Alabama
Tennessee (W)
No. 3 Softball Sweeps Series in Convincing Fashion
5/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 2, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 3 ranked Alabama softball team swept No. 15 Tennessee by the scores of 5-2 and 12-0 Saturday afternoon at the Lee Softball Stadium. Down 2-0 in the opener the Crimson Tide promptly bounced back to seize the lead and never looked back, carrying the momentum into a convincing game two victory. After the conclusion of regular season play Alabama improves to 45-8 overall and 21-6 in Southeastern Conference action.
"We were able to bounce back from a slow start yesterday and really take advantage of a new day," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "We got two great pitching performances and continue to hit the ball well. We were able to close out the regular season on a high note."
Game 1
In a game that spanned two days it was a tale of two different days for Alabama. After trailing 2-0 before the game got postponed until it continued today, Alabama came to life Saturday promptly scoring a run in the third and continuing that with two in the fourth, one in the sixth and another in the seventh.
Lauren Parker got the Tide on the board in the third when she drove in Kellie Eubanks on a sacrifice fly to left field. Eubanks started the inning on Friday with a walk and was moved to second on a single by Whitney Larsen to start plat Saturday. Brittany Rogers laid down a sac-bunt to get Eubanks to third.
Alabama tacked on two more behind the strength of a solo shot by Amanda Locke. The newcomer cleared the fence in right-center on a high fly. Ashley Holcombe then was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on an error before scoring on an illegal pitch.
Holcombe added to the lead in the sixth when she hit a single through the left side that scored Jennifer Fenton. Fenton then was credited for a RBI in the seventh when she drew a bases loaded walk.
Locke led Alabama with two hits, including a home run. Holcombe batted 1-for-3 with a run and a RBI while Fenton also tallied a RBI.
Kelsi Dunne earned the win after scattering five hits and allowing two runs, one earned while striking out nine to improve to 24-2 on the season. The win is her 50th of her career. Danielle Pieroni (6-2) was tagged with the loss after two-thirds of an inning in relief.
Game 2
After rallying back to earn the win in game one the No. 3 ranked Alabama softball team exploded for 12 runs on seven hits to defeat No. 15 Tennessee and earn the series sweep. Behind all the offensive firepower the Crimson Tide got an impressive one-hit gem from hurler Charlotte Morgan.
The Lady Vols could only muster one hit - an infield chopper off the bat of speedster Kelly Grieve in the fourth inning. The southpaw struck out three and walked one in five innings to improve to 14-6 on the season.
The runs came quickly and often for Alabama. The Crimson Tide plated a run in the first and then put up eight in the second to earn the win.
Morgan supplied the only run she would need when she drove in Brittany Rogers on a sacrifice fly to left field.
The eight-run second was highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Ashley Holcombe. The senior turned on an inside pitch and cleared the wall in left with ease to break the game wide open.
After taking a 9-0 lead into the fifth inning, senior Kellie Eubanks concluded the offensive onslaught with a three-run homer of her own. Eubanks took a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall for her third home run on the season.
Alabama was led by Eubanks and her four RBI and two runs. Holcombe also scored two runs and drove in three.
Cat Hosfield (27-11) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs - three earned on two hits in one inning of work. Jessica Spigner allowed seven runs on five hits in four innings of relief.
Alabama will now prepare for the SEC Tournament that will begin on Thursday, May 7. The Crimson Tide will return to Knoxville as it awaits the announcement of its opening round opponent.
