March 22, 2009

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. - Behind the arm of sophomore pitcher Kelsi Dunne and the bat of junior Charlotte Morgan the No. 2 ranked Alabama softball team was able to earn the series sweep of Mississippi with a 3-0 victory Sunday afternoon at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. With the win the Crimson Tide improve to 26-4 overall and 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play. The Rebels fall to 12-16 on the season and 1-10 in league action.

After a day where Alabama plated 28 runs the Crimson Tide was able to show its versatility behind stellar pitching and the manufacturing of runs to earn the sweep. The two teams were in a scoreless battle until the fifth inning.

Senior Brittany Rogers drew a leadoff walk and then promptly stole second. Senior Kelley Montalvo then put down a sacrifice bunt that moved Rogers to third. Morgan then came through with a sacrifice fly to right for her first RBI of the day.

Rogers again would set the table for another Crimson Tide scoring inning. The fleet-footed outfielder reached on a bunt single and then stole second. Montalvo then walked and Morgan came up to do the rest. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native smacked a double off the right-centerfield wall to clear the bases and hand Alabama a 3-0 lead.

That is all Dunne (12-0) would need as she went the distance for Alabama, allowing just one hit en route to the complete game shutout. The sophomore was perfect through four innings, earning her eighth shutout on the season behind seven strikeouts.

Alabama will return to Tuscaloosa for a midweek contest against nearby Samford on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. The Crimson Tide will then head to Gainesville, Fla. for the highly anticipated SEC series against Florida. The two teams will start a three game series on Saturday, March 28.