Alabama
DePaul
No. 1 Softball Downs DePaul, 4-3
3/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Freshman pitcher Leslie Jury shut the door on DePaul, as she came on with the go-ahead run on second base and one out in the seventh inning and calmly struck out the last two batters to preserve top-ranked Alabama's 4-3 win in the opening game of the Easton Alabama Challenge Friday night at Rhoads Stadium. With the victory the Crimson Tide improve to 27-1 on the season.
The save was a career first for Jury as she came on in relief for senior Amanda Locke, who earned her second win on the season. Locke allowed three runs on four hits while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings.
The two teams were wrapped up in a pitcher's duel until the fifth inning. Alabama loaded the bases on three straight singles - two by the way of the bunt -and then Fenton smashed her third career grand slam to give the Tide a 4-0 lead.
DePaul (15-8) made it interesting by scoring two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh before Jury stopped the rally cold to secure the win.
Junior Kayla Braud led the Crimson Tide with two hits. Seniors Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Kendall Dawson joined Fenton with the other hits for UA.
Alabama will continue tournament play as it will have two games on Saturday. Alabama will open the day at 1:30 p.m., against DePaul and then face Longwood at 4 p.m.
