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Bama Softball Bests Vols 6-5 In Comeback
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide softball team came back from a seventh-inning 5-3 deficit to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers 6-5 yesterday in Tuscaloosa. A pair of hits by Bama's PEYTON GRANTHAM and LEONA LAFAELE lifted the Tide to the crucial victory.
The fourth-ranked Tide (15-1) started out with a three-run homer to lead the Vols (10-5), but the 14th-ranked Tennessee squad rallied to tie the contest in the fifth, then pull ahead by two runs in the sixth. Then the big hits by Grantham and Lafaele put the Tide over in the seventh.
Alabama head coach PATRICK MURPHY said, "This game definitely tells our team that we're never out of a game. Friday against Arizona showed it, Saturday against Marshall
showed it and this did too. All it takes is for one person to get on
base and after that, the floodgates usually open. Those were great
at-bats by Leona and Peyton today. That's big time clutch hitting."
The Lady Tide did indeed show guts to take the contest when it seemed the win had slipped away.
"I talked to the team earlier this year about the three-hole hitter
being a run producer getting key hits," Murphy said. "I told the team
today (Sunday) that if anyone wants to know what I want out of the three hole, it
was what Peyton did today. Four RBIs with a three-run home run to start
it and then a late double. She fit the role perfectly today."
Alabama starting pitcher ALEXIS OSORIO (5-0) remains undefeated on the season, throwing nine strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
Next up for the Crimson Tide is a trip to Jacksonville State (7-7). The game is Wednesday, March 7th with the first pitch at 5 p.m. CT.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna
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Lane, Layla Kiffin Confirm Divorce Decision
Lane & Layla Kiffin
Photo Credit: USA Today
In a statement issued yesterday to Fox Sports, Alabama offensive coordinator LANE KIFFIN and his wife, Layla, are getting a divorce.
Kiffin said, "After a lot of careful thought and consideration, Layla and I have
mutually decided to divorce. We are fully committed to our kids’ future being our number one priority. We will maintain an amicable relationship with respect for
each other as we raise these three wonderful children. We will have no
further comments and appreciate respect for our family’s privacy."
The couple have two daughters, Landry and Pressley, as well as a son, Monte Knox, who is named after Lane's father who was a longtime NFL and college coach.
The 40 year old Kiffin is entering his third season as the offensive coordinator for the National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide.
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UA Swimmers & Divers Finish Strong On Sunday
The University of Alabama swimmers and divers came on for a strong finish yesterday in the Bulldog Invitational this weekend in Athens, Georgia. Several, in fact, posted career-best times and individual wins.
Sophomore TEMARIE TOMLEY took the 100 freestyle, then posted her career-best time in the 50 freestyle, moving her to second-place all-time at UA. Junior PAVEL ROMANOV pulled in a career-best in the 100 breaststroke. Junior ALEX GRAY took the men's 100 freestyle and senior CREWS WELLFORD took third. Junior BRENT SAGERT won the men's 3-meter springboard and junior TAYLOR ZABLOCKI was second in the women's 3-meter board. Junior DYLAN MARIN won the men's platform and sophomore KARA FREDLOCK captured third place in the women's platform. Junior JACOB KELSOE posted a career-best in the prelims of the 200 backstroke then proceeded to a second-place finish in the finals.
Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen.
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Bama Baseball Completes Weekend Sweep
The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team completed a three-game sweep 7-1 yesterday over North Dakota at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Bama used their bullpen early and often in yesterday's victory. Pitching for the Crimson Tide were starter NICK EICHOLTZ, followed by DYLAN DUARTE, KYLE CAMERON, MATT FOSTER and THOMAS BURROWS.
Concerning the bullpen performance, Duarte said, "I think we did a good job today. It all comes back to the way we work. Coach (MITCH) GASPARD is always
preaching that we need to be on every time out, so we are out there
every day, trying to do what we can do to get better. We know we are
going to come in in big situations. It is our job to shut it down and
keep the game close so our offense has a chance. I think we did a good
job of that today."
It was a 2-0 weekend for Alabama relievers with one save, a 0.00 ERA
(0 ER/9.0 IP), and allowed only three hits while collecting 10
strikeouts and issuing no walks. Overall for the season, the bullpen
owns a 1.67 ERA (5 ER/27.0 IP) with 30 strikeouts compared to six walks
while limiting opposing hitters to a .136 average.
Gaspard said, "6-1 is a good start; it's more than just the record. I think the way we've played and also the fact that we've had
nice crowds gave us a boost. I think there's some real energy, both
about the baseball team and in the new stadium. That's been real
encouraging for our program. We've seen a lot of really good qualities
in seven games from our team. The number one thing is that this team is
very competitive. They've got a good fire to them and a good edge and
that's really been my take from the opening seven games. It's just how
we've played the game and our mental toughness that we've played with."
Coming up next for the Tide is an in-state visit to Troy tomorrow. Game time is 6 p.m. CT.
