Tide Softball Closes out Tournament with Victory over Irish
3/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
WESTMINSTER, CA??The sixth-ranked Alabama softball team closed out its action in the Judi Garman Classic with a 4-3 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, putting Alabama’s record at 4-1 in the tournament.
The Crimson Tide (25-4) threatened in both the first and second inning, but was never able to come up with a clutch hit stranding five runners through the first two frames.
The Fighting Irish took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run home run from catcher Mallorie Lenn.
Alabama answered in their half of the fourth taking advantage of a Notre Dame error en route to a 3-2 lead. Stephanie VanBrakle led off the inning with a single through the left side and was pinch run for by Mallory Benak. Katie Johnson followed with a bunt single advancing Benak to second. Ashley Holcombe advanced both runners with a sacrifice. Kelley Montalvo hit a bouncer to third that was misplayed by Linda Kohan, allowing Benak to score cutting the Irish lead in half at 2-1. Brittany Rogers hit a fly ball to right that was caught by a diving Stephanie Brown, but Johnson tagged up and scored on the play tying the game. Jordan Praytor followed with a single through the right side scoring Montalvo from second and Bama claimed the lead at 3-2.
Praytor provided Alabama with a little cushion when she hit her second home run of the season giving Alabama a 4-2 lead.
Notre Dame made it interesting in the top of the seventh when Kohan hit her fourth home run of the season, cutting the Tide lead in half at 4-3 but that’s as close they came.
VanBrakle (15-2) picked up the win throwing her 12th complete game of the season. She allowed three runs on three hits, but she did manage 15 strikeouts, the third time this season she has struck out 15 batters.
Alabama returns home on Thursday to host the Birmingham-Southern Panthers in a single game scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
