Alabama Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Over Ole Miss
4/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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TUSCALOOSA, AL—The No. 18 ranked University of Alabama softball team completed a doubleheader sweep over SEC West division rival Ole Miss with a pair of 5-1 victories.
After spotting the Rebels a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, Alabama exploded for a four-run fourth to take the lead. Staci Ramsey started things off with a one-out walk and came in to score on Jackie McClain’s second triple of the season. McClain also scored on the play when an errant throw from Rebel second baseman Jordan Chitwood went into the Alabama dugout giving Bama a 2-1 lead. After loading the bases, Emily Currie delivered a single back up the middle scoring Lacy Prejean and Angela Johnson for a 4-1 Alabama lead.
McClain put the final nail in the coffin in the bottom of the sixth when McClain hit her sixth home run of the season for the final 5-1 score.
Jennifer Wright (8-4) picked up the win going 5.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out three batters. Erin Wright came on in relief and picked up her first save of the season. She threw the final 1.2 innings allowing no runs or hits while striking out four of the seven batters she faced.
For some reason, the Crimson Tide is at its best on April 5 against Ole Miss and they were at it again today as Ramsey hit her first collegiate home run and followed it up with the first Alabama grand slam since the 2001 season. The grand slam marked the third time Alabama has hit a grand slam on April 5, doing so in 1997 and 1998. All three April 5 grand slams have come against Ole Miss.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ramsey took a 3-1 pitch and hit her first home run down the left field line for a 1-0 Alabama lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Alabama loaded the bases after Johnson reached on an error and Jackie Wilkins and Ashley Courtney Walked. Ramsey then took a 2-1 pitch and delivered a towering smash over the left field fence for a 5-0 Crimson Tide lead.
Ole Miss tacked on a run in the top of the seventh for the final 5-1 margin.
Ramsey’s multi-home run game was the first for Alabama since Kelly Kretschman did it against the Tennessee Lady Vols at Tyson Park in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 24, 2001.
The Tide and the Rebels will play the final game of the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES
* Staci Ramsey’s five RBI in one game tied the school record for runs driven in, in a game.
* Ramsey’s grand slam in the fifth inning of Game 1 was the first Alabama grand slam since Lindsay Testa at Tennessee on 3/25/01.
* Her multi-home run game was the first since Kelly Kretschman did it against the Tennessee Lady Vols on 3/24/01.
* Ramsey’s five RBI in one game was a UA Softball Complex record.
* Jackie McClain hit her 20th career home run in Game 1.
* Alabama has hit a home run and a triple in each of its last four games.
* The Crimson Tide has a 23-1 all-time record against Ole Miss.
