Gabby Callaway provided the fireworks and Alexis Osorio no-hit Boston College in the first game of Alabama’s double header on Friday, earning Patrick Murphy his 1,000th career win with Alabama.
Murphy became the first coach in SEC history to win 1,000 games entirely at an SEC school. This is his 20th season with the program and it has reached regionals each of his first 19 seasons.
“I think its a product of great athletes and great assistant coaches, great staff,” Murphy said. “We’ve had great young ladies here for 22 years and they do exactly what they’re told to do.
If it hadn’t been for rainouts throughout the beginning of the season, Murphy would not have been able to accomplish his milestone at home tonight. He received an ovation before the second game when it was announced over the P.A.
“I didn’t think about it,” Murphy said. “I’d much rather have it here.”
The no-hitter was the seventh in Osorio’s career and the 35th no-hitter in Alabama history. She has completed four solo and
Osorio tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts and allowed only two base runners for the game.
“I think pretty much everything was working,” Osorio said. “My main goal was to just stay relaxed and composed and really just focus on spinning the ball. I just did what I had to do to get this team win.”
Osorio feels she is rounding into shape and is ready to start facing SEC opponents.
“I would give myself a much better grade than I have been pitching,” Osorio said. “I do feel it’s coming around.”
Alabama’s offense did not collect its first hit of the game until the third inning, when Callaway hit a home run to put the Crimson Tide ahead 3-0.
“(It was) probably the same pitch I hit on to my leg on the pitch before,” Callaway said. “With two strikes I wasn’t really looking, I was just thinking about trying to get a sac fly and scoring that runner from third. It was a no hitter at that point, I was just trying to score some runs.”
Callaway was 2-for-2 in the game, with the home run, a double and a walk. She drove in three of the five Alabama runs.
When she hit the ball, Callaway did not know if she hit the ball well enough for it to leave the field for a home run.
“I actually didn’t,” she said. “I hit the ball opposite field a lot. I feel like every ball I hit on this side of the field it doesn’t right. It always feels better opposite field. I am glad it was out.”
Elissa Brown was 1-for-2 in the game with an RBI and two stolen bases. She is now 11-for-11 in stolen bases in 2018. She showed off her speed in the fourth inning, scoring from second on an infield single to short by Kaylee Tow.
In the second game, Alabama defeated Fordham 4-3. Courtney Gettins struggled early on, but settled down to keep the Crimson Tide in position to win the game.
The Fordham Rams struck first in the game, scoring two runs in the first inning, aided by an error by Alabama in the inning.
“They made us work hard for that one,” Murphy said.
Gettins threw 4.1 innings, allowed four hits, 3 unearned runs, walked four hitters and struck out three in Friday’s nightcap.
She allowed a double with one out in the fifth inning and Murphy made the move to Madison Preston to close out the game.
Preston pitched 2.2 innings, allowed three hits, walked a batter and struck out five hitters. Her biggest strikeout came with one out in the seventh inning, with Fordham threatening with the bases loaded.
“With the lead, it was the first time she (Preston) felt that pressure,” Murphy said. “She needs to feel that because it’s going to happen in the SEC. She did her job.”
Maddie Morgan drove in the first Alabama run in the second and Tow tied the game up with a double in the same inning.
Reagan Dykes gave Alabama its first lead of the game in the third inning with a solo home run. Morgan doubled later in the inning to drive in her second run of the game.
Alabama was not thrilled with how it performed in the game, but it is not going to take a win for granted, especially with SEC play looming.
“We could have been sharper offensively and defensively, but a win is a win,” Callaway said.
