Tide Softball Rolls Past Missouri, 6-1

The Alabama Softball team beat Missouri 6-1 in the first game of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional held at the Alabama Softball Complex on Friday.

Alabama and Missouri return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. Should Missouri win Saturday’s first game, the deciding game is slated to get underway at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the Super Regional goes to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

“We knew coming in that anyone you play at this level is going to be a great team,” Alabama Coach Patrick Murphy said. “We were fortunate to get a lot of baserunners on early and finally capitalized in the third (inning). We got a couple of big hits, (Lauren) Parker’s, and a few others. The top of the order was great tonight I thought.”

Alabama (55-6) scored six runs on 11 hits while Missouri (47-16) managed one run on two hits. A majority of Alabama’s offense came in the third inning when five runs crossed the plate. Junior Brittany Rogers and senior Jordan Praytor led the Tide’s offense with three hits apiece.

“It was unfortunate that we really didn’t give ourselves a chance to win tonight,” Missouri Coach Ehren Earleywine said. “Our defense was atrocious. Obviously you can’t give Alabama extra outs. Again, defensively we blew it, and we are going to have to a much better job tomorrow.”

Lauren Parker provided the big blow for the Crimson Tide with a two-run shot over the right-centerfield wall. The blast came on a 2-2 count with two outs to hand Alabama a 5-0 lead in the third.

Alabama plated its first run of the contest on a sac-fly by Praytor. After a stolen base by Rogers, Praytor hit a deep fly to right that Rogers was able to tag and score on from second base.

Missouri scored its lone run on a bases loaded walk to Marla Schweisberger that brought home pinch-runner Lisa Simmons. The Tigers stranded the bases loaded in the frame to end the game. Kelsi Dunne recorded her seventh and final strikeout of the evening to secure the win for Alabama.

Dunne picked up the win for UA, improving to 25-4 on the season while Mizzou’s Stacy Delaney took the loss, falling to 20-4 on the year.

“You definitely have to respect hitters like the ones that are on their team,” Dunne said. “They have a great team, and I just really had to mix it up and not give them anything good or close to the plate to hit.”

Dunne allowed two hits and one run while walking five. Delaney was chased after four innings, allowing 10 hits and six runs with a walk and three punch outs. Jana Hainey threw two innings of scoreless relief.

Rogers scored two runs and swiped two bags for the Crimson Tide. Praytor and Parker each drove in two runs while Charlotte Morgan collected two hits.

Lindsey Ubrun and Abby Vock collected the lone hits for the Tigers. Jen Bruck and Amanda Renth drew two walks apiece.