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With no games on the docket on Thursday, it’s time to shift to Friday and what’s to come tonight and this weekend.
As we’ve reached the penultimate weekend in the SEC softball season, things are going to be quite intense. We’ve got four ranked-vs.-ranked matchups coming our way. The ones that won’t will feature Mizzou facing off with Mississippi State, while 7th-ranked LSU takes on Baylor. The Fighting Tigers are looking to keep pace with first-place Alabama and hope to become the second team to 40 wins in the conference this weekend.
Mizzou, meanwhile, will be looking to keep treading above .500. They’re playing Mississippi State, who sits 4-14 in SEC play this year. So, things should land in the Tigers’ favor. But of course, you can’t discount the bats of Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua.
Speaking of Alabama, they’ll be hosting the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend in Tuscaloosa. The 22nd-ranked Cats have won four in a row, including last week’s sweep of Auburn. They’ve outscored their opponents 31-5 in that four-game run, including two 7-0 shutouts against Auburn. They’ll have their hands full against the 3rd-ranked Tide, and no doubt will be tasked with facing the dominant Montana Fouts at least once this weekend.
Elsewhere, Florida and Auburn will face off with another in a pivotal series. Both the Gators and Tigers are knotted up at 9-9 in SEC play, so this series could go a long way towards seeding in the upcoming SEC Softball Tournament. Neither team is coming in on a hot streak, as they were both swept in their previous series against ‘Bama and Kentucky (who ironically face each other, of course).
Speaking of pivotal series for seeding, Ole Miss and Tennessee will be doing battle this weekend. The Rebels and Volunteers are 3rd and 4th in the SEC, separated by just one game in the loss column right now. This will be an extremely fascinating series for that reason, plus the fact that one of the best offenses in the conference will face off with one of the better pitching squads.
Two teams looking to get themselves out of the bottom quadrant will face off with one another, as Georgia takes on South Carolina. The Gamecocks and Bulldogs each have seven wins, and are separated by just one game in the loss column. They’re also 10th and 11th right now in the SEC standings, and will be aiming for a more upward trajectory. South Carolina has won their last five entering play, while UGA has earned two victories in a row.