Alabama Beats Cal, 8-0
5/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The Alabama Crimson Tide beat the California Golden Bears, 8-0 to win the 2016 NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional inRhoads Stadium Sunday. With the victory, the Crimson Tide advances to next week's NCAA Super Regional, which they will also host.
Alabama scored three in the top of the first inning and three more in the second to take a prohibitive lead before adding runs in the sixth and seventh. Alexis Osorio picked up the win for the Tide, pushing her record to 17-6 on the season, while Nisa Ontiveros took the loss for the Bears, finishing her season at 18-8.
With the win, Alabama remains the only team to advance to every Super Regional since the format's inception in 2005.
Alabama will play the winner of the Seattle Regional, which is still underway, next week.
Postgame Quotes
Alabama Coach Patrick Murphy
"I just want to say congrats to Cal. They are a really classy team and organization. I think they only had two seniors, so they will be back for sure. I told our team afterwards, you guys are the most consistent team in college softball. It is 12 straight regional titles and the only school in all 12 super regionals. Our seniors went undefeated in regional play during their career, which is unbelievable. I'm really happy and it's a great day from the very beginning until Madi Moore pitched the last one."
On His Thoughts On the Lineup Change
"I thought Demi Turner would put the ball in play, and Peyton Grantham is looking better and better. We needed somebody in that spot and of course she does what she did, home run in the first inning. Then I really wanted to give everyone an opportunity. Caroline Hardy did her thing that she's always done and for the most part, I think it was a clean game."
On Putting Pressure on The Offense
"That's what we wanted. You feel for her and their pitcher, because she's pitched every inning, but when you get two balls up in the air, it's a good sign that they did the right thing for four to five innings. The key was to get her out of there."
No. 24 Leona Lafaele (First Base)
On Her Performance So Far
"I would say that I am trying to make adjustments right now. Yesterday, I was struggling with Nisa Ontiveros. I think it's all about adjustments from game-to-game. Seeing her yesterday was a big thing for us today. We need to make those adjustments and try and adjust for the next pitcher."
On Being Undefeated at Regionals
"I actually didn't know that we were undefeated in regionals. That's really great. I think we never try and think of the past or the future. We just try and stay focused on the game that's at hand. A big thing for us this year was to be where our feet are. To be in the present and get through all of these games."
On Playing Behind Alexis Osorio
"It was awesome. To see her take the momentum from yesterday and bring it to today was great. She goes right after them and even when she walks someone, she still has that look on her face like it doesn't matter. She's going to get it together, she's going to get that ground ball for us and get the strikeout. Just having her up there so calm, and to have a pitcher like that, it's great to play behind."
No. 2 Demi Turner (Infield)
On Seeing Her Name on the Lineup
"I get to contribute to the team today. I am glad that I was able to help the team. I am taking it one day at a time and putting my energy in someone else, since I couldn't help. That was my way of helping someone else."
On How Haylie McCleney's Momentum Affects the Team
"I think that sets the table. It gets everyone fired up and it's just one after another. Keep pounding it."
Cal
Head Coach Diane Ninemire
"I just want to say today was disappointing for our program. We just didn't execute in all phases of our game today. Our pitching wasn't there. Our defense wasn't there. Certainly, our bats were not there like they were the last couple of games."
On trying to rally at 6-0
"Well, it's always hard to be coming from behind like that. It affects all phases of your game, but we give them a lot of credit. They're a great opponent and they did a great job today. They outplayed us and that's how it is."
On No. 16 Nisa Ontiveros' pitching today and if she was worn out
"I'm sure it was a toll on her the last couple of weeks, really. She was doing most of the pitching for us, and she always pitches the tough games. So, yes she took us as far as she could, and we give her a lot of credit for her efforts.
No. 24 Jazmyn Jackson (Center Field)
"I'm disappointed of course. I wish we would have won the game. That's everybody's goal. Good luck to them, but we'll be coming back next year."
On Alabama's high scoring first inning
"It was the same thing for us when we came out the first game against them. We were ready to roll, too, and I do expect that power and that aggression just like we had the first time we went out."
On Alexis Osorio's pitching
"I had a game plan against her. Rise ball pitchers you have to attack early and not swing at the rise ball, and if you do make sure you get on top of it. So, that was my game plan. I think she was just as sharp as she was in the first game."
