Alabama Softball Sweeps Fall Brawl, 3-0
10/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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» Fall Brawl Statistics
» Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
On the strength of pitching performances from its three veteran hurlers, the University of Alabama softball team rolled to a 3-0 record in the second annual Fall Brawl, defeating Central Alabama Community College 2-1, Jefferson State Community College 17-0 and Shelton State 3-0.
Senior Erin Wright, sophomore Stephanie VanBrakle and junior Jennifer Wright combined for three complete games including two shutouts. The trio of pitchers allowed just four hits in 19 innings of work, one unearned run, striking out 32 while walking only four. Erin Wright was almost untouchable, recording 19 strike outs in her seven innings of work.
Offensively the Tide was led by VanBrakle who drove in five RBI against Jeff State. Sophomore Staci Ramsey paced the Tide with five hits over the three games. All-American Ashley Courtney finished a homerun shy of hitting for the cycle and scored five runs for Bama. Dominique Accetturo highlighted the day with a homerun off of the scoreboard against Jefferson State.
Overall, Alabama hit .385 for the three games while the Tide's three opponents combined to hit only .066.
The Fall Brawl also marked the debuts of freshmen Kellie Deska, Michelle Menningmann and Mandy Burford. Deska and Menningmann recorded two hits each while Burford walked in her only plate appearance.
Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy was pleased with the Tide's pitching performance and was happy to see the Tide's new faces in action.
"It was a great performance by Jen Wright, Erin Wright and Stephanie VanBrakle," Murphy said. "It was good to get the new players in and give everyone some experience. We have two more months of hard work ahead of us and the reward will be going to Stanford to open the 2004 season."
The Crimson Tide softball team returns to action next Saturday, October 25 as Murphy welcomes back a host of former Bama players for the softball team's first ever alumni game. The game will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the UA Softball Complex prior to the Alabama-Tennessee football game. Admission for the event is free.
