Tide Bats Power Doubleheader Sweep of South Carolina
4/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
COLUMBIA, SC — The No. 9 University of Alabama softball team powered its way to a double header sweep over the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide combined for four home runs and 25 hits in taking 11-0 and 7-1 wins. UA improved to 47-9, 18-5 in Southeastern Conference play. USC fell to 24-23-1, 7-13 in the SEC.
The first game of the twin bill proved to be a record breaking offensive performance in Alabama's rivalry with South Carolina. The Tide pounded out three home runs including two from Ashley Courtney en route to an 11-0, six inning route of the Gamecocks.
Courtney's homers gave the senior a school record six RBI in a conference game. The Tide's 11 runs were also the most UA has ever scored against USC and was also the biggest margin of victory in the all-time series.
The Tide bats got off to a quick start courtesy of Stephanie VanBrakle. The junior from Chambersburg, Penn. hit a monstrous three-run homer over the left field wall in the top of the first inning to put UA on top for good with a 3-0 lead.
The lead remained the same until Alabama added four more runs in the fourth inning.
With the bases loaded, Alabama freshman Jordan Praytor hit her first career sacrifice fly to score Capper Reed from third base to give UA a 4-0 lead. Courtney then followed with the first of her three-run home runs to deep center field to push the Tide's lead to 7-0.
UA rounded out its scoring in the 6th inning. Jackie Wilkins and Praytor each singled to begin the inning. Courtney followed with her second three-run homer of the day to right field to boost the lead to 10-0. Alabama reloaded the bases and pushed across its final run of the game courtesy of a walk to Jennifer Wright. The RBI was the first one for Wright since the 2002 season.
VanBrakle recorded her 10th double digit strikeout performance of the season in improving to 23-4 for the year, allowing just one hit in the complete game shutout.
Aleca Johnson took the loss for South Carolina, falling to 4-7 on the season.
The Alabama bats proved to be just as lethal in the second game, as the Tide pounded out a season high 15 hits en route to the 7-1 victory.
The Tide took a 4-0 lead in the second inning thanks to five straight two-out hits. VanBrakle walked to begin the inning but Staci Ramsey and Dominique Accetturo were quickly retired. Dani Woods then began the two out rally with a single to left field. Reed then singled home VanBrakle to give UA a 1-0 lead. Leah White singled over the head of the shortstop to drive in both Woods and Reed. Wilkins lined a single off the glove of the South Carolina third baseman Kristin Hall to score White. Praytor reached on a bunt single before Courtney flew out to right field.
Ramsey extended Alabama's lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning with a two run homer over the scoreboard that scored VanBrakle.
The Gamecocks answered with their only run of the day in the bottom of the 6th. USC loaded the bases with three straight hits by Margaret Person, Meghan Cornett and Jessica Josker. Person scored on McKenna Hughes groundout to Accetturo to cut Alabama's lead to 6-1.
Alabama answered right back in the 6th inning. Wilkins reached on her career high tying fourth single of the day to begin the inning. Emily Currie, who had come in for Praytor defensively, narrowly missed her second home run of the season when she doubled off the top of the right center field wall to score Wilkins and round out the scoring at 7-1.
Wright pitched five innings to collect the win for UA. Her record improved to 16-3 for the season.
Kate Pouliot took the loss for South Carolina, dropping to 6-9 on the season.
The final game of the series is set for Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon CST. Live stats and audio of the game will be available at www.rolltide.com. Fans in the Tuscaloosa area will also be able to tune in to the action at WVUA 90.7 FM with Chad Anderson calling the play-by-play.
