Tide Softball Wins Pair of Non-Conference Games
4/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The No. 3 University of Alabama softball team downed Northwestern State and Florida Atlantic on Tuesday at the Alabama Softball Complex to improve to 37-4 on the season.
Alabama won two games that were the complete opposite of each other. The first featured a race to see who could score the most runs as the Tide and Northwestern State combined for 20 runs on 21 hits. Alabama had nine hits and recorded a school record nine stolen bases in the contest. The second was a pitcher's duel with only seven total hits and one run scored in seven innings of play.
The Tide found themselves in an unusual position in the first game when they entered the bottom of the second inning behind 6-1. Visiting Northwestern State had scored two runs in the first inning and four in the top of the second. It was the first time this season Alabama trailed by five runs, but the Tide responded in a positive manner with eight runs to take a 9-5 lead. It was the 15th time this season that UA has scored five or more runs in an inning.
The first three batters in the inning all reached base to load the bases. Two batters later, Brittany Rogers came to the plate and sent a single through the left side to drive in two runs and make the score 6-3. Jordan Praytor then hit a high bouncer in front of home plate to score another run as Katie Johnson beat the throw to home plate. Praytor stole second to move into scoring position for Lauren Parker who singled through the right side to score two more runs and tie the score at 6-6.
"We did good to get the bases loaded to start off the inning," said Parker. "When Brittany came up we knew we were going to get some in. We came together at that point and came off the field saying that we needed to do this. Once we score that first run it opens the gates."
Following a single by Charlotte Morgan, Dani Woods knocked in two more with a single up the middle. Michelle Menningmann capped off the eight-run inning with a RBI groundout to make it 9-6 in favor of the Tide.
Alabama added another run in both the fourth and fifth innings and two runs in the sixth to finish off the Demons by a score of 13-7.
Blair Potter came in to the game with an 11-7 lead, runners on first and second and the tying run on deck in the sixth inning. She struck out the first batter and then allowed an infield single but Margaret Patterson was thrown out trying to score from second.
Potter closed out the game by pitching the seventh inning to receive her second save of the season. The win was credited to Morgan who improved to 8-2 on the year after throwing four innings with one earned run allowed off eight hits. The Demons' Kristen Lindley fell to 1-4 with the loss.
Rogers scored two runs in the game to give her 100 career runs scored in just two seasons. She is only the 13th Tide player to score 100 runs in a career. She finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI and three stolen bases in the game. Morgan reached base all four times she came to bat. She was 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Dani Woods also had two hits to go along with three RBI in the contest.
Amanda Glenn led Northwestern State going 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI. Michelle Castellano was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Patterson also added three hits.
The second contest featured a showdown between the two team's pitching staffs. Alabama started Potter, who earned the save in the first game and would later bring in the staff ace Chrissy Owens. Florida Atlantic put Jen Musillo on the mound. All three pitchers entered the game with under a 1.50 ERA.
Potter allowed two hits in the second inning but got out of the jam with an unconventional 5-3-2 double play as Kelley Montalvo through the batter, Melissa Moore, out at first and Morgan fired home to Ashley Holcombe who tagged out Becky Brandies for the third out. Potter pitched four innings and would not allow a hit in the other three while striking out two.
Chrissy Owens came in to pitch in the fifth inning and would finish with two hits allowed and a walk to improve to 17-2 on the year. The Owls threatened in the top of the sixth inning when Charlotte Baird led off with a single. Ambar Jones followed with a bunt. Baird was thrown out by Montalvo at second base but the umpire, Craig Hyde, ruled interference on Parker at second base. The umpires later ruled they should not have stopped the play and called Jones out at first base. This allowed Owens to get out of the inning with a popup and groundout.
"I think their pitcher was very good and she did a great job but we were able to put something together," said Owens. "Blair and I were just trying to go at them and keep them from getting hard hits. We wanted them to get ground balls and try to keep them off the bases."
Alabama took advantage in the bottom half of the frame. Parker led off the inning with a double down the right field line and moved to third on a single by Morgan. Woods brought Parker in on a sacrifice fly for the only run of the game.
"I was struggling a little bit with her drop ball," said Parker. "I did the same thing twice in a row and was getting a little frustrated. I just went up there and tried to do something different. She threw me the drop ball and I did something with it. It went right between the first baseman and the bag."
It was the only run Musillo would allow in the game as she pitched six innings and gave up three hits and five walks to go with three strikeouts.
Kellie Eubanks had a good night offensively with a double down the left field line in the fourth inning to break up Musillo's no-hitter. Eubanks also walked in the game for her team-leading 21st free base of the season.
Overall Alabama drew 17 walks in the two games Tuesday. They walked 12 times against the Demons and five against the Owls.
Montalvo continued her stellar defensive play at third base and made some highlight reel plays to finish with five assists in the game and help the Tide record their 16th shutout of the season.
"Monty has been making great plays all year," said Owens. "She is great for us and has been making some plays that I have never seen anybody make before. We get pumped up when that happens."
The Crimson Tide will host a three-game series this weekend as in-state rival Auburn comes to Tuscaloosa. All three games will be shown live on WVUA with Friday's doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday's series finale starting at 2 p.m.
