VanBrakle Throws No-Hitter as Tide Softball Sweeps Gamecocks
3/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Box Score
Senior pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle hurled her second no-hitter of the season as the sixth ranked Tide (21-3, 6-0) completed its series sweep of the Gamecocks with an 8-0, five-inning victory.
VanBrakle (12-1) allowed just two base runners, while striking out seven batters en route to the no-hit victory.
It was her second of the season, as she no-hit Missouri State in the finals of the Dunkin' Donuts Invitational in February. It was also her fourth career no-hitter and the ninth in program history.
"I don't think today and yesterday she was as good as she was against Florida for whatever reason, but today was good enough for a no-hitter," said head coach Patrick Murphy. "It's so great to see a senior who's put in the work and the effort in the off-season and the pre-season to perform at the highest level her last year."
VanBrakle had ample offense behind her as well as the Crimson Tide banged out two more home runs giving the team six in the series.
Kelley Montalvo got the scoring going in the second with her second home run of the season, a three-run shot down the left field line that hit off the foul pole spotting Alabama a 3-0 lead.
Jordan Praytor hit her second career home run, her first of the season, in the third, a solo-shot to centerfield pushing the Tide lead to 4-0.
After Alabama had already plated two more runs in the fourth, VanBrakle helped herself at the plate recording a two-run single pushing the Tide lead to 8-0. She then retired three straight Gamecocks in the top of the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
Montalvo paced the Tide offense going 2-2 with five RBI and two runs scored.
The Tide will take a break from conference play this week as the team heads out west to the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California. Pool play will begin on Thursday, March 16 with Bama taking on Fresno St. and Oklahoma. Alabama will close out pool play on Friday against Utah.
GAME NOTES
--After waiting till her last at-bat in both games on Saturday, Rogers extended her hitting streak in her first at-bat to 12 games. It's tied for the fifth longest streak in school history.
--Stephanie VanBrakle made her 100th career pitching start.
--Jordan Praytor hit her first home run since LSU on March 26, 2005.
--Stephanie VanBrakle threw her fourth career no-hitter, the most by a single pitcher. She is the only pitcher in Alabama history to record multiple no-hitters.
--Alabama swept South Carolina for the second straight year and has won eight in a row against the Gamecocks.
--Alabama leads the all-time series 16-14.
