Alabama Claims Third SEC Tournament Championship
5/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The ninth-ranked Alabama softball team (57-13) rode the strong right arm of Jennifer Wright and claimed its third SEC Tournament championship and second in three years, defeating the eighth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (51-13) 2-0.
Wright allowed only four hits in seven innings of work, shutting the Bulldogs out for the first time since they went scoreless against the UCLA Bruins on February 18 of this year.
"Somebody was going to do it for us," said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. "The way Jenn was pitching I thought it was going to be low scoring and I was hoping we could get a couple of runs."
Much like Alabama's first game of the day, the Tide was locked in a pitchers' duel with both teams playing scoreless ball until the fifth inning.
Alabama finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth beginning with Dani Woods (FR, Cockeysville, Md.) who got hit by a pitch. Deasy Phillips (SR, Katy, Texas) came on to pinch run for Woods but was forced at second when Leah White (SR, Grayson, Ga.) hit into a fielder's choice. Jackie Wilkins (SR, Miami, Fla.) then hit a roller to third that got between the legs of Georgia third baseman Jessica Doucette. Jordan Praytor followed and was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Ashley Courtney (SR, Vero Beach, Fla.) then delivered a single back up the middle scoring White and Wilkins and Alabama was on the board 2-0.
For their efforts in the tournament, Dominique Accetturo, Ashley Courtney, Jordan Praytor, Jackie Wilkins, Jennifer Wright and Stephanie VanBrakle were all named to the all-tournament team with VanBrakle being named the tournament MVP, the first time in Alabama history.
The title for Alabama was its second in the state of Florida as the Tide claimed the 2003 championship in Plant City. It also marked the first time Alabama recorded a shutout in the championship game as well.
Wright finished the tournament 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and allowed only five hits.
Alabama will now await its destiny in the NCAA Championships. The selection show will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNEWS.
