Softball Completes Weekend Sweep With Win Over Purdue
2/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama softball team, ranked in the top five and picked as the preseason favorite in the Southeastern Conference entering the season, got its 2008 campaign off to a perfect start as it moved to 4-0 with an 11-0 win over Purdue in five innings. With the win, the Tide won the Hampton Inn Bama Bash title for the fourth straight time.
“We were a little sloppy here and there today, but I was pleased with the way we played for the most part,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. “We were pretty effective with two outs offensively, our pitching staff did a great job and I thought we made some good plays on defense at times.”
After struggling a bit defensively with four errors in the opening game of the night against Jacksonville State, the Tide jumped on Purdue early and often in the nightcap. Alabama scored two in the first, four in the second and five in the fourth, which was easily enough for true freshman Kelsi Dunne, who earned her second win of the season with another masterpiece against the Boilermakers.
“We had planned to have Kelsi pitch twice against the same team,” Murphy said. “It’s going to happen in conference play and we wanted to see how she would be able to react and adjust throughout the weekend. Obviously, she did a great job and we couldn’t be more pleased with how she came out considering it was her first weekend.”
Dunne, a native of Port Orange, Fla., performed like a seasoned veteran all weekend despite the fact that she was making just her second intercollegiate appearance against Purdue.
Dunne pitched four scoreless innings on Saturday, striking out eight while allowing just one hit and a walk. She finished the weekend with nine innings pitched without a run, 19 strikeouts and three hits.
Allison Moore made her first appearance of the season in mop-up duty against Purdue, pitching one scoreless inning while fanning two hitters.
Offensively, there were plenty of stars to pick from. Dani Woods cemented MVP honors for the weekend with a five-RBI night. She was 2-of-3 in the game and blasted her second career grand slam in the second inning. It was the first for a Tide player since Charlotte Morgan hit one against Georgia on March 31, 2007. For the weekend, Woods hit .667 with eight hits, three doubles, a grand slam and a team-high eight RBI.
“Dani was just great for us all weekend,” Murphy said. “She really hit the ball hard and looked good at the plate. Her numbers speak for themselves and I certainly think she was deserving of MVP honors.”
Brittany Rogers had another excellent outing, going 2-of-3 from the plate with a pair of runs scored. She finished her weekend hitting .750 to go with six runs scored, nine hits, an RBI and six stolen bases on six attempts.
Junior Lauren Parker recorded a hit in her only at-bat and finished the weekend with a .545 average, four runs scored, five RBI and a team-high two homers. Morgan hit .500 in four games with four doubles and four RBI and Kelley Montalvo hit .364 with three doubles and five RBI.
“Kelley played some great defense for us at third base tonight,” Murphy said. “She made some difficult plays look easy and really helped our pitching staff this entire weekend.”
The announced attendance at the Alabama-Purdue game was 2,202 fans, setting a new all-time mark at the UA Softball Facility. That number bettered the previous record of 2,035 against Kentucky last season.
The Crimson Tide returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 13, against McNeese State, the first of five days of play at the UA Softball Facility. Alabama welcomes top 25 Georgia Tech on Feb. 14 before kicking off the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic on Friday, Feb. 15.
2008 HAMPTON INN BAMA BASH ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
South Alabama ?? Evelyne Pare
Jacksonville State - Kayla Collins
Jacksonville State ?? Allie Barker
Purdue ?? Candace Curtis
Purdue ?? Ashley Hall
Alabama ?? Brittany Rogers
Alabama ?? Kelsi Dunne
Alabama ?? Lauren Parker
Alabama ?? Charlotte Morgan
MVP ?? Dani Woods, Alabama
ALABAMA TOURNAMENT NOTES
* The Tide moved to 4-0, the fourth time in as many seasons that UA has opened with four straight wins. Alabama went 25 games before its first loss in 2007, 10 in 2006 and 13 games before losing in 2005.
* Chrissy Owens recorded her 17th career save in the win over JSU on Saturday. That places her first all-time in career saves at UA, moving her past Shelley Laird (1999-02) for sole possession of first place in Alabama annals.
* The attendance at the finale against Purdue was a new school record. With 2,202 fans, UA bettered the previous mark of 2,035 set against Kentucky on April 29, 2007.
* Dani Woods’ grand slam was the second of her career, moving her into second place all-time for career grand slams. Christy Kyle holds the UA record with four in her career. It was the first UA grand slam since Charlotte Morgan hit one against Georgia on March 31, 2007. Woods’ previous grand slam came on April 1, 2006 against Kentucky.
* With four wins, UA is now 38-2 in home tournament games in the last four years. Its last loss in a home tournament game came against Ohio State in 2006.
* Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy earned his 499th career victory tonight. With one more win he will become the 50th active head coach with 500 career wins.
* Jordan Praytor tallied two hits on the weekend, giving her 205 for her career and moving her into eighth place all-time in career hits. She moved past current UA director of operations Lacy Prejean, who had 203 in her career. Praytor needs eight hits to reach Ginger Jones for seventh place all-time (212).
* Dani Woods had eight RBI this weekend, giving her 139 for her career. That total moves her into sole possession of seventh place all-time, passing Stephanie VanBrakle and Dominique Acceturo. She needs 14 to tie Ashley Courtney and Ginger Jones at fifth place (153 apiece).
