Bama Advances to Hawaii Tourney's Championship Game
3/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The seventh ranked Alabama softball team (24-3) scored late in the game and then avoided a bases loaded no out rally by Hawaii (10-9) in the bottom of the seventh to hold on to a 4-3 win over the host team and advance to the championship game of the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament.
The Rainbow Wahine loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs on a single, an error and a walk but freshman pitcher Chrissy Owens (FR, Miami, Fla.) came on in relief and struck out the side to escape the jam and end the game.
After hitting a home run earlier in the game, Capper Reed (SR, Guntersville, Ala.) struck again in the top of the seventh inning driving in the go-ahead run with two outs. Jackie Wilkins (SR, Miami, Fla.) reached on a one-out error and advanced to second on an Ashley Courtney (SR, Vero Beach, Fla.) single. Staci Ramsey (JR, Houston, Texas) reached on a fielder's choice with Wilkins being forced at third base. Reed then blooped a single into left field scoring Courtney from second for a 4-3 Alabama lead.
The Rainbow Wahine wasted no time getting on the board, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Alabama answered in the top of the second. Dominique Accetturo (JR, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Stephanie VanBrakle (JR, Chambersburg, Pa.). Emily Currie (SR, Huntsville, Ala.) hit a long fly ball to center field that was caught but Accetturo tagged on the play and advanced to third. Leah White (SR, Grayson, Ga.) then singled scoring Accetturo, knotting the game at 1-1.
The Bama bats powered up in the third inning when Reed and Accetturo hit back-to-back home runs, the second time Alabama has gone back-to-back in the tournament. The home runs gave Alabama a 3-1 lead.
Hawaii tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run single from Denise Dahlberg.
VanBrakle (10-2) collected the win, allowing three runs on nine hits in six innings while striking out three batters and issuing three walks. Owens came on in relief and struck out the first three batters she faced to pick up her third save of the season.
Reed finished the game going 2-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored while White also finished with two hits, going 2-3 with an RBI.
Alabama will now play the second ranked California Bears in the championship game of the tournament. The Bears defeated the Crimson Tide in pool play 3-2.
