SEC Tournament Game 4 Recap: Alabama 7, Auburn 1
5/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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TUSCALOOSA, ALA - A huge fifth inning powered No. 13 ranked Alabama past No. 14 Auburn in a game that ended well after midnight, turning day one of the Southeastern Conference Softball Championships being held here at the Alabama Softball Complex this week into day two.
The Crimson Tide faithful waited through a day of rain delays for the in-state battle and the wait was well worth it. After opening the game with two scoreless innings, Alabama got things going with a third-inning solo homerun from Ashley Courtney. After a scoreless fourth, Alabama exploded for six runs in the fifth inning, including a three-run homer by All-American senior Jackie McClain. It was the most runs Auburn has allowed in a single inning this season.
Auburn had a solo homerun of their own when shortstop Ashley Griffin took one over the left field wall at the bottom of the fifth, but that was the extent of their scoring and their lone hit of the game.
The game didn't get started until 11:05 p.m. due to soggy conditions during the tourney's early goings and ended at 1:20 a.m. No. 5 seed Alabama is now 42-16 on the season while No. 4 seed Auburn is 39-15. Sophomore Stephanie VanBrakle picks up the win, climbing to 15-9 while Kristen Keyes was charged with the loss, falling to 24-10.
Later today (Friday, May 14), Alabama will play No. 2 ranked LSU at 7:30 p.m. while Auburn will play South Carolina at 1:30 p.m.
Alabama Notes
--Ashley Courtney moved to ninth on Alabama's all-time home run list and fifth on the all-time hit list.
--Alabama has won three in a row against Auburn in the SEC Tournament
--Bama is on a five-game winning streak in the SEC Tournament.
--The Tide's two home runs tied an SEC Tournament record for most home runs by a team in an SEC Tournament game. The last time a team hit two home runs in an SEC Tournament was Alabama vs. Auburn in the 2003 season.
Auburn Notes
--Shannon Anderson broke Auburn's career sacrifices record with her 29th sacrifice in the first inning.
--Kristen Keyes tied AU's SEC Tournament record with six strikeouts.
--Auburn lost its tournament opener for the fifth straight
--The Tigers suffered their ninth straight loss in Tuscaloosa
ALABAMA QUOTES
Alabama Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"It was worth the wait. It means a lot to have that many people in the stands as late as it is."
"A lot of our players' confidence is where it needs to be right now. That might have been one of our best games."
"Auburn might be our biggest rival now. LSU probably is but this rivalry is getting better."
Alabama Pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle
"I really wanted to pitch well. I really wanted to beat (Auburn)."
Alabama Catcher Ashley Courtney
"We are so spoiled by our fans. They are die-hard Alabama fans, to be here this late. They are the best."
Alabama First Baseman Jackie McClain
"I know we really want to win tomorrow because LSU is one of our rivals. Hopefully it will all come on together: our offense, our defense and our pitching."
AUBURN QUOTES:
Head Coach Tina Deese:
"Without a doubt you can't give up three errors and compete with Alabama. It wasn't our best game; we didn't look sharp at all. It was a tough loss, but we have to come back tomorrow."
"Our goal is not to give up big innings and we let it happen in the fifth. That was definitely the turning point."
Pitcher Kristen Keyes:
"There's nothing new about a game like that. You're going to have a little mishap here and there. We just have to bounce back and come back tomorrow with hits."
