Alabama
Mississippi Valley State
Softball Beats Mississippi Valley State, 12-3
5/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
| Tuscaloosa Regional Central
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 3 ranked Alabama softball team opened the NCAA Championship Tuscaloosa Regional with a convincing 12-3 victory over Mississippi Valley State Friday night. The Crimson Tide used an eight-run first inning and then tacked on four more in the fourth to earn the win in five innings. Alabama improves to 48-9 overall while MVSU moves to 37-15 on the season.
On the strength of five hits and three Devilette errors Alabama opened the scoring in a big way. The Crimson Tide opened postseason play in impressive fashion as it plated eight runs in the first frame to set the tone in its first round game.
"I was really happy with the start, especially the first inning with eight runs," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "I think it calmed some nerves and it's a big number to put up there in the first inning and I don't think it could have been a better start for us."
Senior Kelley Montavlo started the scoring with a sac fly to center that plated senior Brittany Rogers. Junior Charlotte Morgan followed suit with a single up the middle that scored senior Lauren Parker. Freshman Cassandra Reilly-Boccia then knocked in a run. After a few runs scored on MVSU miscues, sophomore Whitney Larsen banged a triple to right centerfield that scored two.
Parker then opened the fourth inning with her second home run of the season, a solo shot that sailed over the right-center wall to extend the Alabama lead to 9-0. The Crimson Tide tacked on another when Reilly-Boccia brought home Montalvo on a single down the right field line.
The Tide continued the offensive onslaught in the fourth when Ashley Holcombe hit a two-run home run over the right-centerfield wall to bring the Alabama lead to 12-0.
"Every team sees we're going to swing the bats and score runs," Holcombe said. "They're going to have to try to match it."
The Devilettes got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Angelica Wade hit a two-run, two-out double to right-center that plated Angelia Jones and Courtney Davis. After a balk by freshman Amanda Locke, Williams then scored on a wild pitch.
Alabama returns to action Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against the Texas, winner of tonight's first game. Mississippi Valley State faces Chattanooga an elimination game at 4:00 p.m.
