Crimson Tide Softball Drops 3-2 Decision to Pacific
2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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PALM SPRINGS, CA—The seventh ranked Crimson Tide softball team (9-3) had trouble stringing together consecutive hits as they stranded seven runners while dropping a 3-2 decision to the Pacific Tigers (12-2) in action at the Palm Springs Classic.
The top third of the Crimson Tide lineup combined to go 0-11 on the day, while Pacific freshman first baseman Jennifer Curtier was a thorn in Bama's side, hitting two home runs and driving in all three runs for the Tigers.
Bama struck first on a Dominique Accetturo two-out single to centerfield in the second inning that scored Capper Reed and Angela Johnson for an early 2-0 lead. Reed led off and was hit by the pitch and then took second on a sacrifice by Stephanie VanBrakle. Angela Johnson then bounced a single over the third baseman's head sending Reed to third and then Johnson took second when the ball was booted by left fielder Nicole Inouye. Staci Ramsey popped out to second followed by Accetturo's run scoring single.
Pacific tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when Curtier hit the first of her two home runs, a two-run blast that easily cleared the fence in left field, scoring Lizzie Hagen and tying the game at 2-2.
The Tigers threatened to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning when, with a runner on third base and two outs, Ashlie D'Errico hit a long fly ball to right field that Ashley Courtney made a diving catch while falling through the collapsible fence in right field to end the Pacific threat and preserve the 2-2 tie.
Bama threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning with Reed drawing a lead-off walk followed by an infield single by VanBrakle. Johnson laid down a perfect sacrifice advancing the runners to second and third. Staci Ramsey hit a grounder to Michelle Anunciation who threw home and cut down Reed who was running on the play putting runners on first and third for Alabama with two outs. Accetturo drew a walk loading the bases for freshman Mandy Burford who hit a hard grounder that deflected off the pitcher's glove to Anunciation at short who threw on to first in time to get Burford for the third out in the inning ending the Bama rally.
The Tigers took the lead for good in the top of the seventh when Curtier hit her second home run of the day, staking Pacific to a 3-2 lead.
Erin Wright (4-1), who was strong in the early going, took the loss. Wright threw six innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three batters en route to her first loss of the season.
The Crimson Tide will close out action in the Palm Springs Classic Sunday morning against the 20th ranked CS-Fullerton Titans. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. (PT). Fans can follow all the action on www.rolltide.com or by tuning into New Rock 90.7 FM WVUA as national-award winner Jarrod Shadrick calls all the action.
