Alabama Finishes 5-0 In Tourney

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The top-ranked Alabama softball team claimed its first tournament championship of the season as it downed North Dakota State, 10-0, Sunday morning to secure the UNI-Dome Classic title. With the victory the Crimson Tide starts the season 5-0.

Alabama banged out 12 hits and smashed four home runs on the day. Freshmen Haylie McCleney and Kallie Case along with sophomore Danae Hays each tallied three hits in the win.

Junior Jackie Traina improved to 3-0 on the season after tossing the five-inning shutout. The All-American allowed four hits and struck out eight while walking one.

Alabama will open the home portion of its schedule when it faces instate foe South Alabama. The two teams will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m.

Alabama scored a run in the bottom of the first to start things off. McCleney collected her 11th hit of the tournament when she doubled to left. Then after a stolen base and a passed ball, she scored on a Kaila Hunt sac-fly to right-center.

After making a run-saving diving grab in the top of the third, McCleney led off the bottom half with a home run that caromed off the top of the wall in center and over to give the Tide a 2-0 lead. The scoring continued in the frame after a Kayla Braud walk, Hunt destroyed a home run well over the wall in left to push the score to 4-0.

McCleney once again got the Tide on the scoreboard. With two outs in the fourth, the rookie reached on a bunt single, stole second and then scored on a Braud single to center to give Bama a 5-0 lead.

A two-run shot in the fifth by sophomore Danae Hays gave the Tide a 7-0 lead. Freshman Kallie Case collected her third hit of the contest before Hays pulverized her first home run of the season over the wall in deep left-center.

Senior Keima Davis ended the game with a three-run homer to cap off the tournament with a 10-0 win. On the weekend Davis hit a grand slam and two three-run homers.

McCleney led an impressive weekend from the Bama rookies. The Morris, Ala., native hit .722 (13-for-18) with nine runs, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, four RBI and five stolen bases. The four freshmen combined to hit .622 (23-for-37) with 11 stolen bases and 17 runs.

On the weekend the Tide hit .384 with nine home runs and added 20 stolen bases. UA outscored its opponents 43-12.