Owens also recorded 12 strikeouts along the way to set an Alabama NCAA Regional record for strikeouts in a single game.
“I thought that Chrissy Owens did a terrific job,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “Her velocity was terrific. We put enough balls in play and did a good job at the top of the order. It seems like game in and game out we get a home run from our ninth hitter. Mandy Burford has been awesome lately, especially the last two or three weeks.”
The win advances the Tide to the Saturday winner’s bracket game against Georgia Tech at 1:30 p.m. MVSU plays Florida A&M in the loser’s bracket at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Alabama jumped ahead early and never looked backed. The Tide’s Jordan Praytor reached base in the first inning with a one-out bunt single. She then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and later scored on Dani Woods’ RBI double to right field. ‘Bama came back in the second inning with five more runs on four hits with the big blow coming on Mandy Burford’s three-run home run.
“Coach (Murphy) said she had been leaving some pitches out there to the batters before,” Burford said. “I looked for a good pitch to hit, it was down low but I got it. I have just been trying to see the ball and put a good swing on good pitches.”
Brittany Rogers then kept the inning going with a single up the middle followed by a Praytor walk. Rogers would come around to score two pitches later when Staci Ramsey singled into centerfield. Praytor and Ramsey each scored three pitches later on Woods’ second hit of the game. Woods led the Tide with three RBI in the game.
Alabama added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth for good measure before Owens slammed the door on the Devilettes to seal the win.