Tide Softball Defeats In-State Rival Samford
4/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The third-ranked Crimson Tide softball team (33-4) used a six run third inning to route the Samford Bulldogs (13-29) 9-1 in five innings Wednesday night.
Alabama claimed a three run lead after the second inning. Kelley Montalvo and Katie Johnson reached on back-to-back errors putting runners on second and third with no outs. Michelle Menningmann grounded out to short scoring Montalvo for the first run of the inning. Johnson got caught up in a run down between third and home when Mandy Burford hit a grounder to the left side; while Johnson was tagged out in the run-down, Burford advanced to second and then took third on a wild pitch. Brittany Rogers reached on an infield single that scored Burford for a 2-0 Tide lead. Rogers stole second and advanced to third when the throw down from the catcher got away from centerfielder Jeslyn Metcalf. Jordan Praytor followed with a single scoring Rogers and the Tide had a 3-0 lead.
Samford answered with a run in the top of the third, but the Crimson Tide batted around in the bottom of the third inning plating six runs on four hits while taking advantage of a Bulldog error to put the game away at 9-1.
Blair Potter (3-0) picked up the win, going the complete five innings striking out six batters while allowing one run on four hits.
The Tide will get back into conference play this weekend when the team heads to Oxford, Mississippi for a three-game series with the Ole Miss Rebels beginning with a 3:00 p.m. CT doubleheader on Saturday.
GAME NOTES
--Dominique Accetturo and Staci Ramsey moved to 10th on UA’s all-time games played list with their 241st games.
--Brittany Rogers stole her 21st base of the season tying her for fifth most in a season in school history.
--Jordan Praytor extended her hit streak to 12 games, the second longest streak on the team of the season. Her first single was her 100th career hit.
--Michelle Menningmann drove in a career high two RBI.
--Alabama batted around in the third inning marking the second straight game the Tide has sent all nine batters to the plate in the same inning.
