|
Miller vividly remembres Bama loses |
|
Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
By AARON SEIDLITZ
Starkville Daily News
Mississippi State softball coach Jay Miller insists there is nothing different about today's SEC tournament opening game against Alabama.
But as the Lady Bulldogs approach the post-season opener with a Crimson Tide team that has spent parts of the season atop the nation's softball rankings, Miller also knows how tough the conference tournament will be this year.
"The SEC is so strong in softball that I think the SEC tournament will be a stronger tournament than regional play, when that begins," Miller said. "When you play in the regional, obviously, you have your top seed and then it tails off a little bit with the No. 2, 3 and 4 in your regional.
"In the SEC Tournament, there's going to be the potential for four teams to get No. 1 seeds in various regionals."
Understanding just how difficult the conference tournament is going to be, though, doesn't have the seventh-year MSU coach rattled.
"We don't treat these games coming up any differently than the other ones we've played this year," Miller said. "The biggest change we have is that we have more time now. Classes are out, we've been practicing hard and we're looking forward to getting this tournament started."
While the Lady Bulldogs (40-19, 13-14) improved their overall record this year by five wins, the team finished with one less conference victory this year due to a rain out.
State softball goes in the tournament playing .500 ball over its final 10 games, and the coach has spotted what his concern is.
"We've had great pitching all season long, and I hope our hitting continues the way it's been," Miller said. "But we do need to tighten up on our defense a little bit right now."
The team's hitting has been bolstered all year by sophomore infielder Chelsea Bramlett. Bramlett is second in the SEC in batting average (.449) to go along with 23 RBIs and 43 stolen bases.
While Bramlett set the stage for State offensively, Misty Flesher has been a dominating figure on the mound.
This season, Flesher leads the team with a 1.79 ERA, which has helped the pitcher to a 19-8 record. She has completed 14 games this year, and she has earned shut outs in six of those contests.
But even those two players could not help MSU to a win over Alabama, when the two teams met in Starkville March 15 and 16.
The Crimson Tide took all three games of the series, although the Lady Bulldogs kept it close throughout and never lost a game by more than three runs - and that was the 3-0 finale that Alabama won.
"They were all close games - one or two-run games - even though we lost them," Miller said. "They have a very good team, so we need to focus on keeping them off the base paths. Offensively, we need to try to score early and put pressure on."
The game takes place in Baton Rouge, La. today at 5 p.m. Flesher will take the mound against the Crimson Tide. |
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 09 May 2008 )
|
