Alabama Softball Advances to FAU Tournament Championship
2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Florida-Atlantic - Box Score
Missouri State - Box Score
BOCA RATON, FL—After dropping its first game of the season in a 2-0 loss to the Missouri St. Bears, the sixth ranked Crimson Tide (8-1) rebounded nicely with a 7-0 victory over the host school Florida Atlantic Owls to advance to Sunday's championship game of the Dunkin' Donuts Invitational.
After going scoreless for the first time this season in Bama's first loss, Alabama struck early taking a 3-0 lead on the Owls after an inning and a half. In the second frame, Dani Woods drew a one-out walk and went to second on a single through the left side by Staci Ramsey. Kelley Montalvo loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Freshman Ashley Holcombe then singled back up the middle driving in Woods and Ramsey and the Tide had a 2-0 lead. Montalvo later came in to score on a wild pitch from FAU starting pitcher Kathryn Stauffer pushing the Bama lead to 3-0.
The Crimson Tide added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly from Dominique Accetturo scoring Mandy Burford who reached on a lead off double to start the inning.
Alabama continued to apply the pressure in the sixth, adding three more runs on three hits to extend its lead to 7-0.
Stephanie VanBrakle (4-0) collected her fourth win of the season throwing her second complete game shutout of the season. VanBrakle allowed only one hit while striking out 13 batters, the fourth time in as many appearances she's recorded double-digit strikeouts.
"The only hit was a weak chopper up the middle, a three-hopper," said head coach Patrick Murphy. "Now it's almost like we take it for granted, when she gets hit hard we think 'What's going on with Steph?' The key stat for her was no walks. 13 (strikeouts) and no walks, we're proud of her."
Holcombe and Montalvo paced the Alabama offense recording two hits each. Holcombe finished the night with three RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. Montalvo drove in two runs and scored two as well.
In the Tide's opening game of the day, Bama and Missouri State were locked in a pitcher's dual through the first four innings with each team managing only five hits combined. Bama's Chrissy Owens was perfect through the first 3.1 innings before allowing her first base runner.
The Bears finally broke through in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of an Alabama miscue. With runners on second and third and two out, Owens recorded her ninth strikeout of the game, but Holcombe was unable to hold on to the ball allowing Lacie Ballard to advance to first and Shannon Buslepp, who was on third, to score for a 1-0 Missouri State lead. Sara Cole then blooped a double down the left field line scoring another run spotting the Bears a 2-0 lead.
Bama had an opportunity to strike back in the bottom of the fifth putting runners on first and second with two out, but Jordan Praytor struck out looking, ending the Tide rally.
Chrissy Owens (3-1) went the distance picking up the loss, despite not giving up any earned runs. She finished the game allowing two runs, none earned, on three hits. Owens did strike out 12 batters, but had an error, two passed balls and two base running mistakes offensively to work against.
Buslepp picked up the win for Missouri State, throwing seven shutout innings, allowing only four hits while striking out seven batters, four looking. She also went 1-3 on the day and scored the winning run for the Bears.
GAME NOTES
Vs. Missouri State
--Dani Woods' seven-game hit streak came to an end.
--Alabama suffered first loss of the season and first shutout since 4-0 loss to Tennessee at the 2005 College World Series (6/5/05).
--Dominique Accetturo moves to 10th on UA all-time games started list with her 211th career start.
--Alabama dropped to 0-2 all-time vs. Missouri State.
Vs. Florida Atlantic
--Alabama advanced to second straight tournament championship.
--The Tide's all-time record against Florida Atlantic improves to 4-1.
--Stephanie VanBrakle has recorded double-digit strikeouts in all four of her outings this season (15, 11, 10, 13)
