The Crimson Tide’s softball team faced the LSU Tigers in a doubleheader at home Wednesday. Game one started off with center fielder Kirsten Shortridge batting for LSU and striking out (0-2). Designated player Ashley Applegate and right fielder Rachel Mitchell also struck out, giving LSU their last two outs of the first inning.
Second baseman Kayla Braud batted first for the Tide, lining out to the shortstop. Right fielder Cassie Reilly-Boccia was up next to bat for the Tide and was hit by a pitch. Pitcher Charlotte Morgan hit a single through the left side, and Boccia advanced to second. Short stop Rachel Larsen reached on a fielder’s choice, and Morgan advanced to second while Boccia got out at third base, unassisted. Center fielder Olivia Gibson struck out, giving the Tide it’s last out of the first inning.
The sixth inning started off with LSU third baseman Jessica Mouse getting hit by a pitch. Shortridge reached on a throwing error, and Mouse advanced to second base. Shortridge stole second, and Mouse stole third. Applegate grounded out to second base, and left fielder Ashley Langoni struck out swinging. Mitchell made it to first base after Kelsi Dunne pitched an intentional walk, forcing Mitchell to run to second, Shortridge to third and Mouse to home plate on an unearned score. Dunne says she was not worried about giving the team the unearned score because knew that the Tide would also score.
“I just knew that after the homeruns, I just had to get the next outs,” Dunne said. “It’s never good giving up a homerun, but I knew that our team would come back and score runs. I had no doubts in my mind that we were going to come back and win that game.”
Santo gave the team their final out of the inning by striking out. With Alabama up to bat, Larsen, Keima Davis, and Lunceford scored, making the game 3-2, which was the final score after LSU made no runs in the seventh and final inning.
Game two started off with LSU’s Shortridge striking out swinging. Shortstop Julianna Santos walked, and right fielder Mitchell doubled to right center. Santos scored, making the score 1-0.
Alabama did not score until the fifth inning. Third baseman Courtney Conley doubled to left field. Dawson walked, and Lisa Elizondo pitch-ran for her. Jazlyn Lunceford pinch-hit for Jennifer Fenton, hitting a single up the middle and advancing to second on the throw. Elizondo advanced to third on a throwing error by a center fielder, and Conley scored, making the score 1-1.
LSU scored twice in the sixth inning. Shortridge was on second base when Mitchell made a homerun, giving LSU two more points, bringing the score to 3-2.
Alabama also scored in the sixth. After Morgan struck out swinging, and Larsen lined out to third base, Locke made a homerun to centerfield, making the score 3-3. Alabama would make the last run of the game in the seventh inning when Jennifer Fenton made a home run, making the final score 4-3, giving Alabama the win.
Though the Tide started scoring late in both games, Fenton says she never lost faith in her team’s ability to score and win.
“I was not nervous at any point because I knew our pitchers were shutting them down and I knew our offense was going to come around,” Fenton said. ”Someone was going to make the game-winning hit. I knew it. I just knew it.”
The Tide will face off against Northwestern at home this weekend on Saturday at 1:30 and Sunday at noon.
