Softball Splits Doubleheader With Mississippi State
4/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jackie McClain extends hitting streak to 17 games
Friday, April 09, 2004
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» Game 1 Box Score
» Game 2 Box Score
STARKVILLE, MS — With a win already in hand and the second one within view, the 10th ranked University of Alabama softball team (32-10, 13-7) gave up eight runs in the sixth inning en route to a doubleheader split with the Mississippi State Bulldogs (25-21, 6-14) with Alabama winning Game 1 10-0 in six innings and dropping the nightcap 8-6.
The Tide wasted no time offensively in Game 1 loading the bases with one out in the top of the first inning via a walk and two straight singles, but Dominique Accetturo hit into a fielder's choice forcing Angela Johnson at home and Stephanie VanBrakle bounced out to third base to end the threat and the inning.
Mississippi State then put runners on first and third with out in the bottom half of the inning. Jennifer Waterman then broke for second on a pitch in the dirt but Ashley Courtney promptly threw her out followed by a Blaire Brown strikeout to end the threat.
The Tide loaded the bases again in the top of the second on two singles and a fielder's choice. Johnson then grounded out but Deasy Phillips, who was running for Staci Ramsey, scored on the play for a 1-0 Alabama lead. Following an intentional walk to Jackie McClain, Capper Reed singled up the middle scoring Leah White and Ashley Courtney pushing the Alabama lead to 3-0.
The Crimson Tide extended its lead in the top of the third inning when Ramsey hit her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot down the left field line for a 4-0 lead.
Bama was at it again in the fourth inning, started by a one-out single from McClain. Mandy Burford came on to pinch run for McClain and came around to score on a Reed double to right centerfield extending the Bama lead to 5-0.
The Crimson Tide kept the offensive pressure applied in the top of the sixth inning recording five runs on four hits, highlighted by Ramsey's second home run of the night, a two-run shot that cleared the scoreboard beyond the left field fence.
VanBrakle collected the win throwing her sixth shutout of the season, striking out 10 batters, her eighth double-digit strikeout game of the season.
The run-rule victory for Alabama was its first of an SEC opponent since defeating Tennessee 8-0 in Knoxville on March 16, 2003. It was also the largest margin of victory by either team in the series, with the previous mark being a 9-0 victory by Alabama in Starkville during the 2000 season.
Ramsey and Reed paced the Bama offense going 3-4 with three RBI each while Ramsey scored two runs. White also posted a 3-4 day and scored a run.
In the nightcap, the Tide jumped on top in the top of the third, jumpstarted by a one-out double off the fence in right-center field from Courtney who then took third on a ground out from Johnson. Bulldog pitcher Melissa Massey threw a wild pitch to the backstop allowing Courtney to score for a 1-0 Alabama lead.
The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the inning putting runners on first and second base with no outs with senior All-American Iyhia McMichael at the plate. Bama pitcher Jennifer Wright got McMichael to bounce into a fielder's choice putting runners on the corners. Kate Jaspers then hit a sharp grounder back to Wright, who threw on to McClain at first, who threw home to get Hayle Guess for the double play, putting an end to the Mississippi State threat.
Alabama pushed its lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning scoring three runs, highlighted by a two-run blast from McClain. The two RBI from McClain moved her into sole possession of third place on the SEC's all-time RBI list with 172 career runs batted in.
The Tide then took advantage of three Mississippi State errors in the top of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 6-0.
However, with the doubleheader sweep in sight, the Bulldogs mounted a huge rally, claiming the lead in the top of the sixth inning scoring eight runs on five hits to take an 8-6 lead.
VanBrakle (11-6) came on in relief of Wright and picked up the loss allowing three runs on two hits and two walks in the inning. Wright was cruising until the sixth when she gave up five runs on three hits and two walks.
The two teams will get together for the rubber match tomorrow with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Fans can follow all the action at www.rolltide.com where national-award winner Jarrod Shadrick will call all the balls and strikes. The broadcast will also air in Tuscaloosa on New Rock 90.7 FM, WVUA. Live stats will also be available at www.rolltide.com.
NOTES
--Jackie McClain extended her hitting streak to 17, a career high and the second longest streak in UA history. Kelly Kretschman had a 35-game hitting streak in 1998.
--Alabama's 10-0 victory in Game 1 was the largest margin of victory by either team in the series. Alabama defeated MSU 9-0 in Starkville in the 2000 season.
--The run-rule by Alabama in Game 1 was its first run-rule victory over an SEC opponent since an 8-0 win in Knoxville over Tennessee on March 16, 2003.
--Staci Ramsey's multi-home run game was the 15th multi-home run game in program history. Ramsey also becomes the third Alabama player to record multiple multi-home run games. Kretschman had six multi-home run games while Carrie Moreman had two during her career.
--McClain moves into third place on the SEC's all-time RBI list with 172.
--McClain moves to 5th on the all-time Alabama start list.
--Ramsey recorded her 100th career start in Game 2.
--Leah White played in her 150th career game in Game 1.
--White recorded a career high three hits in Game 1, the third hit being her 50th career hit.
