Alabama Claims Series Victory Over No. 24 South Carolina
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
 |
|
TUSCALOOSA — After spotting the 24th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (22-18, 11-16) a 2-0 lead, the 13th ranked Alabama softball team (35-13, 15-9) put four runs on the board in the fourth inning en route to a 5-2 series clinching win.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Crimson Tide mounted a furious two-out rally started by a Staci Ramsey infield single. Capper Reed singled advancing Ramsey to second. Angela Johnson then delivered a two-out double off the wall in right-center field scoring Ramsey and Reed, tying the game at 2-2. Jackie Wilkins followed with a single up the middle scoring Johnson and Alabama had its first lead of the day. Ashley Courtney then singled, sending Wilkins to third and took second on the throw to third. Wilkins came home to score on a passed ball and Alabama was ahead 4-2.
The Tide added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Reed double to right-center field that scored Stephanie VanBrakle for the final 5-2 margin.
Erin Wright (13-4) collected the win allowing two runs on five hits in four innings of work before giving way to VanBrakle in the fifth inning. VanBrakle threw the final three innings in relief allowing only one hit while striking out five batters en route to her first save of the season.
Jackie McClain, Ramsey and Reed paced the Alabama offense collecting two hits each while Johnson drove in two runs.
Alabama has now won the last three series against South Carolina.
Bama will have Monday off before hitting the road again for its final SEC road trip of the season, a three-game mid-week series at Auburn beginning with a 5:00 doubleheader on Tuesday.
