Tide Softball Eliminated from NCAAs by Florida Atlantic
5/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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TALLAHASSEE, FL—The top-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls (61-12) provided the knockout punch as they held off a late Alabama charge and eliminated the Crimson Tide softball team (46-21) from the 2002 NCAA Championships with a 2-1 victory over the Tide.
Florida Atlantic took an early lead putting together two hits and taking advantage of an Alabama error in the second inning to take to a 2-0 lead.
Meanwhile, FAU pitcher Candice Freel was racing through the Alabama line-up as she carried a no-hitter through the first five innings and allowing only one base runner, as Lacy Prejean tied her career high with her 12th hit-by-pitch this season in the second inning.
Leah White broke up Freel’s no-hitter in the top of the sixth inning when she took a 3-2 pitch and hit a line-drive through the right side for Alabama’s first hit of the evening.
True to form all season, Alabama battled back in the top of the seventh. Trailing by two runs, Suzanne Olcott drew a leadoff walk and took third on a single into right-centerfield from Jackie McClain, who was pinch-run for by Deasy Phillips. Ashley Courtney then hit a high grounder that scored Olcott and sent Phillips to second. Both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Lacy Prejean then reached on a fielder’s choice with Courtney being tagged out in a run-down between second and third base, Prejean advanced to second during the run-down. Angela Johnson grounded out to third and Emily Currie struck out which put an end to the Alabama rally.
Jennifer Wright took the loss, going 3 2/3 innings allowing two runs on five hits. Erin Wright came on in relief of Jennifer Wright in the fourth and threw the final 2 1/3 innings allowing only two hits while recording four strikeouts.
Alabama’s elimination from the tournament in the first two games marks the first time since 1999 that Alabama did not claim a victory in the NCAA Championships. The Tide will look to repeat history next season as in 1999 Alabama went 0-2 in the tournament and the next season, the Tide went 4-0 in the NCAA Regional tournament and advanced to the College World Series.
