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By the Way, Did You Notice?
- Who’s been reading the small print on the WCWS brackets? If you raised your hand, then you know the losers of today’s game jump to games in the opposite bracket, in this instance a Sunday afternoon contest against Texas. The Texas Tech-Tennessee loser would get UCLA
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WCWS vs. Alabama – THINGS TO LOOK FOR:
- Nebraska should probably receive a plaque commemorating honorary membership as this evening’s contest will be their 8th this season against a member of the SEC, who have 13 teams. That’s probably as many teams as most fellow conference members played.
- The Huskers are 5-3 against the conference after Thursday’s victory over Arkansas
- The Tide, like the Huskers, have their strength in their pitching with ERA’s of 1.51 and 1.82 respectively. They both also have two very high-quality starters they can roll out.
- That being said, I would expect both to roll out their #1’s again with each having a day’s rest. Some might wonder why Nebraska wouldn’t roll out a fresh 3rd-team All-American Alexis Jensen. Simple – their ace will be fresh and as Bones said in Star Trek, “”You know, back home we have a saying: ‘If you’re gonna ride in the Kentucky Derby, you don’t leave your prize stallion in the stable'”. Folks, we’re in the Derby.
- Don’t feel bad for Jensen – she will take on the ace role in Lincoln for the next three years. And she will see the circle before this run over.
- If both Frahm and Briski start, we have a boss-level match-up between two bosses. I’m picking the Huskers for three reasons.
- 1) A slight advantage offensively – BA Huskers .332-.325; HR’s Huskers 95-99 but in four fewer games; Runs per game Huskers 7.0-6.4.
- 2) If Alabama has a flaw, it’s a lack of quality games against ranked non-conference teams. Sure, the SEC is hands-down the nation’s best conference. But Nebraska has the country’s most experience against its best teams in out-of-conference match-ups. Playing a top-seeded conference opponent is very familiar ground for this senior-loaded squad.
- 3) Jordy Frahm. Briski is deadly, but, again, experience falls to Nebraska here. Frahm has it in spades when it comes to dominating the sport’s biggest stages.
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HUSKER GAME INFO
Schedule: (All times CST)
May 30 vs #1-seed Alabama 6:00 p.m.
Location: Devon Park, Oklahoma City, OK
Surface: Dirt Infield, Grass outfield
TV/Streaming: Game will be broadcast on ESPN
Radio: Huskers Radio Network. You can listen for free at Husker Audio – University of Nebraska – Official Athletics Website huskers.com – Nate Rohr is on the call for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Weather: Conditions should be partly sunny with temps in the low 90’s throughout maybe dropping a little by game’s end with winds of around 15-20mph out of the south with gusts up to 25 or more. There is 15-20% of isolated rain and thunderstorms.
THE OPPONENT
Alabama (55-7, 19-5 SEC, 2nd place)
Alabama finished the regular season in 2nd place in the SEC standings. The Crimson Tide posted a 19-5 mark in SEC play and come into this weekend at 54-7. A very weak non-conference schedule was highlighted by a victory over Florida St., the only ranked team on that docket. They and Nebraska have not met this season.
Offensively, Bama is batting .325 and averages 6.4 runs per game. The pitching staff has an ERA of 1.51, a WHIP of 0.875 and a core staff of three, none with an ERA over 1.66. Unlike teams such as UCLA and Okie State., there is no weakness should the aces get in trouble.
Patrick Murphy has been Alabama’s Head Coach since 1999 and is 1317-398 with one national title (2012), 6 SEC regular season and 5 SEC tournament titles. This is his 15th WCWS appearance as head coach.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brooke Wells (.382 – 24 – 68 – 1.373OPS) and Alexis Pupillo (.398 – 20 – 62 – 1.307OPS) lead the Alabama offensive attack. They both have sharp eyes at the plate with OB%’s of .500 and .495 respectively.
In the circle, Jocelyn Briski (23-3 1.37) and Vic Moten (21-4 1.66) carry the water for one of the nation’s best pitching staffs. Briski is the ace with 207 K’s and only 21 BB’s issued in 163.2 IP.
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HUSKERS LINEUPS (Best Guess)
P/1B #98 JORDY FRAHM
CF #23 HANNAH COOR
LF/DP/P #9 HANNAH CAMENZIND
SS #7 AVA KUSZAK
C #25 JESSE FARRELL
3B #29 SAMANTHA BLAND
RF #14 KACIE HOFFMANN
DP/P #99 EMMERSON COPE/ #3 BELLA BACON/#99 ALEXIS JENSEN
2B #2 LAURA CAMENZIND
1B #3 BELLA BACON (When Jordy pitches)
LF #27 NATALIA HILL (defensive only)
G8 Starter: JORDY FRAHM
Hoffman flipped places with Bland for Arkansas, but Bland was more effective at the plate as she continued to ride her post-season hot streak. Don’t be surprised to see her back at 6th against Briski where hits will be at a premium, not to mention the chaos her aggressiveness and instincts play on the base paths.
See the details above, but while Jensen, a 3rd-team All-American, starting would be only a minor shock, I expect Frahm in the circle this evening.
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