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With back-to-back series against ranked SEC rivals, the schedule has worked out in the favor of Crimson Tide softball in that it is preparing them for the long road to Oklahoma City. After taking two of three against seventh-ranked Auburn, the Tide duplicated that result with a series win over #12 Tennessee.
GAME 1: Tennessee 3 ALABAMA 2
The Tide had no trouble getting runners on base in Game 1. The problem was getting them around to home. A total of 13 runners were left stranded in the game, including the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth innings. Senior Jadyn Spencer was 3 for 4 with a solo home run. Alexis Osorio took the hard-luck loss despite throwing a complete game on 140 pitches with three runs allowed on four hits. All the Vols' runs came on two hits: an RBI double after a walk and a two-run jack after a walk.
GAME 2: ALABAMA 3 Tennessee 1
Senior Leslie Jury stepped and gave the Tide a solid start giving up only five hits with one mistake - a second inning dinger to the Vols' big bopper Taylor Koenig. The bottom of the order supplied most of the offense with the 7-8-9 hitters stringing along singles to manufacture two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth. Leona Lafaele, Chaunsey Bell, Danielle Richard combined to go 5 for 8.
GAME 3: ALABAMA 10 Tennessee 3
Marisa Runyon had another huge game, swatting a pair of 2-run round-trippers and knocking in seven of the team's ten runs. Reserve Andrea Hawkins had a pinch hit single and duplicated the feat in her next at bat as well. Bama collected 13 hits to UT's five. On Senior Night, Jury entered the game after a rain delay and pitched 2.1 shutout innings for her third save on the season.
UP NEXT:
Alabama travels to lovely Fayetteville, Ark to face the SEC doormat Razorbacks (15-33, 1-20 SEC) as a tune up for the postseason.The three game series will be followed by the SEC Tournament beginning May 6 in Baton Rouge. Ticket info for you Cajun Gumps can be found here.
05/01/15 at Arkansas 6:00 p.m. CT, SEC Network +.
05/02/15 at Arkansas 8:00 p.m. CT, ESPNU
05/03/15 at Arkansas 2:00 p.m. CT, SEC Network +.