Alabama Crimson Tide Softball Takes Two of Three From Georgia Bulldogs

GAME 1: GEORGIA 4, ALABAMA 3

The weekend got off to a weird start when Patrick Murphy’s Gut® told him to start Mary Elizabeth Emily Winstead in Game 1. As you can imagine, that strategy did not go so well. UGA picked up a run in the 1st inning on a single and double. The first Doggie batter of the 2nd frame doubled and would eventually come around to score. Following that second run scored, Winstead was lifted in favor of Jocelyn Briski who promptly plunked the first batter she faced. However, Alabama got out of the inning when the runner on third was tagged out in a rundown between third and home.

Much like fans saw in the North Alabama game on Wednesday and in College Station last weekend, the Bama offense missed several opportunities to score some runs. The Crimson Tide had 7 hits, 2 walks, 2 HBP, and were beneficiaries of 3 Georgia errors. Alabama put two runners on base with one out in the 2nd, but had nothing to show for it. In the 3rd, Audrey Vandagriff singled and of course stole second base but was left standing there. The 4th was even worse as the Tide loaded the bases with no out but came up with a donut on the scoreboard.

In the 5th, UGA scratched another run in to go up 3-0. In the bottom of that frame, the Dwags were feeling mighty charitable. Straw-that-stirs-the-drink Vandagriff walked to open the inning. Larissa Preuitt laid down a bunt and the UGA defender fielded cleanly but sailed the ball into right field. The Tide base runners advanced to second and third. Kali Heivilin and Catelyn Riley both whiffed and it looked like Alabama was going to waste another chance at scoring. However, Player of the Game Brooke Ellestad came through with an RBI single. Unfortunately, Preuitt was caught straying too far off third base and was thrown out.

Lauren Johnson [YES, Lauren Johnson!] entered the game for Alexis Pupillo and singled in the 6th. She would be eventually knocked in by Vandagriff to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the 7th, it was Alabama’s turn to be charitable. Salen Hawkins booted an easy grounder from the first UGA batter. The next Dwag laid down a bunt that first baseman Abby Duchscherer threw wide for a second consecutive error. That runner then stole second base on the next pitch. Having a stellar night in the field, Ellestad fielded a grounder and threw out the runner at home. A walk loaded the bases and Briski’s night was over. Alea Johnson gave up a sac fly that made it 4-2.

Last chance in the 7th, Heivilin popped up to the second baseman who flat out dropped the ball. The hustling Heivilin made it all the way to second base. A ground out moved pinch-runner Kristen White up one station. Following a strikeout, Duchscherer hit a gronder to the shortstop who committed a throwing error, allowing White to score. But 4-3 was as close at the Tide could get.

NOTES:

• Vandagriff stole her 41st base of the season. She is chasing the school record of 60, set by Brittany Rogers in 2008.
• Slumping Alexis Pupillo continues to start but was lifted for Lauren Johnson in the 5th. Pup went hitless in College Station and was 0-2 in this game.
• Dallis Goodnight tripled, but was tagged out by Ellestad on a ground ball. The former Alabama outfielder also had an RBI on a ground out, and scored the winning run.
• Ellestad was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and made some amazing plays at the hot corner including the above mentioned pick-off, an unassisted double play, and a 5-3 double play.
• Three errors for Alabama. Two by Hawkins and one by Abby Duchscherer.
• Hall of Famer Haylie McCleney was at the game and threw out the first pitch.

GAME 2: ALABAMA 5, GEORGIA 4

Catelyn Riley took the first shift in the circle and tossed a strong 4.0 innings.

Preuitt singled in the 2nd inning ahead of starting catcher Riley Valentine’s blast that traveled over the center field fence.

A double and a single gave UGA their first score of the game in the 4th. Weirdness followed when seldom-used freshman Braya Hodges emerged from the dugout to pitch the 5th. She retired the side on 7 pitches.

