Alabama
#16 Missouri
Offensive Explosion Pushes Alabama Softball Over Missouri, 16-2
3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama softball claimed the series victory over Missouri in dominant fashion Monday night at Rhoads Stadium, defeating the Tigers 16-2 in five innings.
It was one of those games where we had a ton of runs off only a few hits," head coach Patrick Murphy said. "That hasn't happened a lot this year. We just took advantage of every walk, wild pitch, error and hit. When we do that, this is what happens."
The 16 runs scored is the most for Alabama (29-6, 3-3 SEC) in an SEC game since scoring 19 against South Carolina on April 15, 2012 and the 14-run margin of victory is the largest for the Crimson Tide in SEC play since defeating Kentucky 14-0 on May 4, 2013. Missouri (24-6, 3-3 SEC) fell behind by three in the first inning before Alabama piled it on in the second, scoring 12 runs on six hits and two Tiger errors. Missouri would earn back two in the third on a two-run homer before the Tide tacked on one more in the fourth.
Alabama's top three in the order went a combined 6-7 with nine runs scored and five RBIs, four of which came from Marisa Runyon. Reagan Dykes drove in three runs on a three-run homer in the second, her team-leading eighth long ball of the season. Batting ninth, Kallie Case went 2-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Sydney Littlejohn (12-2) earned the complete game victory in the circle, allowing two runs on four hits, while Missouri starter Paige Lowary (13-3) was chased after 1.0-plus innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks.
Alabama's offense started the first inning with three-straight hits before a bases-loaded walk drove in the first run. With two outs in the inning, a fielding error allowed two more unearned runs to cross before the end of the inning.
A walk and a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt put two on base to begin the second inning and, after another walk, Missouri made a pitching change as Tori Finucane entered the circle. Back-to-back walks scored two and quickly ended Finucane's outing as they turned to their third pitcher, Danielle Baumgartner. A sacrifice fly brought in one before Dykes brought the rest home on a three-run homer to stretch the lead to 9-0. Later, with two in scoring position, Case dropped a two-run single into right and the Missouri right fielder overran the ball, allowing Case to round the bases and come all the way home on the E9 to make it 12-0. Later with two on base, Runyon blasted a three-run homer to the scoreboard in left center to swell the lead to 15-0 before a groundout ended the big inning.
Missouri erased the shutout in the top of the third on a two-run homer by Emily Crane but Alabama got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Lafaele. That made the lead 16-2, which ultimately proved final.
Alabama continues SEC play next weekend in Gainesville, Fla., against the top-ranked Florida Gators (33-1, 8-1 SEC). The three-game series begins on Friday, April 1 at 5 p.m. CT. Game two of the series will air live on ESPN2 on Saturday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m. CT with Mark Neely, Amanda Scarborough and Laura Rutledge on the call. The series finale is set for a 12 p.m. CT start on Sunday, April 3.
