Tide Softball Sweeps Doubleheader against South Carolina
3/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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The sixth ranked Alabama softball team used a combination of power pitching and power hitting to sweep a doubleheader with the South Carolina Gamecocks (17-7, 0-2) 6-1 and 7-0.
The sixth-ranked Tide (20-3, 5-0 SEC) hit four home runs in the nightcap and rode the strong right arm of pitcher Chrissy Owens (7-2) en route to the 7-0 victory in front of 1,163 fans. It was the third largest crowd in Alabama softball history.
Owens tied her career high for strikeouts in a game with 12 while allowing only three hits in seven shutout innings of work.
"We said after the Florida series, if (Owens) comes in and does what she did Tuesday (against Florida) we're going to be fine all year because she's pitching really well right now, much better than she did in the non-conference portion," said head coach Patrick Murphy.
She got plenty of offensive support as Staci Ramsey (4), Stephanie VanBrakle (2), Dani Woods (4) and Mandy Burford (2) all contributed home runs.
"I think I looked up once and saw five hits (on the scoreboard) and four were home runs," said Murphy. "The two, Ramsey and Burford, both had two strikes and I thought they really had a good approach. They stayed within themselves and they got a pitch they could hit and took advantage of it."
Bama took a 2-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of Woods' two-run shot. The Tide added another run in the fourth inning on VanBrakle's solo shot down the left field line that hit off the foul pole.
Burford led off the fifth inning with a solo home run for a 4-0 Tide lead and Ramsey added to that, hitting a two-out, solo home run to left field for a 5-0 lead.
Alabama closed out the scoring in the sixth with two more runs; however the highlight of the inning came when Brittany Rogers doubled to left field extending her hitting streak to 11 games.
In the first game the Crimson Tide wasted no time, plating three runs in the first inning.
Rogers led off with a walk and advanced to third on a sacrifice from Jordan Praytor. USC third baseman Becky Martinez threw an errant ball to first in attempt to get Praytor allowing Rogers to advance to third and Praytor to second. Ramsey followed with a single through the left side scoring Rogers and Bama was quickly on top 1-0. VanBrakle also singled through the left side to make it a 2-0 affair. Following a Dominique Accetturo sacrifice, Dani Woods grounded out to short scoring Mallory Benak, who was pinch running for Ramsey, and the Tide was comfortably ahead 1-0.
Bama would go on to add single runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings, while leaving the rest up to VanBrakle.
VanBrakle (11-1) collected her 11th win of the season, allowing only two hits in six innings of work while striking out seven batters.
Praytor and Ramsey paced the Tide offense, each going 2-3 and driving in two runs apiece.
Alabama will look to complete the series sweep on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Fans can follow all the action at www.rolltide.com where live stats and audio are available. In the Tuscaloosa area, all the balls and strikes can be heard live on 90.7 FM WVUA.
GAME NOTES
Gm. 1
--Brittany Rogers extended her hitting streak to 10 games on her last at-bat.
--Blair Potter made her first appearance in SEC play, closing out the last inning.
--Stephanie VanBrakle recorded her 900th career strikeout, becoming the second pitcher in Alabama history to reach the 900-strikeout plateau.
Gm. 2
--Bama's four home runs was a season high.
--The last time Alabama hit four home runs in a game was on March 4, 2005 against Mt. St. Mary's. The last time Alabama hit four home runs in a game against an SEC opponent was on March 25, 2001 at Tennessee.
--Chrissy Owens' 12 strikeouts tied her career high. She struck out 12 batters against Missouri State earlier this season (2/18).
--Brittany Rogers extended her hitting streak to 11 games on her last at-bat. It's tied for the seventh longest streak in program history. Kelly Kretschman holds the school and SEC record with a 35-game hitting streak in 1998.
--Alabama now leads the all-time series 15-14, the first time the Crimson Tide has led in the series between the two schools.
