Softball Blanks Purdue, Moves to 2-0
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? After a routine 8-1 victory in the season opener over instate rival South Alabama, the fourth-ranked University of Alabama softball team finished off a perfect first day of the 2008 season with a five-inning 8-0 decision over Purdue.
“I was really pleased with our performance today, considering it was our first time out,” said UA head coach Patrick Murphy. “We left too many runners in the first game, but I thought we got two really good pitching performances today.”
Riding an outstanding freshman debut by pitcher Kelsi Dunne, the Tide put up four runs in the first three innings and plated four with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to earn the shortened victory.
“For her very first game, Kelis was really impressive,” Murphy said. “She seemed prepared and ready to go and I thought that was great to see from a young player. Eleven strikeouts in five innings is an impressive number, so we hope she can continue to give us those types of efforts.”
Dunne, a freshman from Port Orange, Fla., dominated the Boilermaker lineup. She struck out 11 Purdue batters in fiving innings en route to the two-hit shutout. Dunne struck out the side two times and recorded strikeouts against eight of the first 10 batters she faced. The Boilermakers got only two runners to second base all evening, one on a sacrifice and one on Dunne’s own throwing error.
Meanwhile, the potent Alabama lineup put together a solid performance against Purdue pitcher Dana Alcocer. The Tide racked up 11 hits and knocked out six extra-base hits in the victory.
Lauren Parker capped off an outstanding opening day after sitting out the fall season with an injury. The 2007 First Team All-American hit her second home run of the day to open up the floodgates in the fourth inning, driving an Alcocer offering over the center-field wall.
Teammate Dani Woods went a perfect 3-of-3 from the plate against Purdue, including two doubles. Woods had three RBI and scored a run in the victory, including a two-out screamer down the right-field line that scored Brittany Rogers.
“I was really happy with the way Dani hit the ball tonight,” Murphy said. “She is a special hitter with two outs and she showed that again in the fourth inning.”
Rogers joined Woods as the second Tide player with a perfect game at the plate in the win over the Boilermakers. The speedy junior went 3-of-3, scored three runs, drove in one and stole three bases.
Charlotte Morgan finished 2-of-3 in the game and ripped two more doubles, giving her four on the season after one day of competition. Morgan drove in one run, as did teammate Kellie Eubanks.
On Saturday, the Tide faces Jacksonville State at 3 p.m. and will play a second game against Purdue beginning at approximately 5 p.m.
The second day of competition at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash begins at 11 a.m. with Jacksonville State and South Alabama play a rematch from Friday. Jacksonville State won the first game, 7-5. South Alabama and Purdue face off at 1 p.m.
