Oct. 26, 2007

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Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 678-2444

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - With a doubleheader exhibition against a top 10 opponent on Saturday, the University of Memphis softball team will close its fall workouts at the University of Alabama. The two teams will play two games at the Alabama Softball Complex beginning at noon.

"This is kind of a culmination of the fall," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "It's going to be a great measuring stick because Alabama is going to come out next year preseason ranked one, two or three. For us to go down there, we want to have our girls see where they are and see where they need to be. I think there's nothing like playing the best competition to let you see that."

Memphis concludes its fall training that began six weeks prior. After a 2007 season that saw the Tigers finish 36-25 and sixth in Conference USA with a 10-12 mark, the Memphis swept all four of its games in the Tiger Fall Tournament at home in September. With six seniors departed from last year's roster, the Tigers have several new faces in its lineup, especially on the mound.

"We're very excited about the team we have this year," Thees said. "It's a young team, but we have so much talent. It's probably one of the most talented teams I've ever coached. The ability is there. I'm really pleased with how our fall went."

The Crimson Tide ended the 2007 season in the NCAA Super Regional and were ranked No. 9 in the NFCA 2007 final national poll. After going 55-10 last year and 21-6 in the SEC, Alabama is 2-0 in the fall with home victories against Wallace-Dothan and UA-Huntsville. The Tide outscored their two opponents 19-1.

"We want all of our team to know where we want them to be," Thees said. "Alabama is a program that has been around for over 10 years, but they were new 10 years ago. They were new when I was a player, and they went through growing pains as well. It helps me as a coach to see them where they're at now and how they got to where they are. When we go down there and play this top team, we're hoping to see where we want to be."

Memphis will open up its 2008 campaign on the road at the USF Wilson Invitational in Tampa, Fla., beginning on February 8. The season will mark the program's third year.