Late-Game Heroics Lead #1 Tide to Four Weekend Wins

The top-ranked Crimson Tide lost their perfect record this weekend but still had a successful run in California.  On Thursday, Alabama pitchers Kelsi Dunne and Charlotte Morgan tossed a pair of shutouts against BYU and Oregon.  But on Friday night, the Tide suffered their first defeat of the season.  The 4-1 loss to #6 UCLA gives Alabama an 0-9 all-time record against the Bruins.  The final night of the tournament saw Alabama winning to back-to-back nail-biters against #4 Oklahoma and Hawai'i.  The Tide trailed the Sooners 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning before putting together a walk and a single to set the table for senior Third Baseman Kelly Montalvo, whose two-run double won the game.  Twenty minutes later the Tide took the field again, this time going seven scoreless innings against Hawai'i.  This time it was freshman Amanda Locke providing the heroics, with a sharp infield single that scored Montalvo from third to win the game. 

The Tide now wait to see if they will retain their #1 ranking and will play five more games next weekend in Columbus, Georgia at the Leadoff Classic.

Charlotte Morgan homered against BYU and threw a two-hitter against Oregon.

Game One:  Alabama Crimson Tide 6, BYU Cougars 0

Bama Notes:  Center Fielder Brittany Rogers returned from a brief injury hiatus by going 2-3 with a walk and two stolen bases (giving her eight on the season).  First Baseman Charlotte Morgan reached in all three plate appearances including two walks and a three-run home run.  Second Baseman Lauren Parker sealed the game by putting two runs across the plate with a single in the fifth.

BYU Notes:  First Baseman Andrea Ramirez went 2-3 at the plate with both hits moving a runner to third.  Catcher Jessica Purcell went 0-1, but walked twice and ended up in scoring position both times.

Player of the Game:  First Baseman Charlotte Morgan.  Morgan's home run in the third basically ended the game by putting the Tide up 3-0.  She also walked twice, reaching base in all three of her plate appearances.

Turning Point:  BYU's fourth and sixth innings.  In the top half of the fourth, the Tide led 3-0.  Pitcher Kelsi Dunne loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, but proceeded to strike out the next two batters and force a pop up to finish in the inning.  In the sixth, Dunne put runners on second and third before striking out two batters and forcing a slow grounder to finish the inning.  Dunne did not pitch a great game (she gave up five hits and five walks) but she didn't allow a run...so, congratulations.

Game Two: Alabama Crimson Tide 5, Oregon Ducks 0

 Bama Notes:  Pitcher Charlotte Morgan had a no-hitter through five innings and allowed only two hits while throwing a shutout.  Catcher Ashley Holcombe plated two runs in the second with a single.  Sophomore Left Fielder Whitney Larsen capped the scoring with a two-run single in the sixth inning.

Oregon Notes:  Oregon had nothing.  Their pitchers gave up five runs and they only netted two hits.  The one bright spot, I guess, is that freshman pitcher Mikayla Endicott pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief.

Player of the Game:  Pitcher Charlotte Morgan.  A two-hit shutout is more than enough to earn POG status.  Morgan also struck out six batters.

Turning Point:  With the way Morgan pitched, Holcombe's two-run single in the second inning ended the game, especially when you consider the fact that there were two outs before anyone got on base.  Any time you can put four hits together with two outs to score runs, you're in good shape.

UCLA dealt Alabama its first loss of the season.

Game Three:  Alabama Crimson Tide 1, UCLA Bruins 4

 Bama Notes:  Pitcher Charlotte Morgan struggled mightily in the first inning, giving up three runs before recording an out.  She was pulled after getting the first out of the inning.  Keslie Dunne pitched 6 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run, extending her streak to 30 innings.  She has yet to give up an earned run in 17 innings this season.  Whitney Larsen's home run in the 4th was her second of the season.

UCLA Notes:  The three runs the Bruins scored in the first inning were more than the Tide had given up in any single game to date.  Catcher Kaila Schull went 2-4 with a two-run single in the first.  Second Baseman Amanda Kamekona went 2-4 including a lead-off homer.  The four runs UCLA scored was their second lowest offensive output of the season.  The Bruins have hit at least one home run in eleven consecutive games.

Player of the Game:  UCLA Pitcher Donna Kerr.  Kerr gave up only three hits while striking out seven in a complete game effort.

Turning Point:  Giving up three runs before tallying an out put the Tide in a whole they couldn't climb out of.  Kelsi Dunne pitched very well in relief.  But by the time she came in to the game, it was too late.

Third Baseman Kelly Montalvo hit a two-run double to beat Oklahoma and scored the winning run against Hawai'i.  

Game Four:  Alabama Crimson Tide 4, Oklahoma Sooners 3

 Bama Notes:  Kelsi Dunne pitched exceptionally well, excepting the fourth inning.  Outside of that single frame she allowed only two hits, while racking up 11 strikeouts.  Oklahoma ended Dunne's streak of 30 2/3 innings without an earned run.  Whitney Larsen upped her average to .464 after going 2-3 with a solo home run in the third inning.  This was the Tide's first walk-off win of the season.  Dunne's victory moves her record to 5-0.

Oklahoma Notes:  The Sooners' three runs was their second-lowest total of the season.  Lindsey Vandever's homer was her third of the year. 

Player of the Game:  Third Baseman Kelly Montalvo.  Montalvo reached base in all four of her plate appearances.  She drew a walk in the first inning, hit a solo homer in the third inning, drew another walk in the fifth inning, and hit a walk-off two-run double in the seventh.  It was a fantastic all-around game for the Alabama third baseman.

Turning Point:  Montalvo's game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh ended the game.

Game Five:  Alabama Crimson Tide 1, Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine 0 (8)

 Bama Notes:  Kelsi Dunne moved to 6-0 after pitching a single, scoreless eighth inning.  Charlotte Morgan struck out ten batters in her seven innings of work.  Alabama managed only four hits in eight innings.  Amanda Locke's single in the eighth scored the game-winning run.  While struggling to beat Hawai'i may not be a good sign, it should be noted that Hawai'i has beaten Oklahoma this year and beat #23 Ohio State earlier in the day.

Hawai'i Notes:  Pitcher Stephanie Ricketts threw eight fantastic innings, holding the Crimson Tide to only four hits, while striking out 11.  Clare Warwick and Amanda Tauali'i led the Wahine with two hits each.

Player of the Game:  Pitcher Charlotte Morgan.  She may have given up six hits and two walks, but Morgan pitched out of two huge jams to keep the Tide in the game and send it to extra innings.  Her ten strikeouts marked a career high.

Turning Point:  Hawai'i's fourth and sixth innings.  In the fourth inning Hawai'i loaded the bases with one out.  But Ashley Holcombe threw behind the runner at second for a pick off and Morgan forced a pop out to end the inning.  In the sixth Hawai'i threatened with runners on first and second base with nobody out.  Morgan got a strikeout and two groundouts to keep the score knotted at zero.