Alabama
Ohio State
Timely Hitting Propels Softball Over Ohio State, 5-4
2/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 20, 2010
DELAND, Fla. - Sophomore Jazlyn Lunceford batted in the eventual game winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning as the No. 8 Alabama softball team held on to defeat No. 14 Ohio State, 5-4 Saturday afternoon. The win is the Crimson Tide's fourth straight and second win over Ohio State in as many days at the Hatter Invitational. Alabama improves to 5-2 on the season while Ohio State moves to 5-3.
Trailing 4-3 headed into the bottom of the fifth, Cassandra Reilly-Boccia drilled a leadoff home run over the right field wall to tie the game. Alex Blewitt reached on a fielder's choice and Catherine Dozier entered to pinch run. Dozier advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lunceford came through in the clutch for the second consecutive day, hitting in Dozier with a single through the left side that clipped off the pitchers glove.
Alabama earned the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Courtney Conley reached base on an error by the first baseman, stole second, and was batted in on Kayla Braud's single to left.
Ohio State struck back in the top of the third, scoring three runs. Vanessa Spears singled with one out and after two more singles was brought in on an RBI single from Sam Marder. The Buckeyes two other runs came on a throwing error, taking the score to 3-1 in favor of Ohio State.
The scoring would continue in the bottom of the third, with Alabama answering Ohio State's call. Reilly-Boccia singled through the right side and Charlotte Morgan followed with a double to right center. Whitney Larsen singled to center, scoring Reilly-Boccia and advancing Morgan to third. Morgan would come in to score on a fielder's choice hit by Alex Blewitt. The two runs tied the score at 3-3.
The Buckeyes pushed across a single run in the top of the fourth to retake the lead. Leah Ledford singled to right-center and came around to score on Dee Dee Hillman's double down the right field line. The 4-3 lead would not hold though, as Alabama came back to score two in the bottom of the fifth.
Kelsi Dunne earned the win in relief for Alabama. Dunne, now 2-2 on the season, struck out four of the 10 batters she faced and did not allow a hit.
Megan Miller was tagged with the loss for Ohio State. Miller walked two of the four batters she faced and was responsible for Alabama's go-ahead run in the fifth.
Alabama will continue action in the Hatter Invitational, taking on host team Stetson at 4:00 p.m. EST later today.
