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Crimson Tide Softball Pounds Out Two Wins Friday
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Karley Fernandez
It may have been cool in the stands but it was HOT on field on Friday for the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team. Bama earned themselves a couple of high-scoring run rule wins to open the Easton Crimson Classic yesterday in Tuscaloosa.
First up for the Lady Tide (18-1) was a big 11-0 victory against Louisiana-Monroe (12-6) after only five innings. Next up was the demolition of North Dakota State (8-8) 15-2. Bama combined for 22 hits including three home runs as well as 23 RBIs in the two games. The run totals for both games are the two highest of the season for the Crimson Tide.
"CAROLINE (HARDY) added tremendous value to our team tonight," stated Bama head coach PATRICK MURPHY. "She was on base six times and only got out once. She went up to
the plate with a purpose. (MARISA) RUNYUN was the same way today and so
was PEYTON (GRANTHAM). It was fun to watch."
Runyun and HAYLIE McCLENEY both had four hits in the two games Friday. Runyun had her first home run of the season, coming in the fourth inning against North Dakota State. DEMI TURNER and Grantham had home runs also, with Turner getting a team-leading five RBIs against North Dakota State.
The Tide continues in the Easton Crimson Classic today with another pair of games. The first contest will be with DePaul (2-10) at 1:30 p.m. CT, followed by the match up with North Dakota State beginning at 4 p.m. CT.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Karley Fernandez
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Karley Fernandez
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Crimson Tide Baseball Shuts Out Notre Dame 4-0
The Crimson Tide baseball team shut out the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame without much of a fight yesterday evening by a score of 4-0 at the USA Baseball-Irish Classic in Cary, North Carolina. Tide starter GEOFFREY BRAMBLETT was really on his game with his eight-inning start. Alabama is now riding a seven-game win streak, improving its record to 8-1 on the young season.
Bama head coach MITCH GASPARD said, "Geoffrey (Bramblett) was really sharp all night long. From the first pitch on, he was locked in. He took us deep in the game
to help get the win, and then (Matt) Foster finished with a good inning
in the ninth. Overall, I thought we played clean with good defense, and
we had a lot of energy tonight. This was a really good way to get the
tournament started."
Bramblett put in 8.0 innings of five-hit baseball to win his first start of the season. He struck out six batters with 108 pitches, with 73 of those being strikes. Plus, the junior didn't issue a single walk in the contest, the fifth time he has done so this season. He also denied the Irish any extra-base hits all night. MATT FOSTER then came in for one inning of relief for the Tide.
Gaspard said, "The offense did a good job early in the game, and jumped on their starter in the first," Gaspard added. "CODY HENRY got the big hit to score three in the first, and that really set the tone for the rest of the game."
Alabama faces Niagara this morning at 11:30 a.m. CT, followed by a 3:30 p.m. CT contest with North Carolina State. Bama's final game of the tournament is tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT with Brown.
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Bama Men's Basketball Concludes Regular Season Today
Tide Head Basketball Coach Avery Johnson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna
The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team concludes its regular season today by traveling to Athens, Georgia to take on the Bulldogs at 3 p.m. CT.
Alabama is coming off a devastating home loss to Arkansas 62-61 on Wednesday night at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide is now 17-12 overall, 8-9 SEC.
This will be the 143rd meeting between the Tide and Bulldogs, with Alabama holding a 93-49 lead in the series.
It should be noted that five of Alabama's 11 losses have come against teams ranked in the ESPN.com RPI top 21, while seven of the Tide's defeats have been to teams ranked among the top-50 RPI.
Today's game can be seen on ESPN2 with Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst) handling the announcing duties.
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No. 3 Bama Gymnastics Loses At No. 4 LSU
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama head gymnastics coach DANA DUCKWORTH said, "Are we disappointed in this performance? Absolutely! It was so out of character for this team. We've been so consistent all season long. This was just very atypical of this team. It was one of those nights."
It was a struggle throughout the night on the uneven bars and balance beam for Bama. Two breaks on the uneven bars resulted in low scores for the Tide with pretty much the same story on the beam.
Alabama did pick up their second-highest road vault total of the season, however, thanks to senior LAUREN BEERS and sophomore NICKIE GUERRERO, sophomore MACKENZIE BRANNAN and junior KATIE BAILEY. Bama then turned in its season-highest road score on the floor exercise thanks to Bailey, Brannan, Guerrero and Beers.
Yesterday's meet was the close of the regular season for Bama. Next weekend will be off for the Tide, then on to the SEC Championships on March 19th.
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Bama Women's Golf Leads Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
The No. 4 Alabama women's golf team is hot. The Crimson Tide currently leads the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate by three strokes with a 6-under 278 going into today's second round. The tournament is being held on the par-71 Pete Dye Course at the Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Three players finished the opening round under par. They were freshman CHEYENNE KNIGHT with a 4-under 67 (tied for best individual score), sophomore LAKAREBER ABE and senior EMMA TALLEY, both of whom finished the day with a 1-under 70.
Senior JANIE JACKSON was even at 71 and sophomore NICOLE MORALES was 3-over 74.
Trailing the Tide was No. 32 Virgina in second, and No. 42 Vanderbilt one stroke back in third. The remaining 14 teams were all over par in the opening round.
Bama tees off at 9:10 a.m. CT with morning. They are matched up with Virginia and Vanderbilt for today's play.
