Crimson Tide Defeats Huskies
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Advances To Its 11th Women's College World Series
Crimson Tide Softball Celebration
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
Eleven. A magic number.
The Alabama Crimson Tide softball program is making its 11th trip to the Women’s College World Series after defeating the Washington Huskies 5-2 in game two of the NCAA Super Regional Saturday afternoon
at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama softball head coach Patrick Murphy said, "I’m extremely proud of this team. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity this year but they just kept going. The seniors have been terrific leaders on and off the field. Alexis Osorio is as gutsy as they come, she’s one of the most resilient players I’ve ever coached."
Three of the five runs scored by the Crimson Tide yesterday came from the hitting of Reagan Dykes, who banged a three-run home run in the third inning to give Bama the first lead of the game. Also stepping up as big bats for the Tide were Demi Turner and Andrea Hawkins, both of whom were two-for-three back to back in the sixth and seventh innings scoring one one apiece.
Murphy started pitcher Sydney Littlejohn, who threw 2.1 innings of ball. Then came in Tide relief pitcher Alexis Osorio (19-6) who threw 4.2 shutout innings behind her to earn the win, her fourth of the NCAA Tournament.
Osorio has been a monster the past couple of days, throwing 242 pitches. She said, however, the fatigue isn't really affecting her. She said, "I feel pretty great. I’m glad we won. It has been good so far and I can’t wait for it to keep going. I know the beginning of the season wasn’t how I wanted it to be but I’m ready to keep going."
This Women’s College World Series appearance will be the 11th for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide (51-12), the most for any Southeastern Conference softball team. Alabama has now won nine of the 12 Super Regional rounds it has played in, including eight of the nine that have been played in Tuscaloosa. The series sweep over the Washington Huskies (39-15) is the seventh for the Tide in Super Regional play.
Alabama opens play at the Women’s College World Series on Thursday, June 2nd against the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners (52-7). Game times and broadcast information will be determined at a later date.
Alexis Osorio For The Win
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Shelby Akin
Reagan Dykes Celebrates Home Run
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Shelby Akin
Coach Patrick Murphy & Reagan Dykes
Photo Credit: Roll Tide.com/Shelby Akin
Alabama's Demi Turner & Young Fan
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Shelby Akin
University of Alabama Women' Softball
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Crimson Tide Fans Showing Some Love
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Shelby Akin
Kallie Case
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
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Tide Men's Golf In 6th At Men's Championships
Alabama men's golf carded a team score of 1-under par 279 during the second round at the 2016 NCAA Men's Golf Championship vaulting into sixth place. The Crimson Tide was one of only two teams to shoot under par during the second round yesterday in Eugene, Oregon. Bama now stands at 9-over par 569 (290-279) heading into the third round.
Alabama men's golf head coach Jay Seawell was jazzed following yesterday's round, saying, "What an exciting round! We got off to a great start, just competing and battling. You could feel it last night in our team meeting. I think the guys were able to relax a little bit today. The back nine is really hard. The wind started up a little bit, but I am really proud of all of our guys. To shoot an under par round out here is a big deal and I am really proud of how our guys responded."
Robbie Shelton's bogie-free round of 4-under par 66 yesterday was the lowest round by any golfer thus far on the par 70, 7,014-yard Eugene Country Club course. Shelton now has recorded 28 consecutive holes of bogey-free golf entering today's third round of play. He is in a tie for second place overall after 36 holes with a four-under par 136 (70-66), sitting just one stroke behind the overall leader Justin Suh of Southern California (135).
"Robby looked about nine-feet tall today," commented Seawell. "He looked like that stud, first team all-america, best player in the country out there today. That's who I think and believe he is and it was fun to watch. He had embraced this golf course. It sets up beautifully to his eye. It demands excellence and that's who he is. For him to get a round out here without a bogey is a big deal. The four he made on the last hole was just exceptional."
Shelton said, "I thought I played well today. "To play bogey-free golf, especially out here, is tough to do. I am just hitting it really well right now. I've been able to hit a lot of greens and I am putting decent, so I am pretty pleased with that."
Shelton was one of three Crimson Tide golfers to shoot under par during Saturday's round. Sophomore Jonathan Hardee and freshman Davis Riley each carded a 1-under par 69 yesterday to help the Tide climb the leaderboard.
Hardee is in a tie for sixth with a two-day total of 1-under par 139 (70-69). It's his lowest 36-hole total since shooting a 137 in the first two rounds of the Puerto Rico Classic.
Riley bounced back in fine form from his opening round of 5-over par 75 and improved six strokes to finish the day in a tie for 53rd at 4-over par 144 (75-69).
Seawell said, "Davis did a good job bouncing back. I am really proud of that. You can tell he was a little tense (Friday), but he's a freshman and that's to be expected. And Jonathan has just played solid throughout the tournament. When he plays like that, it just relaxes everybody. He's hitting a lot of fairways and green. He's doing his role and his job well and I am really proud of him too."
Crimson Tide senior Tom Lovelady (75-76) and junior Dru Love (76-75) are now tied at 11-over par 151.
The 30-team field will be cut to 15 after 54 holes. Those 15 teams will be cut again to eight teams after a fourth round of stroke play. The eight teams will then begin three rounds of match play for the national title (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5), which is slated to be held on May 31st and June 1st.
Vanderbilt holds the overall lead after 36 holes by two strokes with a 3-over par 563. Third-ranked Southern Cal is in second at 565, followed by No. 21 Arkansas at 566. Oregon is tied for fourth with No. 12 LSU at 8-over par 568, only one stroke ahead of the Tide.
Alabama will be grouped with LSU and Oregon during today's third round. The teams will tee off Hole No. 1 beginning at 9:22 a.m. CT.
Tide Qualifies 6 On Final Day Of Region
In Men's NCAA Track & Field Competition
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Alabama Crimson Tide track and field teams qualified six athletes for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the final day of the NCAA East Regional at the University of North Florida yesterday. Also qualifying was the women's 4x400 relay team. Freshman Kord Ferguson, who had already qualified in the discus on Friday, qualified yesterday in the shot put.
Yesterday’s competition brought Alabama’s final total of NCAA qualifiers to 15 individuals (11 men/4 women) in 12 events (8 men/4women) along with the women’s 4x400 relay. The 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held June 8-11 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.
Those qualifying on Saturday are: Haley Teel, Vanessa Clerveaux, Katie Funcheon, Domonique Williams, Diamond Gause, Alex Gholston, Tony Brown, Kyle Felpel, Justin Fondren and Ahmed Ali.
