Alabama Wins Regional Title, Beats Chattanooga, 11-2
5/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 22, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Crimson Tide beat Chattanooga 11-2 to win the 2011 NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional Championship Sunday at the Rhoads Softball Complex. With the win, Alabama advances to next weekend's NCAA Super Regional. The Tide has now won seven NCAA regionals in a row and nine over the program's 15-year history.
Alabama got the scoring going early, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. The Tide was extremely aggressive on the basepaths to start things off, with five stolen bases in the first inning. Alabama then scored four runs each in the top of the fifth and sixth innings. Chattanooga scored two in the bottom of the sixth to get on the board, but could get no closer, with the run rule finishing off the game in six innings.
The Tide's top offensive highlight came off the bat of junior Amanda Locke, who blasted a three-run homer over the scoreboard in the fifth inning to effectively put the game out of reach. Senior ace Kesli Dunne (26-3) threw a gem, giving up just one hit and striking out eight through five innings of work. Kandice Irwin took the loss for the Lady Mocs, dropping to 12-4 on the season.
Alabama beat Jackson State on Friday night and Memphis in Saturday's first game to advance to the championship game. Chattanooga lost to Memphis on the regional's first day, and then advanced out of the loser's bracket with wins over Jackson State and Memphis to reach the championship game.
