Reilly-Boccia Powers Softball to Two Wins
10/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 23, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama softball team capped off a perfect fall season with a pair wins Saturday at Rhoads Stadium. The Crimson Tide defeated Wallace State 6-0 in game one and followed with an 8-0 victory over Samford in game two.
Cassie Reilly-Boccia added an exclamation point to what was already an excellent fall for the junior with three home runs on the day. The Yorktown Heights, N.Y., native led the Tide this fall with nine hits, including a double, a triple and five long balls.
"We played seven games this fall and we got a lot accomplished," head coach Patrick Murphy said. "A lot of people got some at bats and a lot of people got innings. All our newcomers got to put the uniform on and go out on the field which will hopefully get the jitters out so we don't have to worry about that in the spring.
"I want to thank all the fans that came out these last two weeks," Murphy said in response to a total attendance of 4,300 over the seven game span. "I would have never thought we would have that many fans out in the fall. I also want to thank the Diamondbackers for their fundraising this fall."
GAME ONE
The Tide jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring two runs in both the bottom of the first and second innings.
Kaila Hunt drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first and Reilly-Boccia took advantage with a two-run blast to center, giving the Crimson Tide a 2-0 lead.
Alabama plated two in the second with another two-run shot by Jackey Branham that plated Courtney Conley. Reilly-Boccia would homer again in the third to give the Tide a 5-0 lead.
Lauren Sewell's solo-shot in the bottom of the fourth gave the Crimson Tide its final 6-0 lead, as Jackie Traina shut down the Lady Lion bats, striking out 10 of the 17 batters she faced in relief.
Sewell picked up the win for the Tide in the circle only allowing three hits in three innings pitched, striking out three.
GAME TWO
The Crimson Tide ended a scoreless tie that was taken into the bottom of the third quickly plating five runs. Kendall Dawson scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Kayla Braud and in the next at bat Jennifer Fenton crushed a three-run homer off the scoreboard in left center.
Larsen followed Fenton's homer with a walk and Reilly-Boccia struck again with another two-run blast to straightaway center, giving Alabama the 5-0 lead.
The five runs proved to be more than enough for Kelsi Dunne who was nearly untouchable in six innings pitched. Dunne tossed a two-hit shutout while not allowing a walk and striking out 10 of the 21 batters she faced.
NEXT UP
Saturday's games marked the end of Alabama's fall schedule as the team will not see the field again until the 2011 season starts in February. The 2011 schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
