Tide Softball Takes Third In Row Over LSU

Charlotte Morgan did a little bit of everything on Sunday afternoon as nationally second-ranked Alabama completed a three-game Southeastern Conference sweep of number 10 LSU with an 8-1 win in front of 2,203 fans at the Alabama Softball Complex.

The Alabama sophomore won her second-straight game on the mound while going 2 for 3 at the plate with her 10th home run of the season, a double and two RBI. In the circle, she pitched a four-hit complete-game, allowing just one run while fanning four to run her record to 9-0 on the season.

Morgan, from Moreno Valley, Calif., was unstoppable all weekend both in the circle and at the plate. She went 2-0, allowing jus one run with two complete games – including a shutout on Saturday – and a .140 opponent batting average while fanning eight.

She also hit .500 (5 for 10) with two home runs, three doubles and six RBI. Her first home run of the weekend was a three-run walk-off shot in the bottom of the 10th inning in the opening game of the series.

The Crimson Tide improved to 35-3 on the season and 15-2 in the Southeastern Conference with a commanding four-game lead in the loss column over LSU in the Western Division. The Tigers fall to 29-10 on the year and 8-6 in SEC play.

It was the first time in school history the Tide swept the Tigers at the UA Softball Complex. Alabama did record a sweep in Baton Rouge in 2005.

“We have tremendous respect for the LSU team and its coaches,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “Our team really went out and played with a lot of confidence all weekend.”

Alabama exploded for four two-out runs on four hits in the bottom of the third inning. Brittany Rogers kick-started the inning with a double to center field that a diving Jazz Jackson could not come up with.

Jordan Praytor then drew a walk and both Rogers and Praytor were sacrificed over on a perfect bunt by Kelley Montalvo. The Tigers issue an intentional pass to Morgan to load the bases and after a strikeout, Lauren Parker laced a two-RBI single into left-center field.

Kellie Eubanks then hammered the next pitch from LSU starting pitcher Dani Hofer into the right-center field gap for a double that plated two more runs and gave the Tide a 4-0 lead. The double also chased Hofer from the game in place of Cody Trahan.

Hofer took the loss to fall to 16-5 on the season after surrendering four runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Trahan worked the final 3.1 innings and was tagged with four runs – three earned – with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Tide added their fifth run of the afternoon in the fourth inning as Rogers, who led off the inning with a walk, came around to score on Praytor’s sacrifice bunt attempt that LSU third baseman Jessica Mouse threw away at first base.

LSU got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning on a leadoff home run by Erika Sluss. It was the first run Morgan had allowed in two starts against the Tigers.

The Tide pushed across another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a fielding error by LSU shortstop Tayl’r Hollis to take a 6-1 lead.

The Tide begins a seven-game road trip on Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Troy before visiting Auburn over the weekend for a three-game SEC tilt. Log on to RollTide.com, the official Alabama athletics web site, for recaps, box scores, updated stats and links to audio and live stats for each game.