Collins by Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com
The Crimson Tide has added two more players to the ranks of the National Football League. In the second round on Friday night Landon Collins and T.J. Yeldon were selected early. In fact, Collins was the first pick in the second round. Yeldon was right behind him as the fourth.
Most analysts thought Collins would go in the first round, many projecting him around 16th. ESPN's Mel Kiper even had him going in the top ten. But the night ended with Collins and his family still sitting in the green room awaiting his name to be called.
Collins didn't have to wait long as round two of the draft began. Defensive back Collins' name was called as the 33rd overall pick last night, and will be playing professional football for the New York Giants.
Next up was former Tide running back T.J. Yeldon. He was taken 36th overall and will be spending his professional playing days in a warmer climate. Yeldon went to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Yeldon had not received as much hype as his two former team mates had in the NFL draft process. Former Bama wide receiver Amari Cooper had received the bulk of the attention, taken fourth in the first round. Collins had been next, especially after not going in the first round.
T.J. was a huge part of the Bama offense last season, and will be looking to contribute at his new home in Jacksonville.
Yeldon by Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com
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Women's Softball
Photo by rolltide.com
The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team batted their way to another big win last night. The latest to fall victim to the Bama bats were the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tide roasted the Hogs 9-1 in the series opener on the road at Bogle Park.
The bats were clinking throughout the night for Bama (39-11, 15-7 SEC) as they would get 10 hits from six different batters to pummel Arkansas. Junior Kallie Case swung the big bat for Bama with a season high three hits in her four at-bats. She was able to score after each one of those hits also.
Other notable performances came from Alexis Osorio (16-7) who took the win after pitching just over five innings getting eight strikeouts. Leona Lafaele stepped up big in driving in a career-high five RBIs. A huge three-run out of the park shot was the highlight of her night.
Game two of three game series is tonight at 8 PM CDT and can be seen live on ESPNU.
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Baseball
Photo by rolltide.com
Bama baseball continued their 2015 struggle last night in a losing effort to 23rd-ranked Arkansas 8-4 at the Hoover Met. This clinches the series victory for the Hogs, leaving one game for the Tide to try to snap the streak. Alabama is now 23-23 overall and 8-15 in the SEC this season.
The Crimson Tide did have seven of their nine starters managing one hit on the evening. Five Bama batters picked up two hits each.
The key for Arkansas was their ability to put together the hits needed at the right time even though they were outhit by the Tide 12-7. The fifth inning was the big one for the Hogs, getting five runs to decided the game.
