GAME 2: Alabama Falls to Tennessee Tech 4-2
5/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The Alabama Crimson Tide fell to Tennessee Tech 4-2 in the second game of the NCAA Softball Championships Tuscaloosa Regional.
Alabama jumped out to the early lead, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Tech came right back, tying the game up in the second inning. Following a scoreless third and fourth inning the team's traded runs in the fifth. Tech broke the tie in the top of the sixth going up 3-2 and then salted away the win with a run in the top of the seventh.
"Congratulations to Tennessee Tech," Alabama head coach Pat Murphy said. "Their hitting was as-advertised. We had, I think, one and two homeruns where we really didn't need to throw a strike in that situation and both mistakes. We hit it hard, right at people a couple of times but nothing really fell for us offensively. We didn't give up. We had the winning run at the plate at the bottom of the seventh and still didn't get it to fall."
For the first time this season, Alabama gave up three home runs in a single game. Alabama's Chrissy Owens, who had given up just two home runs all season coming into today, gave up two in the first three innings.
"I'm really proud of our kids," Tech head coach Troy Acheson said. "I think we came in with a great game plan and they did a great job of stepping up to the pressure situation. I think it's a great win for our program. And hopefully it's a good launching pad for a strong weekend and a strong performance for us tomorrow."
Tennessee Tech's three solo home runs came from three different batters with Beth Boden, Ashley Potts and Stephanie Fishcer all going long.
"There are certain things about our team," Acheson said. "We know what our strengths are; we know what our weaknesses are and we don't try to confuse ourselves too much. And we've had success this year with our homeruns and power game, and, certainly, three homeruns in a game is a great feat, especially against a quality team and quality pitching. It certainly propelled us to the victory today."
The Golden Eagles' Bynum goes to 33-10 on the season while Owens picked up just her fourth loss of the season going to 22-4. For Alabama, the loss was just its second at home this season and snapped a 10-game NCAA regional winning streak at the Alabama Softball Complex.
Tennessee Tech returns to action Saturday morning at 11 a.m. on espn2 against the Cal. Alabama faces Florida State in the regional's first elimination game at 1:30 p.m.
"We just told the team this is a chance to be more mature, more aggressive at the plate; instead of playing two games now you get to play four," Murphy said. "You get a lot more at bats."
