After a mid-week loss to Georgia State, the Alabama softball team will travel to Athens for a three-game series against Georgia.

The No. 2 Crimson Tide lost 5-1 on Tuesday to Georgia State, making its record 40-3.

The Tide swept the Bulldogs (34-10) last season, when Georgia was ranked No. 1 in the country.

The Tide saw the Georgia Bulldogs again during the Southeastern Conference Tournament last year but was unable to keep up their winning streak, with a loss of 4-2. Alabama has done well in the past against Georgia, going 31-13.

Senior outfielder Jennifer Fenton said the team will be ready for the away games this weekend.

“They’re a great team, but we’re going to string some hits together and play defense,” Fenton said. “Our pitching is going to be on point this weekend.”

Fenton said the team is striving for the same results they had during the regular season last year when they swept Georgia.

Georgia recently moved to No. 12 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and to No. 13 in the ESPN.com USA Softball Poll.

Murphy said he’s happy his team will have to play again so soon after Tuesday’s loss.

“All of us have to have short-term memories right now,” Murphy said. “Georgia will come out ready to go.”

Both Alabama and Georgia also had to play a game against Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

“It’ll be kind of the same thing for them,” Murphy said. “They have a quick turnaround, and then, we go over there. It’s always a great series with them.”

The Tennessee Bulldogs are 12-7 in SEC play, having lost to Mississippi State, Auburn, Florida and Kentucky. The Tide is 17-2 in SEC play, losing to Tennessee and LSU.

Murphy said RBIs will be the difference maker with the games this weekend.

“We have to come up with a key RBI,” Murphy said. “We also need to create more offense.”

Georgia has four freshmen on the team and five seniors this year. Murphy said he doesn’t know what to expect from such a young team, but he’s sure they’re going to be ready to play.

Murphy said Georgia has a good pitching staff, and he expects Georgia’s senior pitcher Erin Arevalo to bring her all.

Arevalo has 187 strikeouts, compared to Alabama’s Jackie Traina’s 215 strikeouts.

The Tide will play Georgia April 19-21 in Athens, Ga. The first game, on Thursday, will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.