Tide Explodes Past Georgia Tech
2/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? Early on, it appeared as if the No. 2 University of Alabama softball team was in for its first nail biter of the 2008 season, but an offensive explosion in the fourth inning propelled Alabama to a 9-5 win over Georgia Tech in the sixth game of the 2008 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic at the UA Softball Complex.
After the Yellow Jackets put three across in the top of the third, true freshman Whitney Larsen blasted her third home run of the season, and her second in as many games, to score classmate Catherine Dozier and draw the Tide to within one heading into the fourth inning.
After holding Tech scoreless in the fourth, the Tide went to work. Alabama cut loose with seven runs on four hits, sending 10 batters to the plate in the process. Jordan Praytor drove in two with a double to left and Kelley Montalvo plated a pair with a line shot to left center. The Tide took advantage of three walks and one Yellow Jacket error in the inning.
Rogers continued her dominance early on in her junior season, as the All-American racked up three more hits, scored once and swiped two bases, her 14th stolen base on the season in as many attempts. Larsen finished with two hits and three RBI and Montalvo and Praytor each drove in two runs apiece for the Tide.
Meanwhile, true freshman Kelsi Dunne continued her mastery over the Georgia Tech offense. Facing the Yellow Jacket lineup for the third time in the week, Dunne earned her fourth win in as many tries and her third over Tech in three starts. The Port Orange, Fla., native pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up five runs and six hits. She struck out eight and allowed four walks.
Chrissy Owens came on in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win, picking up her second save of the season and the 18th of her career. Owens retired the only batter she faced, stranding two Tech runners.
With the win, the Tide improves to a perfect 9-0 on the season and 3-0 at the Crimson Classic. Alabama earns the No. 1 seed heading into the semifinal round and faces fourth-seeded Middle Tennessee in the first semifinal game of the evening session, beginning at approximately 4 p.m. The Tide beat the Blue Raiders, 6-0, on Friday in the round robin format.
New Mexico, the two seed, faces third-seeded Georgia Tech in the nightcap. The two losers of the semifinal games meet at 11 a.m. on Sunday in the consolation game with the winners playing for the Crimson Classic team title immediately after at the UA Softball Complex.
Log on to RollTide.com, the official Alabama athletics web site, for recaps, box scores, updated stats and links to audio and livestats following each of the semifinal contests at the UA Softball Complex on Saturday evening.
