When the NCAA Tuscaloosa Softball Regional was announced, the pre-game narratives were all about quality pitching.
Alabama sported SEC Pitcher of the Year Jaclyn Traina, while the Crimson Tide’s opponent on Saturday afternoon, USC-Upstate, was the 3rd-ranked team nationally in ERA, anchored by freshman Lexi Shubert’s 1.25 mark. Alabama made short work of that script, recording 16 hits and seven runs against the Spartans en route to a 7-1 victory.
“I certainly didn’t think we’d get 16 hits,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “I was preparing for 2-1, 3-2, something like that. The first inning, again, we came out and really had some great at-bats and kind of stuck it to them offensively, and then we really didn’t let up.”
Key for Alabama’s offensive production has been junior Jadyn Spencer, who improved to a perfect 8-8 on the weekend, including a solo home-run to straight-away center Saturday afternoon.
“I have to give credit to coach Aly [Habetz],” Spencer said. “After practice every day she has stayed with me and a group of other girls and went through all of the pitches we might face this weekend. I have to give the credit to her. Preparation breeds confidence and that is what the coaches have been telling us all year.”
Despite Alabama’s offensive success, the Crimson Tide left 11 runners on base Saturday afternoon, a mark Murphy said his team will have to improve by making adjustments at the plate.
“It doesn’t have to be a hit. It can be a sac-fly, it can be a ground ball up the middle where they can dive and make the play at second – it doesn’t matter,” Murphy said. “You’ve got to hit it a little bit harder, side-to-side, farther, whatever.”
Traina earned her 101st career win Saturday, retiring 14 straight beginning in the second inning and only conceding on a lead-off solo home run from center fielder Shellie Robinson on the second pitch of the game.
“Jackie gave up the one big hit but after that, not until the last inning did they hit her hard again,” Murphy said. “I was really pleased with her, and she usually bounces back. She usually pitches better at the end of the game than the front of the game.”
Traina agreed that she settled down as the game progressed, growing more confident as the afternoon went on.
“Sometimes when you go into a game, after the first couple of batters, the first time through the line up, in a sense you get to know them.” Traina said. “When they get up again, I know in my head what I need to be throwing to them and where I need to throw them. You’re in a better mindset.”
Traina even helped herself offensively, hitting a 3-run home run in the 1st inning, her 2nd this season.
“I have been working on seeing the ball well, and it has been working,” Traina said. “I am just glad [Murphy] took a chance on me and let me bat.”
The Crimson Tide will return to Rhoads Stadium tomorrow at 1 p.m CT to contest the regional championship game.
