Feb. 27, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team will host its highest-ranked opponent in school history Wednesday as the Bulldogs welcome the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to Bulldog Field for a 6:30 p.m., matchup.

Samford (7-4) heads into its 2007 home opener looking to rebound from a pair of hard-fought one-run losses against Kennesaw State last week. The Bulldogs played a doubleheader at Kennesaw State and were defeated 8-7 and 1-0 (8), in back-to-back contests.

Prior to its pair of one-run losses to Kennesaw State, Samford opened the season with a 7-2 record, its best in school history. The Bulldogs rallied to a five-game winning streak and earned the championship title of the 2007 Georgia Southern Invitational.

The only two teams that have defeated Samford this season are Kennesaw State and 19th-ranked Florida State.

Alabama (16-0) enters Wednesday's in-state matchup as one of the best teams in the nation. The Crimson Tide is currently ranked No. 3 in the national rankings and is one of only three teams in the country with an undefeated record.

As the No. 3-ranked team in the nation, Alabama trails only Tennessee and Arizona for the top spot in the country.

Tennessee, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, currently owns an unblemished 15-0 record, while Arizona follows at 11-3. The only other undefeated team in the top 25 is Oklahoma with a 16-0 record.

Alabama is coming off a perfect 6-0 performance at home in the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic over the weekend.

The Crimson Tide earned the championship title of the three-day event with wins against N.C. State, Winthrop, Western Kentucky and Indiana State. Alabama picked up a pair of victories against both N.C. State and Winthrop.

Samford heads into the game with three players batting over .300 this season.

True freshman Brittany Simao currently leads the team with a .385 batting average, while fellow-freshman Amanda Barrs follows with a .379 mark. Senior Liz Pearse is ranked third on the team with a .371 average. She also leads the team with eight runs batted in.

Sophomore Stephanie Royall has been the Bulldogs' most consistent pitcher this season and leads the team with a 5-2 record.

The native of Mill Valley, Calif., she has already been named the Ohio Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Week twice this season and owns a miniscule 1.41 earned run average. Royall also leads the team in strikeouts (51) and complete games (6).

Alabama currently has six players batting over .300 this season and two players with a .500 average or better.

The Tide's Lauren Parker, the reigning Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, is batting a stifling .514 this season, while Brittany Rogers is right at .500. Alabama's Jordan Praytor (.419), Mandy Burford (.390), Charlotte Morgan (.357) and Kelley Montalvo (.305) are all also batting over .300 this season.

The Crimson Tide's top pitcher this season is Chrissy Owens. She holds an unblemished 8-0 record on the season and a 0.30 ERA.

Samford owns a 2-12 all-time record against Alabama with its previous victory over the Crimson Tide occurring in 1997. Since then, Alabama has rattled off 12-straight wins in the series.

Last season, the teams squared off in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and the No. 3 Crimson Tide rallied for a 9-1 victory at the UA Softball Complex.