Bama Softball Team Wins Second Regional Game

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Jacksonville State 10-1 in the third game of the NCAA Softball Championships Tuscaloosa Regional Friday, moving Bama closer to an expected NCAA Super Regional at the Alabama Softball Complex.

Alabama used an offensive barrage that included three home runs to invoke the run rule after five innings in the first game of the regional’s second day.

“We didn’t think it was going to be that easy, especially after the first full inning because I knew they were going to come out fighting,” Alabama Coach Patrick Murphy said. “After the home run from the kid that was the MVP of the tournament last year. We knew she was hot but after that I thought our offense did a really good job. We scored in every inning which was a goal of the team. The whole offensive effort was good.”

Sophomore Charlotte Morgan connected for her first home run of the regional with an opposite-field shot in the first inning. It was her 17th home run of the season, tying her with Ginger Jones (2000) for the second-most single-season home runs in school history.

“It was very exciting,” Morgan said. “I have been working very hard and everyone kept telling me to keep believing because it would come when we really need it. That is what I kept telling myself.”

Junior Ashley Holcomb broke out of a 0-for-17 slump in the second inning with a three-run home run down the left-field line. Junior Brittany Rogers then used her speed to turn a base hit to the right of second base into an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning. The center fielder’s angle allowed the ball to roll to the wall in right-center field and Rogers crossed home plate standing up for her first home run of the season.

“I wasn’t really thinking (home run),” Rogers said. “I was just following my base coaches and doing what they were telling me to do.”

Jacksonville State got on the board first when Rachel Fleming sent a solo shot over the wall, but the Gamecocks couldn’t muster much offense after that.

“We came here with every respect for Alabama,” JSU head coach Jana McGinnis said. “We didn’t come in scared. I think we came in here with a lot of fight. We lost our fight near the end of the game but Alabama proved why they are a top team in the nation. They were very solid. They had solid pitching; very solid defensive and they are rock solid offensively.”

The Tide’s Kelsi Dunne picked up the win, going to 23-4 on the season while JSU’s Ashley Eliasson took the loss, falling to 15-4.

JSU returns to action later today, facing the winner of the regional’s fourth game between Florida State and UT Chattanooga at 7:30 p.m. Alabama faces the winner of the 7:30 p.m. game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a game that will be televised on ESPN2.