Alabama Softball Sweeps a Pair in Fall Opener
10/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama softball team capped off a successful weekend with a two-game sweep over visiting Wallace-Dothan and Alabama-Huntsville in the Tide’s Fall Brawl I at the Alabama softball complex on Sunday.
“I was really happy with some of our kids who have been performing well the last two weeks of practice who came out and had some really good games for us today,” head coach Patrick Murphy said. “It’s great to be a spring sport so that we can get some work done in the fall and to be able to come out and play some games gives the kids the chance to learn a game routine. The more times we get to do that the better we’ll be come February.”
The Tide built an early lead over Wallace-Dothan and exploded late en route to a 14-1 victory in six innings and completed the sweep with a 5-0 win over UA-Huntsville in the finale.
In game one, it was the top of the Alabama lineup that carried the offensive load. The Tide’s top three in the order went a combined 7-of-9 at the plate, scored seven runs and knocked in four to spur the Alabama offense.
Brittany Rogers went 2-of-3 with three runs scored and Dani Woods went 2-of-2, drove in three and also scored three times, while Kellie Eubanks went 3-of-4 in the game. Woods hit a home run, one of three for the Tide. Katie Johnson and Charlotte Morgan also went deep in the win.
“Dani Woods came out and hit the ball as well as she has in her career and Montalvo really played well too,” Murphy said. “We had some freshmen come out and play well in their first time out, so I was really happy with the way we performed.”
Alabama knocked out 13 total hits, easily enough for Morgan, who picked up the win for the Tide. Morgan went five innings, striking out one with no walks while giving up one unearned run. Chrissy Owens pitched the final inning, striking out one.
In game two, the Tide took advantage of some Alabama-Huntsville defensive miscues that resulted in two unearned runs en route to a 5-0 win. The Tide scored two in the first, two in the fourth and added another in the fifth inning while holding UA-Huntsville scoreless.
Kelli Montalvo went 2-of-3 at the plate and drove in two runs while hitting the team’s only homer of the game. Jordan Praytor was also 2-of-3, as was true freshman Whitney Larson, who drove in a run as well.
Another true freshman, Kelsi Dunne, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while recording six punchouts. Owens finished off the win with a scoreless inning of work that included a pair of strikeouts.
Praytor and Kellie Eubanks each hit .667 on the day, Eubanks going 4-of-6 and Praytor hitting safely in 2-of-3 at bats. Woods, Montalvo and Morgan each drove in four runs in the two games to lead the team. Announced attendance at today’s Fall Brawl was 604. The Tide sold over 1,200 season tickets in 2006.
“We signed a ton of autographs yesterday before the football game yesterday and we had a great Sunday today,” Murphy said. “To see that many people out was a credit to our fans and we’re looking forward to next Saturday.”
Alabama returns to action next weekend for its final two games of the fall season when the Tide hosts Memphis in a doubleheader in Tuscaloosa. Game one is set to begin at noon and admission is $5 per person.
