Softball Advances to SEC Tournament Championship Game
5/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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PLANT CITY, FL-Fans got to see free softball as the No. 16 ranked University of Alabama softball team (44-19) earned its second trip to the SEC Tournament Championship, defeating the Tennessee Lady Vols (45-25) 3-2 in eight innings.
Alabama pushed its extra innings record to 4-0 on the season while picking up its third straight win in the tournament, its longest winning streak on the SEC Tournament.
"Thankfully, we didn't have to play Tennessee again tomorrow," said Alabama Head Coach Patrick Murphy. "Playing in the championship game is a great honor for this team. They have been great to coach all year."
Alabama sophomore pitcher Jennifer Wright, a native of Brentwood, Tennessee, continued her mastery over the Lady Vols, throwing her seventh complete game of the season, scattering 11 hits while allowing two runs and striking out four batters. Wright picked up her second win of the season over the Lady Vols, throwing 14 innings while collecting a 1.00 ERA. She also threw four scoreless innings against UT allowing only one hit in her freshman year.
"It's very exciting to be in the championship game," said Wright. "We definitely want to go out with a win. Wins build up momentum."
Alabama wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Ashley Courtney led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Jackie Wilkins. Jackie McClain followed with a single to centerfield scoring Courtney for a 1-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Dominique Accetturo led off with a single, was pinch run for by Leah White who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jennifer Reach. Courtney singled up the middle, advancing White to third. Wilkins then hit a long fly ball to center field allowing White to tag from third and score, pushing Alabama's lead to 2-0.
Tennessee cut the Bama lead in half in the bottom of the sixth with Angela Brewer starting things off with a one-out single. Brewer was pinch-run for by Mandie Fishback who advanced to second on a ground out and came in to score on a single from Katherine Card slicing the Alabama lead to 2-1.
Tennessee came back and tied it in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trailing 2-1 with one out, Sarah Fekete reached on a bunt single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kristi Durant then stepped to the plate and singled back up the middle scoring Fekete from second and tying the game at 2-2 to send the game in extra innings. It was the Lady Vols fourth extra inning game of the tournament.
Alabama answered in the top of the eighth inning with a little help from the Tennessee defense. With one out, Staci Ramsey hit a hard grounder that went through Lady Vol shortstop Elisha Humphrey's legs and rolled all the way to the fence for a two-base error. Accetturo then laced a double into right center field scoring Ramsey from second, staking Alabama to a 3-2 lead.
"They brought in a new pitcher who I was a little more familiar with than (Stacey) Jennings," said Accetturo.
Wright retired three of four UT batters in the bottom of the eighth to nail down the win.
With the win, the Tide becomes the first team to claim a spot in the championship game to be played on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (ET). The game will be televised live on SEC-TV.
