Softball Posts First Ever Season Sweep of South Carolina
4/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The ninth-ranked Crimson Tide continued its offensive assault in the third and final game of the series recording 10 hits en route to a 9-2 victory over the Gamecocks as Alabama (48-9, 19-5) swept the season series over South Carolina (24-24-1, 7-14) for the first time ever.
Bama swept the doubleheader a day earlier over SC, 11-0 and 7-1.
The Tide jumped on top immediately posting a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jackie Wilkins (SR, Miami, Fla.) reached on an infield error, stole second and came in to score on Jordan Praytor's (FR, Vancouver, Wash.) triple to center field. Praytor came in to score on a sacrifice bunt by Stephanie VanBrakle (JR, Chambersburg, Pa.) for the early 2-0 lead.
The Gamecocks tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning but the Crimson Tide responded with four runs in the second, its most productive inning all season.
This time it was Dominique Accetturo (JR, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) that reached on an error to lead off the inning. Emily Currie (SR, Huntsville, Ala.) laced a one-out single into centerfield advancing Accetturo to second and both runners came around to score on a Leah White (SR, Grayson, Ga.) double who eventually scored on a Jackie Wilkins (SR, Miami, Fla.) single for a 5-2 Bama lead. After Wilkins stole second and Praytor flew out, Ashley Courtney (SR, Vero Beach, Fla.) tripled scoring Wilkins for the 6-2 Bama lead. Courtney's triple tied her for first with Kelly Kretschman for career triples in program history.
Alabama added two insurance runs in the sixth inning highlighted by Praytor's school record tying second triple of the game that scored White extending Alabama's lead to 8-2.
Staci Ramsey (JR, Houston, Texas) ended the Crimson Tide's scoring in the top of the seventh when she hit her seventh home run of the season to left field for the final 9-2 margin.
VanBrakle pushed her record to 24-4 on the season allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits through four innings while striking out eight batters. Chrissy Owens (FR, Miami, Fla.) picked up her 10th save of the season moving her to second on the SEC's single-season save list.
In addition to the Crimson Tide win, current SEC leader Georgia dropped the final game of its series against the Auburn Tigers dropping its lead over the Tide to three games.
Alabama will take this week off from competition.
