Tide Softball Defeats Fourth Ranked Tennessee, 8-1
3/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The eighth-ranked Alabama softball team (25-6, 1-2 SEC) recovered from yesterday's sweep to salvage an 8-1 win against fourth-ranked Tennessee (29-4, 2-1).
Bama came out swinging putting four runs on the board in the second inning, its most productive inning all season. Stephanie VanBrakle (JR, Chambersburg, Pa.) led off the inning and was pinch run for by Deasy Phillips (SR, Katy, Texas) who took second on a wild pitch. Dominique Accetturo (JR, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) then followed with her second home run of the series spotting Bama a 2-0 lead. Dani Woods (FR, Cockeysville, Maryland) reached on a two-out walk and came all the way around to score when Leah White (SR, Grayson, Ga.) doubled to left field. White came in to score when Tennessee catcher Shannon Doepking threw behind her at second base to catch her off the bag after she made the turn, but the ball skipped into centerfield allowing White to come in and score for a 4-0 Alabama lead.
The Tide added to its lead in the third inning, pushing three more runs across. Ashley Courtney (SR, Vero Beach, Fla.) reached when catcher Brittany Bessho couldn't handle a third strike allowing Courtney to get to third. Staci Ramsey (JR, Houston, Texas) drew a walk and was pinch run for by Michelle Menningmann (SO, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.). Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch and then Courtney scored on a second wild pitch while Menningmann took third. VanBrakle drew a walk and then advanced all the way to third while Menningmann scored on a passed ball. Two outs later, Emily Currie (SR, Huntsville, Ala.) singled in VanBrakle and the Tide was on top 7-0.
Tennessee finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third cutting Bama's lead to 7-1.
VanBrakle added one more run for the final 8-1 margin in the top of the seventh inning when she doubled to centerfield scoring Courtney who had doubled earlier in the inning.
VanBrakle (11-3) collected the win allowing one run on six hits while striking out seven batters for her 13th complete game of the season.
Eight different Tide players recorded a hit while four of Bama's eight hits went for extra bases including Accetturo's fourth home run of the season.
The Tide will finally return to the comfy confines of the UA Softball Complex on Tuesday when the team hosts the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a doubleheader with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT.
Game Notes
--Ashley Courtney's double moved her into third place on Bama's all-time hit list.
--Courtney also moved into third place on Bama's all-time total bases list.
--Bama's win ended a brief three-game losing streak. The streak began in the championship game of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament championship last Sunday in Hawaii.
--The Tide also ended a three-game losing streak to Tennessee. The Lady Vols defeated Bama in the 2004 SEC Tournament and then won the first two games of the series.
