Softball Sweeps First Day at Prestigious Judi Garman Classic
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
 |
| Chrissy Owens |
Box Scores - Game One | Game Two
FULLERTON, CA??The sixth-ranked Crimson Tide softball team (23-3) had a successful first day at the Judi Garman Classic as they swept the 23rd ranked Fresno State Bulldogs 4-1 and the 14th ranked Oklahoma Sooners 5-0 to start the tournament 2-0.
In Bama's first game of the day, Fresno State jumped on top in the third inning when with runners on first and second and two outs catcher Nichole Willis bounced a single over the head of Staci Ramsey at third scoring shortstop Christina Clark for a 1-0 Bulldog lead.
Alabama answered in the bottom of the third mounting a two-out rally beginning with a Kelley Montalvo single up the middle. Brittany Rogers extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a single to left putting runners on first and second. Jordan Praytor and Staci Ramsey drew back-to-back walks scoring Montalvo and the game was tied at 1-1. Stephanie VanBrakle then singled to right field scoring a pair and the Tide was on top 3-1.
Alabama added to its lead, once again mounting another two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth. Katie Johnson delivered a two-out single through the left side and took second on a single by Montalvo also through the left side. Rogers followed with a single to right field scoring Johnson and spotting Bama a 4-1 lead.
Despite having her roughest outing of the season, VanBrakle (14-1) collected the win, allowing one run on eight hits and issuing four walks in six innings of work. However, she was able to buckle down when she needed to, forcing the Bulldogs to leave the bases stranded three times, each time finishing the inning off with a strikeout.
Chrissy Owens came on in the seventh and closed out the game first her first save of the season and the 12th in her career.
Bama wasted no time in the nightcap jumping on top of the Sooners 2-0 in the first inning courtesy of a VanBrakle triple that scored Rogers and Praytor. Rogers led off the game with a walk and took second on a single from Praytor. Following a Ramsey fly-out to centerfield, VanBrakle produced her triple.
Praytor extended the Alabama lead to 3-0 in the second inning when she doubled off the fence in left field scoring Rogers who singled her way on the at-bat before. The hit for Rogers pushed her hitting streak to 14 games, the third longest in program history.
Alabama pushed its lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning taking advantage of a throwing error from Oklahoma catcher Samantha Rickettes. Johnson singled and took second on a Montalvo sacrifice. Rogers then laid down a bunt in front of home plate that Rickettes fielded and fired into right field. The ball got passed right fielder Amber Spaulding allowing Rogers to come all the way around to score.
"She had a great performance today," said head coach Patrick Murphy of Rogers. "On the little bunt, (assistant coach) Aly (Habetz) called a drag bunt so I credit her. With (Brittany's) speed she's going to put a lot of pressure on the other team's defense and things like that are going to happen a lot."
VanBrakle (14-1) picked up her second win of the day while Owens came on in relief nailing down her second save of the day. VanBrakle finished with four scoreless innings allowing only one hit while striking out two batters. Owens threw the final three innings with much the same results, allowing only one hit in three innings of work while striking out four batters.
"I'm not sure what (VanBrakle) will say about tonight's game; she only gave up one hit," said Murphy. "She got into some sticky situations, but she was always making the pitches she needed to make to get out of them."
Alabama will close out pool play on Friday with an 11:00 match-up scheduled with Utah. The Tide will then proceed into tournament play.
GAME NOTES
vs. Fresno St.
- VanBrakle pitched her 700th career inning.
- Brittany Rogers extended her hitting streak to 13 games, tied for third longest in school history.
- Alabama tied the all-time series with Fresno St. at 1-1.
vs. Oklahoma
- VanBrakle recorded her fourth career triple.
- VanBrakle moves to eight on the UA all-time RBI list, moving ahead of Dominique Accetturo (116). VanBrakle currently has 120.
- Rogers's hit streak extended to 14 games, the third longest streak in school history. Jackie McClain is second with a 17-game streak.
