results in low pitch counts, but it relies on a good defense. That defense is what got Alabama eliminated against Ole Miss. Too many errors fielding and you get a 4-1 loss result.

Alabama is doing the best it can in terms of bats. The batting order has worked out really well and Alabama has some good power hitters. The thing is that Alabama just cannot get the right contact on the ball. They have been hitting many deep balls that are just a few feet short of fair territory. That also comes with selecting the right pitches.

Overall, Alabama has to get the right synergy as a team in order to gel. The team we saw against Ole Miss was lethargic and lackluster. There’s got to be more energy for the road to the WCWS.

Next: Alabama Softball Pitching vs. The Last Five Years

We will have information of Alabama’s position in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night.

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