Albany State takes unbeaten conference record into SIAC tourney

ALBANY — After a historic run through the SIAC this season, the Albany State softball team is hoping to remain unbeaten this weekend and bring home a conference championship.

The Golden Rams finished the regular season 19-0 against SIAC competition, taking the top overall seed into the conference tournament.

Competition begins at noon on Thursday, with the Rams hosting Lane at 2 p.m. at the Gordon Sports Complex. The tournament will continue at the site through Saturday, with the championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. that day. Admission to all games is free.

The Rams faced Lane earlier this season in the SIAC crossover tournament and posted a 5-2 victory.

ASU head coach Amber Barker said despite the Rams’ previous success, the regular season goes out the window as everyone comes in with a fresh slate.

“We played them at the crossover tournament earlier this year, and they’re a good ball club,” she said. “They’re a good ball club, and so is everyone else in this tournament so it’s anybody’s game. You can’t take anybody lightly.”

Last season’s exit from the SIAC Tournament left a bad taste in ASU’s mouth, and this year the Rams look to take care of what they believe to be unfinished business.

With almost half the roster comprised of freshmen who will be experiencing their first conference tournament, Barker said she hopes the home-field advantage works out this weekend.

“It’s great. I know there’s something to be said about being able to travel, and people like that,” she said. “But with us finishing up finals and everything, it’s nice to be able to be here and sleep in your own bed at night.”

Barker noted that their balance is what they will rely on this weekend.

Brianna Murillo leads the conference in slugging percentage (.821) and is second in the conference in batting average (.470) and home runs (11). Murillo and Lavette Tucker are tied for the conference lead in RBI with 45.

“I think our biggest strength is we have the ability to be successful in a lot of areas,” she said. “We pitch well, we hit well, we play defense well, and if you do that, you’ve got a chance to win every game that you play. So I think that’s our biggest strength, that we have it across the board and not only rely on one thing.

“It’s going to take everybody and all parts of the game are going to have to come in line. We’ve shown we can do that, we just have to do it consistently.”