Tide Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Mississippi State
4/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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» Game 1 Box Score
» Game 2 Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, AL-For the eighth time this season, the University of Alabama softball team (36-14, 19-4 SEC) used late inning heroics to come away victorious as the Tide swept the Mississippi State Bulldogs (29-20, 9-13) in a doubleheader 7-3 and 8-5.
In the nightcap, the Tide jumped to a 4-1 lead before All-American Iyhia McMichael hit her first career grand slam to put the Bulldogs on top 5-4 in the third inning. The Tide reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth with Jackie McClain reached on a one-out double and following a pinch-running substitution with Deasy Phillips running for McClain, Stephanie VanBrakle hit her seventh home run of the season putting Alabama back on top 6-5. The Tide added a seventh run in the inning and their final run in the sixth for the final 8-5 margin.
VanBrakle (12-4) recorded the win going five innings allowing five runs on ten hits while striking out ten batters. Eight of the first nine outs VanBrakle recorded were strikeouts.
In the first game of the twin bill, the Tide jumped on top and never looked back scoring two runs in the first inning, three runs in the third and two more in the fifth for a 7-3 win.
Ashley Courtney led off and was hit by a pitch. She took second on a one-out single from McClain. VanBrakle then reached on an error from shortstop Jennifer Jessup allowing Courtney to score. Lacy Prejean then singled scoring McClain for a 2-0 Alabama lead.
Jackie Wilkins started things in the third inning with a two-out single through the left side. McClain was hit by a pitch and VanBrakle singled to centerfield scoring Wilkins. Prejean doubled scoring McClain and VanBrakle giving Alabama a 5-0 lead.
Following two Bulldog runs, one each in the fourth and fifth innings, Alabama answered taking advantage of two hits and two Mississippi State errors to extend its lead to 7-2.
The Bulldogs added a final run in the top of the seventh on a McMichael solo home run but the Dawgs got no closer.
Erin Wright (16-5) collected the win throwing the 300th complete game in Alabama history while allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out five batters.
Capper Reed, Courtney and VanBrakle led the Crimson Tide on the day with Reed going a combined 4-6 with two RBI and a run scored. Courtney finished 3-6 with four runs scored and a two RBI while VanBrakle was 4-6 with four RBI and two runs scored.
The Tide will go for the sweep in the final game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
