All Entries in the "Softball" Category
Alabama softball prepares for Women’s College World Series
Check out the first summer edition of The Crimson White at newsstands across campus today. Here is a little preview of our softball story:
In 2009, Florida ended Alabama’s season, hitting a two-out, walk-off grand slam in the Women’s College World Series semi-final. In 2010, the Tide couldn’t make it back to Omaha, losing in the Super Regional on a walk-off home run to Hawaii. There was no walk-off in 2011, but instead, the Tide was stunned by Florida twice in one day – 16-2 and 9-2 losses – once again sending the Tide home empty.
Alabama enters the 2012 Women’s College World Series with the memories of the previous three years still fresh in its mind. The Tide is still looking for the first national title in program history and believes 2012 could be the year to do it.
Sophomore Kaila Hunt said the team was very confident going into this series.
“I would not want to be playing with anyone else,” Hunt said. “We have the pitching staff, we have the hitters, and everybody’s on the same page.”
To read the rest of the story, check it out at The Crimson White’s main page here.
Alabama softball advances to the Women’s College World Series, beats Michigan 4-3
Courtesy UA Athletics
Alabama overcame a couple of early mistakes, battling back like it always has to secure an appearance in the Women’s College World Series for the fourth time in five years. The Tide beat the Michigan Wolverines 4-3 in front of 2,557 fans at Rhoads Stadium to complete the three-game series sweep in the Super Regionals.
“I am so proud of my team,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “The six seniors have been incredible for their four years. I couldn’t ask for anybody better on my team and to represent the University of Alabama.”
It took a resilient effort from the Crimson Tide to come through. In the first inning, SEC Pitcher of the Year Jackie Traina gave up a solo home run to put Michigan on the board first. Then, the defense behind Traina made some critical errors.
NCAA Softball Super Regional liveblog: Alabama vs. Michigan Game 2
We’re about 45 minutes away from first pitch between Alabama and Michigan in Game Two of their Super Regional series. Alabama won game one last night, meaning a win today would clinch a berth in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30, and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
If Michigan wins Game Two, the decisive Game Three would be later today at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Jackie Traina will be pitching again for Alabama. She pitched a great game yesterday, and it’s obvious head coach Patrick Murphy doesn’t want to play a third game.
One expert observation as the fans start to file in to Rhoads Stadium: it is hot. Weather.com is showing a current temperature of 90 degrees and says it will get up to 92 around 5 this afternoon.
You would think that the hot weather would be in Alabama’s favor today, as the Wolverines aren’t used to playing in conditions like this.
We’ll have full coverage of all of today’s softball action right here. For live updates, follow @marctorrence on twitter.
Alabama softball beats Michigan 4-1 in Game 1 of the Super Regionals
Courtesy UA Athletics
Alabama used another strong pitching performance from right-handed ace Jackie Traina, as well as a three-run fifth inning to beat the Michigan Wolverines 4-1 in front of 2,475 fans at Rhoads Stadium, putting the Tide one win away from a berth in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
“It’s nice to get the first one in a two out of three, this is the key,” head coach Patrick Murphy said. “Jackie gutted it out a little bit, and we had some big RBIs from Conley, Hunt and Lunceford.”
Traina allowed just three hits and only one earned run in seven innings and struck out ten batters to get her 36th win of the year. But the sophomore walked four batters, putting her in a couple of jams in the otherwise-dominant performance.
She walked two batters in the fourth inning to put two Wolverines on base, but struck out the last batter to end the inning. In the sixth inning, she walked the leadoff batter, and it came back to bite her as an RBI-double scored the runner.
But Traina shut the door in the seventh to secure the win for the Tide.
“When I walk a couple, I know I have to step it up because one hit can be a big difference in the game,” Traina said. “In those situations, you rise to the occasion.”
Alabama jumped on the board in the second inning off of an RBI single from junior Courtney Conley that scored senior Cassie Reilly-Boccia. And in the fifth inning, as Traina battled through the Michigan lineup, Alabama’s dependable top three came through to give Traina some breathing room late in the game.
Junior Kayla Braud and senior Jennifer Fenton both got on base, and sophomore Kaila Hunt scored them both with an RBI-double. The hit gave Hunt her 71st and 72nd RBI of the season.
“We needed to get a little more runs than just one,” Hunt said. “We needed to have a little support for Jackie, and I just kind of stuck with my plan. I had a plan all game, and I stuck with it and it worked for me.”
“I had a good feeling about that inning, if Braud could get on,” Murphy said. “That’s kind of how it’s been.”
Later in the inning, after swinging for the fences in her first two at-bats, senior Jazlyn Lunceford settled down, slapping an RBI single up the middle that scored Hunt.
