Alabama Softball Pitches Two Shutouts in Fall Brawl I
10/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, AL ?? The University of Alabama pitched two shutouts to win by a combined score of 15-0 in the two games at the first of two Fall Brawls this season at the Alabama Softball Complex.
"We were just dying to play somebody different," said sophomore infielder Kelly Montalvo. "We have been practicing very well so facing a new team gave us energy to go out there and play hard."
The Crimson Tide pitching staff was dominant as Chrissy Owens and Blair Potter combined to throw 13 innings, allowing five hits with no walks and 13 strikeouts.
"The key to our pitching staff is not to give up any freebies and keep the ball in the park," said head coach Patrick Murphy. "They both did a great job with that and we didn't walk one person. The hits they did get were spread around and both pitchers worked out of a situation with a strikeout, a week ground ball or a popup."
Owens and Potter also had some help from the offense as Montalvo and Charlotte Morgan provided plenty of support. Montalvo ended the day with two hits in four at bats, four runs scored and six RBI while Morgan made her collegiate debut for the Crimson Tide going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI.
"I felt like I had a pretty good day," said Morgan. "I see what I need to work on. I felt like I didn't swing hard every time but I felt the team did a great job. I think it is a great start to come out and get two shutouts to give everybody confidence."
Alabama got off to a quick start in its first game against Wallace State. With one run already in, Montalvo hit a single up the middle to score two more and put the Crimson Tide in front 3-0. With the score 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Alabama added four to the board on four hits capped off by a Ashley Holcombe RBI double. Owens then finished off the Lady Lions in the sixth to get the win. Owens pitched six innings and only allowed two hits with seven strikeouts. Dani Woods went 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI while Morgan also had two hits in the game with two runs and one RBI.
The final game of the day also saw the Crimson Tide jump out to an early lead with three first inning runs. Montalvo increased the lead to six runs with a three-run homerun to left field in the bottom of the third. She narrowly missed a homerun earlier in the game when she hit one just to the left of the foul pole. Morgan gave Alabama its final run in the fifth inning when she tripled to center field to score Montalvo. Morgan also had a double earlier in the game. Brittany Rogers went 2-for-3 with two runs scored as well for the Crimson Tide. Potter pitched all seven innings with three hits allowed and six strikeouts.
"Chrissy and I threw very well today," said Potter. "Our offense and defense make it so easy to go out there, knowing you have a defense that is going to make the plays behind you and an offense that is going to come out and hit the ball well."
In the first game of the day, Wallace State faced Jefferson State in a game that went nine innings. The two teams were all tied up at 2-2 after seven innings. They each added a run in the eighth and Wallace State came away with the victory, scoring a run in the top half of the ninth and getting out of a jam with runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom half to hold on for a 4-3 win.
Rachel Baucom led the Lady Lions going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Jennifer Sexton went the distance on the mound without an earned run. She recorded five hits allowed, four walks and seven strikeouts. Nikki Thomas scored a run and added a RBI for Jefferson State. Alison Byrne also pitched nine innings giving up just one earned run on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
The Fall Brawl II will be on Saturday, Oct. 14. Game times have been Shelton State and Wallace-Dothan will play the first game starting at 4:30 p.m. Alabama will follow with games against those two teams at 6:30 and 8:30.
