Close But No Cigar For Tide Women

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – One day after being on the winning side of a clutch grand slam home run, the No. 4 seeded Alabama softball team fell to No. 1 Florida 6-5 on a walk-off grand slam after being one out away from victory, ending the Crimson Tide’s longest stay at the Women’s College World Series in six appearances.

Alabama, which finished its season with a 54-11 record, was one out away from forcing a second game with Florida to determine who would advance to the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.

Alabama struck first, pushing across a single run in the top of the third inning. Jennifer Fenton would come into score from third on Kelley Montalvo’s infield single.

The Gators would take their first lead of the game by way of a Kelsey Bruder two-run homer that scored both Bruder and Brooke Johnson and gave Florida a 2-1 lead.

The Tide bounced back in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs to retake the lead. Brittany Rogers got aboard with a two-out infield single and proceeded to steal second base. She came around to score on Lauren Parker’s single to center to tie the game at 2-2. Montalvo would keep the Tide alive with another single to center. Charlotte Morgan would walk on four pitches, which would bring up Cassandra Reilly-Boccia who was hit by a pitch scoring Lauren Parker. Ashley Holcombe would come through big for ‘Bama with a double that bounced off the diving left fielder’s glove, scoring both Morgan and Montalvo, putting the Tide back on top 5-2.

In the end, five runs would not be enough as Florida would end the game in the bottom of the seventh on Ali Gardiner’s walk off grand slam with two outs, defeating the Tide 6-5.

Stephanie Brombacher won the game in relief for Florida after the Tide touched Gator ace Stacey Nelson for five runs in five innings. Brombacher picked up her first WCWS victory and improved to 22-0 on the season after only yielding one hit in two innings, striking out four.

Kelsi Dunne was tagged with the loss for Alabama after giving up six earned runs on two home runs. Dunne walked five and struck out five and ends the season with a record of 28-5.