Tide Sweeps Doubleheader in Fall Brawl II
10/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? Appearing for the final time in the fall 2007 season on Saturday afternoon in the Fall Brawl II, the University of Alabama softball team handily put away Memphis in two straight to finish with a perfect 4-0 mark in its fall schedule. The Tide beat the Tigers in five innings in both games, winning by scores of 11-3 and 8-0.
In game one, the Tide utilized some control issues by the Memphis pitching staff to jump on the Tigers early. Alabama drew nine walks in the game, including three issued to Dani Woods.
The top of the lineup was outstanding once again for head coach Patrick Muphy’s team. Brittany Rogers sparkled once again from her leadoff spot, going 3-for-5 and scoring a pair of runs. Jordan Praytor was 2-of-3 from the plate, scoring three runs while driving in two.
Charlotte Morgan was the most productive of the group. Morgan went 3-of-4 and drove in five runs while scoring three times. She hit a towering home run in the first inning that cleared the scoreboard in left field to get the Tide on the board.
“I thought both Brittany and Jordan did a great job executing whatever they were asked to do,” said Murphy. “Whenever they get on, we usually score some runs and that’s what we did today. Charlotte was almost automatic this fall with runners in scoring position and she did it again today.”
Alabama scored three in the first, five in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to end the game under the eight-run rule limit. Chrissy Owens got the win on the mound, going four innings and striking out five hitters. Morgan finished the game, pitching one inning in relief.
The story in game two was the pitching performance by true freshman Kelsi Dunne. Dunne, who struggled with control a bit in last weekend’s game against UA-Huntsville, had no such trouble against Memphis. She pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out 14 batters in the 15 outs she recorded. The other out was a ground ball which she fielded, giving her all 15 putouts that the Tide had in the game.
“I thought it was a great way to end the fall with two good pitching performances against a good team,” Murphy said. “Kelsi did a great job today, obviously, with as many strikeouts as she had and Chrissy really only made one or two mistakes, so I was really happy with the way they performed.”
Morgan went 2-of-3 in game two with an RBI, while Woods went 2-of-2 and drove in two runs. Praytor went 2-of-3 from the plate in the second game, scoring two runs and knocked in two. Memphis also helped the Tide cause, committing four errors in the field.
The Tide opens the season officially on Feb. 8, 2008, with its own Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa. Season tickets remain on sale for the 2008 season.
