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Leading Off...
The teams of the SEC went 6-1 in softball action on Tuesday with two doubleheader sweeps and other victories scattered about.
No. 14 Tennessee pushed their win streak from 14 to 16 with a sweep of Tennessee State. The Vols flexed their muscles, outscoring their opponents 19-1 in the doubleheader as neither game needed the full seven innings for it to be completed.
Mizzou was also able to grab a sweep of Western Illinois, though they weren’t as dominant as their contemporary. While the Tigers blew out the Leathernecks 10-2 in the first contest, the second proved a bit more challenging. They needed the full seven to complete it and eventually walked ‘em off 6-5 thanks to the bat of Kolby Romaine who clocked the go-ahead single to center.
After falling 8-0 earlier in the season, Arkansas got some revenge on Tulsa, defeating them 3-1 at home. The Razorbacks struck first in the fourth inning and added two runs later on in the ensuing fifth. While the Golden Hurricane grabbed a run in the sixth, their offense was stymied for the most part as they were only able to collect just four hits in the game.
Elsewhere, Alabama shut out UAB 8-0 in five innings. The Tide were dominant against the lowly Blazers, scoring two in the second, four in the third and then two in the fifth to cap off the game. ‘Bama is now an impressive 36-7 on the year and proved exactly why they’re the 10th-ranked team in the country.
The lone loss of the day for the SEC came at the hands of South Carolina who dropped one to Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers were always going to be a threat for the Gamecocks, especially with the game occurring in Conway, and unfortunately for them South Carolina wasn’t able to get the job done. CCU struck for three runs in the fourth inning and despite drawing the lead to just one, the Gamecocks weren’t able to get one over on their opponents.
Today’s Softball Schedule
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
| North Texas vs. Florida | Noon | SEC Network+ | WatchESPN |
| LSU vs. South Carolina | Noon | SEC Network | WatchESPN |
| Ole Miss vs. Missouri | 1 p.m. | SEC Network+ | WatchESPN |
| Tennessee vs. Texas A&M | 1 p.m. | SEC Network+ | WatchESPN |
| Auburn vs. Alabama | 1 p.m. | ESPN | WatchESPN |
| Georgia vs. Arkansas | 2 p.m. | SEC Network+ | WatchESPN |
| Kentucky vs. Mississippi State | 2 p.m. | SEC Network+ | WatchESPN |
| Florida A&M vs. Florida | 2:30 p.m. | SEC Network+ | WatchESPN |
So after Tuesday’s matchup of Sunshine State rivals, it’s softball now who gets the attention as No. 2 FSU takes on No. 3 Florida. The game gets top billing on SEC Network and should prove to be an absolute delight if both teams play up to potential.
The game is in Gainesville, but that may not intimidate the Seminoles, who are a perfect 12-0 on the road this season. They’ve taken just one loss away from Tallahassee (a 2-0 loss to Texas A&M out in Palm Springs, California at a neutral site) but that was all the way back on February 23. The ‘Noles haven’t lost since, with their only other ‘decision’ being a 5-5 tie against Michigan out in Palm Springs too.
The Gators of course have more than proven their worth this season and their 15-2 mark in their home dwelling will certainly be tested. That said, they’re pretty darn hot right now. They ride an eight-game win streak heading into this Sunshine State tussle, averaging 6.5 runs in the win streak and outscored their opponents 52-11.
That’s not all that will be going on, of course. Kentucky and Louisville will renew a rivalry, as will Georgia Tech and Georgia as well as Memphis and Ole Miss. Auburn could find 26-14 Georgia State to be tough, but the 7th-ranked Tigers are where they are for a reason.
All in all, a pretty fine slate tonight. Prepare thyself accordingly.