Ashley Prange Expected to Play This Weekend

Alabama's RBI-leader missed the last two games against Auburn, but is ready to play in the Crimson Tide's series against LSU.

Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama softball received some good news on the injury front. 

Fifth-year third basemen Ashley Prange is expected to be ready to go for the No. 16 Crimson Tide's series this weekend against No. 14 LSU according to Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy.

Prange missed the final two games of the Auburn series after injuring her lower leg sliding into second base on a double that was inches away from a home run during the fifth inning of the game one win over the Tigers. 

Since the Mississippi State series, Prange had been moved up to the leadoff spot in the lineup and was missed in the final two games against Auburn with the offense struggling to score runs in the two losses. 

This season, Prange leads Alabama in home runs (12) and RBIs (37) while hitting .294, and is one of two players with an on-base percentage over .400 alongside freshman Kenleigh Cahalan. Prange has also started 46 of the 49 games this season at third base, and is Alabama's anchor along the infield. 

"To have her back is big," Murphy said Thursday. 

Heading into the series with LSU, Murphy and the coaching staff met with every individual player on Tuesday and gave them three specific things that they needed to do to help the team get better. One of the common themes for players was getting on base more. 

"And at the end of the conversation, I said, 'Can you do those three things?'" Murphy said. "And every one of them said, 'Yes, sir.' So we're going to concentrate on those three thing."

This weekend is a big series for the Crimson Tide (34-15, 10-8 SEC) and Tigers (37-11, 10-8 SEC). The two teams are tied for fifth place in the SEC standings, vying for a top-four spot and double-bye in the SEC Tournament as well as NCAA Tournament seeding. It is also the final home series for Alabama at Rhoads Stadium this season. 

The series begins Friday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.