Tide Drops Exhibition with US Olympic Team
2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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PALM SPRINGS, CA—University of Alabama softball players will forever be able to tell their friends and family, that through two thirds of an inning, they were the best team in the world, but then the United States Olympic team took the title back as they defeated the Crimson Tide 11-3 in five innings in an exhibition game at the Palm Springs Classic.
Alabama took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but then the Olympians struck for six unanswered runs before the Crimson Tide could score again.
Bama was up to the challenge, knocking out six hits including a two-run home run off two of the top pitchers in the world, however defense helped do the Tide in as the team committed three errors.
Alabama jumped on top in the top of the first inning with Ashley Courtney leading off the game with a single through the left side. She was forced out at second on a close play when Jackie Wilkins attempted a sacrifice, but Wilkins was safe at first. Wilkins stole second followed by a pop-out from Jackie McClain. Wilkins advanced to third on a wild pitch followed by a Capper Reed walked. Team USA catcher Tairia Flowers was then unable to handle a pitch from pitcher Lisa Fernandez allowing Wilkins to score and spotting Bama to a 1-0 lead.
Team USA answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning taking advantage of an Alabama wild pitch and a throwing error to claim a 2-1 lead.
The Olympians padded their lead, adding two more runs, one each in the second and third innings extending their lead to 4-1.
Team USA made it a 6-1 affair in the bottom of the fifth inning when Crystl Bustos hit a tape-measure home run to left field scoring Laura O'Brien-Amico.
Alabama sliced into the USA lead in the top of the fifth inning when Michelle Menningmann led off with a single followed by two fielder's choice putting Wilkins on first. McClain then came up and hit a towering two-out, two-run home run down the right field line cutting the lead to 6-3.
The USA ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning behind five runs, highlighted by a walk-off two-run home run by UCLA alum Amanda Freed.
Stephanie VanBrakle took the loss allowing six runs on eight hits through four innings. However, she did record five strikeouts.
The Crimson Tide next faces the third-ranked team in the country, the Arizona Wildcats with first pitch schedule for 10:30 a.m. (PT) followed by a 3:30 date with the Pacific Tigers.
