Alabama
Syracuse
Softball Completes Bama Bash Sweep; Downs Syracuse, 20-5
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 20, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The third-ranked Alabama softball team erupted for 20 runs on 14 hits to post a 20-5 win over Syracuse Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium. The win secured the Bama Bash title for the Crimson Tide as they improve to a perfect 10-0 on the season.
"The hitters had a really good mindset today," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "They had good at-bats all day and the lineup was able to produce from top to bottom. I was very pleased with how Jackie (Traina) bounced back today."
Alabama cruised to the Bama Bash title as it scored 61 runs over the course of the five games, earning four of the five wins via the run-rule. The Tide smashed 14 home runs, with nine different players going deep on the home-opening weekend.
On the season, Alabama now has outscored its opponents 108-21, and have mashed 24 long balls. Freshman Jackie Traina finished the tournament as the Bama Bash MVP, leading the team with a .667 (8-for-12) average, three home runs and 10 RBI. Junior Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Kelsi Dunne also earned all-tournament honors.
The Tide plated multiple runs in each inning to cruise to the run-rule victory. Alabama opened the game with four runs in the first, four more in the second and then put up six more runs in each of the third and fourth innings.
The 20 runs is the most scored by Alabama this season, as it tallied 18 runs against Alabama A&M at the Hibbett/Easton All-Alabama Classic. The Tide has scored 10 or more runs on four different occasions and eight or more eight times this season.
Sophomore Kayla Braud, senior Whitney Larsen and junior Jazlyn Lunceford all went deep in the win over the Orange. Braud scored three times and drove in two, while Larsen tallied three RBI and scored three runs.
Lunceford also drove in three and scored twice while freshman Kaila Hunt tallied three RBI and scored two times.
Traina earned the win in the circle, allowing just one unearned run on one hit while striking out six in four innings.
Alabama will hit the road once again as it will face in-state foe UAB on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. The Tide will then play five more games this upcoming weekend, heading to Tampa, Fla., to participate in the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tournament.
