April 28, 2005

ATHENS, Ga. --- The No. 11-ranked Georgia Bulldogs host their final Southeastern Conference series of the season on Saturday when they open a three-game set against the No. 7-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.  First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. EDT.

The Bulldogs (46-11, 24-3 SEC) clinched their second SEC Eastern Division title in three years last weekend with a series win over the Tennessee Lady Vols.  Georgia needs to win only one game in its series with Alabama this weekend to earn its second SEC Championship. The Bulldogs clinched their first SEC Championship in 2003 after earning a series win over the Crimson Tide in Athens.

Alabama currently leads the all-time series against Georgia with a 14-6 record, including a 2-1 series win against the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa last season. 

Georgia will honor its three seniors, Michelle Green, Katie Lewis, and Kim Wendland on Saturday in a pre-game ceremony before the start of game one.

The Bulldogs currently lead the SEC in batting average (.326), hits (241), RBI (130), doubles (44), total bases (353), sacrifice hits (42) and fielding percentage (.974) in conference play.

Kim Wendland leads all Georgia hitters with a .421 batting average with 12 doubles, 13 home runs and 51 RBI.  The two-time All-American is Georgia¹s all-time leader in career home runs (36).  The left-hander leads the SEC with a .478 batting average in conference play.

Megan McAllister is currently tied for the SEC-lead with 15 home runs.

Alabama enters the weekend with a 49-9 overall record, including a 19-5 showing in the SEC.  The Crimson Tide earned a 7-0 win over Birmingham Southern on Tuesday after outhitting the Panthers by a 13-1 margin.

Ashley Courtney leads the Crimson Tide with a .391 batting average with
11 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 37 RBI.  Jordan Praytor and Jackie Wilkins are currently sporting .360 and .333 batting averages, respectively.

Stephanie VanBrackle (24-4) has logged a majority of the innings in the circle for the Crimson Tide in 2005, posting a 1.20 ERA in 175.2 innings of work.  Jennifer Wright (16-3, 2.38 ERA) and Chrissy Owens (9-2, 0.97 ERA) have also seen time in the circle for Alabama this season.

Free Bulldog plush magnets will be distributed to the first 500 fans on Saturday courtesy of Verizon.

Fans of Georgia softball can catch live audio and video broadcasts of the Georgia-Alabama series on GXtra.com.