Alabama
Michigan
Softball Falls in Easton Challenge Opener, 5-2
3/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Nearly a week after downing Michigan in the seventh inning at the Leadoff Classic, the Wolverines returned the favor by defeating the Crimson Tide 5-2 with a rally in the seventh Friday night in the Easton Challenge opener for both teams. After the day No. 6 ranked Alabama moves to 12-4 on the season while No. 7 Michigan improves to 11-4 on the year.
"They are a really good team and it's great that we get to play again tomorrow," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "I am glad we get to go back out there and work on the things we did well. We played errorless defense and were in position to win this game. We get to go out there and play them again."
Tied 2-2 in the top of the seventh, the Wolverines tallied three runs on the strength of two home runs to earn the final 5-2 victory.
After a triple by Bree Evans, Angela Findley drilled a two-out, two-strike home run over the left field wall for the decisive blow. Maggie Viefhaus then followed with a home run of her own to add to Wolverine lead.
Alabama opened the game quickly taking a 1-0 advantage. Freshman Kayla Braud beat out a single and advanced to second on a throwing error before sophomore Cassie Reilly-Boccia made Michigan pay. Reilly-Boccia drilled a double to right-center to start the scoring.
The Tide would add to its lead in the third when Reilly-Boccia would strike again. The Yorktown Heights, N.Y., native went with an outside pitch and smacked a solo shot to the opposite field for the 2-0 lead.
Michigan answered with a run in the fourth on a solo shot of its own. Roya St. Clair cleared the fence in centerfield to pull the Tide lead to just one.
The Wolverines tied the score in the sixth when another solo shot left the complex. Amanda Chidester evened the score on a home run that wrapped inside of the foul pole down the left field line.
Michigan tallied eight hits and was led at the plate by the two hits each from Evans, Findlay and Chidester. Alabama recorded five hits, with two coming off the bat of Reilly-Boccia.
Wolverine hurler Jordan Taylor (8-1) earned the win, tossing a complete game on five hits, two runs - one earned - while striking out 13. Tide ace Kelsi Dunne (5-3) allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out 12 in 6 2/3 innings.
Alabama will open day two of the Easton Challenge against DePaul on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The second day will start with Michigan facing off against DePaul at 11:00 a.m. DePaul downed South Carolina 6-0 in the Easton Challenge opener.
