Softball Knocks Off Tennessee In Series Opener, 8-0
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA ?? An explosive offense highlighted a big victory on Saturday afternoon for The University of Alabama softball team as the second-ranked Crimson Tide cruised to an 8-0 victory over fourth-ranked Tennessee at the Alabama Softball Complex. Junior Lauren Parker and junior Ashley Holcombe clubbed home runs for the Tide while freshman Kelsi Dunne produced a solid outing on the mound for Alabama, which improved to 19-1 on the season and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference action while Tennessee dropped to 20-2 overall, 0-1 in SEC play.
Parker's blast, her fourth of the season and second in consecutive games, was a three-run shot that sailed high over the centerfield fence to give Alabama a 4-0 lead and control of the game in the third inning. Holcombe's home run extended that lead and gave Dunne plenty of cushion on the mound.
With the victory, Dunne improved to 8-1 on the season as she allowed only three hits in six innings of work. Dunne struck out eight and only walked two after tossing 101 pitches with 65 for strikes.
At the plate, Alabama collected 11 hits and was led by a 3-for-3 performance by Kelley Montalvo. Parker added four RBIs while Brittany Rogers and Montalvo scored three runs apiece.
"It was surprising that we scored eight runs in six innings," said UA head coach Patrick Murphy. "They hadn't been giving up runs to anyone. Our story has been playing sloppy first innings, but we came back today and scored first, which is key for us, and we kicked it into high gear from there."
The game started with Tennessee looking primed for a big inning in the top of the first, but Dunne pitched out of a bases loaded jam by striking out Erinn Webb to end the inning. The Vols had loaded the bases via two walks and a hit batter. Alabama broke on top in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Kelly Montalvo walked. With two down and Montalvo still on first, Dani Woods slapped a hard grounder down the third base line and into the left field corner for a double to score Montalvo from first for a 1-0 Alabama lead.
The Tide took complete control of the game in the bottom half of the third. Brittany Rogers reached base on an infield hit to shortstop, beating out the throw to lead off the inning. Rogers stole second with Montalvo at bat. Montalvo singled to right to put runners at the corners with no outs. On the first pitch, Lauren Parker slammed a high fly over the center field wall for a three-run home run to stake the Tide to a 4-0 lead. With two out, Holcombe nailed a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a home run to extend the Alabama lead to 5-0.
In the fourth, Montalvo added a two-out double to the gap in right-center field to score Rogers, who had reached on a fielder's choice, giving the Tide a 6-0 advantage. Alabama added the final two tallies in the sixth. Rogers led off with a single to second and moved to second on a stolen base. Rogers scored when Montalvo doubled to right-center. Montalvo scored when Parker singled to center for an 8-0 Alabama lead.
The series between the Crimson Tide and Tennessee concludes with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Alabama Softball Complex.
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