In the bottom of that frame, Lauren Johnson – who got a rare start – doubled. After two outs, Heivilin crushed her 11th four-bagger of the season to put the Tide up 4-1.

More charity came in the 6th as an UGA error put Kennedy Marceaux on base. Kinley Pate, as pinch-runner, moved up one spot on a fielder’s choice and another on a wild pitch. Lauren Johnson hit a sharp ball to the shallow right field that could have been a hit, but Salen Hawkins was stuck in no-man’s land between first and second and was forced out. LoJo still earned an RBI on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-1 Tide.

In the top of 6th, a pair of walks sent Hodges to the showers in favor of Briski. She got out of the inning, but the 7th was another story. The first two Georgia batters singled. After a fly out, a 3-run bomb drew the Dwags to within one run.

Following a ground out, the Dogs put the tying run on board with a single. But another ground out ended the game.

NOTES:

• Ellestad moved up to second in the batting order. Preuitt, who normally occupies that spot, was moved down to sixth.
• Vandagriff (42), Ellestad, and Preuitt each swiped a base.
• Goodnight was 0-2 with a walk.
• No errors for Bama, one for UGA.
• So. Valentine catching, Johnson hitting, no errors, and more Green Light Girls. Huh. Who would have figured that would be a winning combination?

GAME 3: ALABAMA 8, GEORGIA 5,

It must have been Everybody Get a Hit Day at the ol’ ballpark because… well, everyone got a hit! Every Tide starter and all but one Bulldog got a base hit, but she did get a walk. I will let the highlight reels tell the story because the pitching was atrocious.

A nice way for Duke to break her slump.

Doubble-single-single-double-double-double scored 5 runs for the Tide in the 3rd.

A litt wet stuff dropped from the sky but it did not cool off the Bama bats as they added two more in the 5th.

Alea Johnson started. She lasted 2.1 innings and was lifted after the 3rd inning homer and two singles. Winstead came in and threw gasoline on the fire, serving up a 3-run gopher ball to give UGA a 4-1 lead. Briski pitched the last four innings, allowing 4 hits and one run while whiffing 5.

NOTES:

• No stolen bases for either team.
• Briski had an error. UGA had one.
• Valentine again got a start and threw out two attempted base stealers. And guess what. Bama won both her starts. Coincidence? She was 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI.
• Also starting was Lauren Johnson who went 1-3.
• Do the math!

NOTES

• UGA’s Dallis Goodnight was 2 for 7 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored, one walk, and two stolen bases. She also struck out twice and got picked off third base.
• Larissa Preuitt was 4 for 8 on the weekend, but 3 of her hits came on Sunday.
• Lauren Johnson was 3 of 8 with 1 RBI, 2 runs, and 0 K’s hitting at the end of the order.

MVP

• VANDAGRIFF – 4 for 9 (.444), 2 runs, 1 RBI, 2B, 3 BB, 2 SB, 1 K

UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE

MIDWEEK WEIRD LITTLE DOUBLE-HEADER

• Tuesday, Apr 1 vs Alabama State 4pm/5pm Tuscaloosa, AL
• Tuesday, Apr 1 vs Samford 6pm/7pm Tuscaloosa, AL

NEXT WEEKEND

The bad new is the Tide heads to Baton Rouge to play the Top 5 ranked Tigers. They good news is that two of the games will be on regular TV.

• Friday, Apr 4 at LSU 6pm/7pm
• Saturday, Apr 5 at LSU 6pm/7pm, ESPN2
• Sunday, Apr 6 at LSU 4pm/5pm, ESPNU

HOW TO WATCH

Holy cow! Two games on regular TV. Unfortunately, viewers have to listen to the ridiculous Beth Mowins and mumblemouth Michele Smith.

UPCOMING

• at #4 LSU
• vs #1 Oklahoma
• at #3 Florida
• vs NR Missouri – unranked but handed Oklahoma their first defeat.
• at #10 South Carolina

#RollTide #Team29