Alabama Beats Texas, 10-1

Saturday, May 16

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1:30 p.m

Alabama

Texas

5/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

May 16, 2009

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 3 ranked Alabama softball team earned its second run-rule victory in as many days as the Crimson Tide ran past the Texas Longhorns 10-1 Saturday at the Alabama Softball Complex. Alabama used a three run first and exploded for six more after a 3:17 rain delay to secure its fifth straight appearance in a regional championship game.

"If the girls aren't convinced now these are the best fans in the country, then I don't know," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "Even during the rain delay they were cheering and clapping. It pumped me up and I know it pumps them up. I thought it was a very entertaining game. In a rain delay, you never know what it's going to do to the hitters and pitchers. Our kids came out and really made a statement right away and our hitters did a good job after the delays."

Alabama senior Brittany Rogers opened the game with a walk and later scored on a throwing error. Freshman Cassandra Reilly-Boccia supplied the big hit in the inning with a double to left field that plated Lauren Parker. Ashley Holcombe added the third and final run of the frame when she stole home on a double steal.

Texas answered with a single run in the bottom half when Alexis Bennett singled to center to score Courtney Craig. Craig opened the Longhorn hitting attack with a double to left-center.

In the top of the fifth the Tide extended its lead to 4-1 when Holcombe singled down the left field line to plate Parker. Parker opened the frame with a single to left field.

In the bottom half of the inning the game went into a 3:17 rain delay when Texas had two runners on with one out. Alabama hurler Kelsi Dunne did not let the delay effect her performance as she promptly came back to retire the next two batters on a fly out and a strikeout.

The Crimson Tide then put the game away by scoring six runs in the top of the sixth. Holcombe put the game out of reach when she drilled a three run home run over the left field fence.

Holcombe tallied four RBI and banged out two hits in the winning effort. Parker batted 3-for-5 with three runs while Reilly-Boccia was 2-for-2 with two runs and a RBI.

Dunne (25-3) earned the win behind six strong innings. The right-hander scattered five hits and allowed one run while striking out eight. Brittany Barnhill (25-14) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs - three earned on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"Anytime you stay in the winners' bracket it's a huge advantage," Murphy said. "We're glad we only have to win one game."

Alabama returns to action on Sunday in the regional's sixth game while Texas returns to action in the regional's fifth game. Mississippi Valley State faces Chattanooga an elimination game Saturday at 8:20 p.m.