“Jaz just got enough of the change up. It was probably a 16-bouncer up the middle and she just got enough of it for a base hit,” Murphy said. “It doesn’t take much to score.”
Game 2 will be on Friday at 3:30 on ESPNU from Rhoads Stadium. Game 3, if necessary, will be on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
NCAA Super Regionals Liveblog: Alabama vs. Michigan Game 1
Rhoads Stadium is packed for this one, still with about fifteen minutes to go until first pitch. Alabama is hosting Michigan for Game 1 of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.
It will be a heavyweight pitching matchup tonight as Alabama right-hander Jackie Traina (35-2, 1.68 ERA) goes up against left-hander Haylie Wagner (32-5, 1.46) for Michigan.
Follow along with us for all of your Alabama softball action. For live updates follow @marctorrence on twitter.
Alabama softball wins Tuscaloosa Regional, beats South Alabama 6-0
Jackie Traina pitched seven shutout innings for Alabama, and the Crimson Tide beat South Alabama 6-0, advancing to its eight straight Super Regionals appearance.
With Michigan winning the Louisville Regional, the Wolverines will come to Tuscaloosa for a three-game series with the Tide with the winner advancing to the Women’s College World Series.
“It’ll be fun to get to see them again,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said about facing Michigan. [Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins] is a hall of fame coach, a legend at Michigan. They won the Big Ten for the fifth straight year, so I know they’ll have a great team.”
Alabama did not play Michigan the last two years, but split the season series in 2010. Now, the Tide will need to win two games for a trip to Oklahoma City.
“It’s been such an incredible ride. To be at a program where we’re in a position to win a regional or win the SEC or be successful every year, that’s such a tribute to where it starts at the top with coach Murphy,” said senior Cassie Reilly-Boccia. “Every year I feel like we’ve gotten better and better since my freshman year. And I thought we were really good my freshman year.”
NCAA Softball Regional Final liveblog: Alabama vs. South Alabama
Courtesy UA Athletics
We are about half an hour away from Alabama vs. South Alabama in today’s Tuscaloosa Regional final from Rhoads Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game is not on tv, but you can stream it online here.
Yesterday, the Jaguars took down Georgia Tech, run-ruling the Yellow Jackets 10-1, to advance to today’s final. Because of the double elimination format, South Alabama has to win twice to win the region, while the Tide only needs one win.
Alabama beat South Alabama 5-2 yesterday in the early game. Jackie Traina pitched for the Tide and only allowed two hits, both of which were solo home runs. She should get the start in the circle again today.
It should be a beautiful day for softball, as weather.com is showing a high of 88 and just a 20% chance of rain.
Stay with us here for coverage of today’s Alabama Crimson Tide softball action.
Alabama beats South Alabama 5-2, advances to Regional championship
Courtesy UA Athletics
Jackie Traina returned to the circle to pitch for Alabama after eight days off and didn’t miss a beat, allowing just two hits and striking out ten as Alabama beat South Alabama 5-2 in the NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional to advance to the Regional final on Sunday.
Her only two hits allowed were both solo home runs in the second and seventh inning, but the Tide bats more than made up for it in the win.
“It’s not a bad thing,” head coach Patrick Murphy said about falling behind early. “It showed that we could come back. I don’t think anybody panicked in the dugout. Everybody believed that eventually we could do it.”
NCAA Softball Regional liveblog: Alabama vs. South Alabama
The fans are starting to file in to Rhoads Stadium here in Tuscaloosa. First pitch for Alabama vs. South Alabama is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The game will not be on TV, but you can stream the game online here.
Yesterday, Alabama beat Tennessee Martin 5-1, while South Alabama used a seventh-inning rally to beat Georgia Tech. The loser of today’s game will play again at 6 p.m. against the winner of Tennessee Martin vs. Georgia Tech, while the winner will play in tomorrow’s championship at 1 p.m. and again at 3:30 if necessary.
Jackie Traina will be in the circle today, after getting a week off from action.
Stay with us here and follow along to all of today’s Alabama softball action.
Alabama softball beats Tennessee Martin 5-1 in Tuscaloosa Regional opener
Once again, senior Amanda Locke was in the circle to pitch for Alabama’s ace Jackie Traina. And once again, she showed why the Crimson Tide is not just a one-pitcher team as it begins postseason play.
Locke allowed just one run and three hits as Alabama took down the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks 5-1 in the first game of the NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional. The win means Alabama will play the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a chance to advance to the Regional final on Sunday.
“It just really talks about how good our pitching staff is,” senior Jennifer Fenton said. “We don’t have to rely on one person to do everything. It’s great for Amanda to come in, and she just threw her game and that’s what we ask her to do.”