Alabama Crimson Tide Softball Avoids the Sweep to LSU

GAME 1: LSU 8, ALABAMA 0 – (5 Inn Run Rule)

Lawd.

If not for the run rule and a fabulous catch by Lauren Johnson, this game could have been really ugly. With No. 1 pitcher Jocelyn Briski mysteriously on the sidelines, coach Patrick Murphy turned to Mary Elizabeth Emily Winstead in Game 1. It took all of one batter to break up the no-hitter and then two batters to end the shutout.

Winstead would exit the game having gotten only two Tigers out and giving up four hits and two runs. Freshman Braya Hodges entered the fray and gave up an RBI single to the first Bayou Bengal she faced, but then struck out the next two.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Abby Duchscherer singled. The Tide junior has one career stolen base and yet The Gut® called for a hit and run. Alexis Pupillo, who was at the plate, swung wildly at an offering and missed, and Duke was easily gunned down.

In the bottom of that frame, LSU went scoreless but only because Lauren Johnson made a spectacular catch robbing a home run.

It was perhaps the defensive play of the year for the Tide, but she could not corral this one unless she had been in the stands:

Hodges pitched 3.1 innings, giving up 7 hits, and 5 runs. And yet, some of the Lollipop Rainbow Unicorn Brigade think she pitched well. Amazing how low standards have gotten.

NOTES:

• Alabama finished with four hits – all singles. Despite the botched hit-and-run, Pupillo was 2 for 2. Duke and LoJo had one hit apiece.
• Audrey Vandagriff had a rough day. She struck out in her only two at bats.
• Sydney Berzon went the distance for LSU and struck out 5 Tide batters and recorded no walks or HBP. She faced only 18 Alabama batters and threw a stingy 68 pitches.

GAME 2: LSU 2, ALABAMA 1 – POWER OUTAGE

The mystery with Briski continues, but not as you might expect. After walking the leadoff batter, a batted ball bounced off Brooke Ellestad’s glove and dribbled over to shortstop. On the play, a runner from second base streaked to third. The throw to Ellestad to nab that runner looked perfect but she somehow bobbled the ball. Meanwhile, the original batter made it all the way to second. Ugh. It was generously ruled one error, but really it was two. Another walk loaded the bases and a ground out made it 1-0. Briski then walked the third batter of the inning and was removed from the game. Catelyn Riley took over and got out of the inning. Freshman Mari Hubbard subbed in for Ellestad to begin the 2nd inning.

After two innings, five of Bama’s six outs were via strikeout. It wasn’t until the top of the 4th that a Tide player recorded a hit. In the bottom of the 4th, the Tigers put runners on the corners with a double and a single. LSU then executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt play to make it 2-0. It ended up not mattering, but nobody was covering second base on the play and the batter cruised into second.

Alabama finally got a run in the 5th in an unusual manner. A single by Salen Hawkins and a Audrey Vandagriff walk were followed by two consecutive hit-by-pitches to make it 2-1, but the Crimson Tide could not take further advantage of the situation.

In the bottom of that frame, Briski returned to the circle and pitched well enough, but the Bama offense could not figure out the LSU pitching.

Why was LoJo on the bench for so long??

Down one run in the 7th, Alabama had the bases loaded with one out, but failed to score.

NOTES:

• Briski walked three batters in the 1st inning. However when she re-entered the game, she was more on target. Pitchers coming into games cold – whether as a starter or in relief – has been a problem all season. An adjustment to pre-game preparations is way overdue.
• Officially, Alabama was tagged with one error. But there were several defensive goofs in this game that were not charged.
• The Bama hit tally was 3 in this game – all singles.
• Tide batters struck out 8 times and left 10 runners on base. LSU also had 10 LOBs.

GAME 3: ALABAMA 4, LSU 1 – Lauren Johnson Day

A throwing error by Salen Hawkins allowed the first Tigers batter of the game to get around to second base. A pair of fly outs gave LSU a quick 1-0 advantage. For once, Alabama responded. In the next frame, Hawkins singled and moved up a station due to a walk to Marlie Giles. A Lauren Johnson single up the middle tied the game up at 1-1.

Bama put runners on the corners in the 4th inning for Johnson, who doubled them both in on a ball that almost lef the yard. LoJo advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a LSU error.

In the 5th, it was Johnson again. After a walk and a single, Johnson singled in her fourth run of the day.

Catelyn Riley started the game and pitched pretty well. Even so, Murphy yanked her after four innings and put in Briski. She gave up a single and a walk in the 5th but did not give up a run. In the 6th, she was no so lucky. This time, a single and walk came into score. A Tiger knocked in one and both runners moved up a base on the late throw home. Alea Johnson relieved Briski and immediately gave up an RBI single to cut the Tide lead to 5-3. Yet she did get out of the inning with no more damage.

In the 7th, Alabama busted out for three runs on a Vandagriff three-run Bama blast over the right center field wall.

Alea gave up a double in the bottom of the 7th and Riley re-entered. The first batter she faced hit a 2-run jack, but she finished out the game. Cold pitchers. smh

SERIES NOTES

• Larissa Preuitt pulled a big fat goose egg – 0 for 9, 0 runs, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 HBP
• Kali Heivilin 1 for 7, single.

MVP

• LAUREN JOHNSON – 5 for 8 (.625), hits in all 3 games, 1 run, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 fantastic catches in the outfield.

UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE

No midweek game for the Crimson Tide and that may be a good thing with big bad behemoth Sooners coming to town.

• Saturday, Apr 12 vs Oklahoma 3pm/4pm ESPN2
• Sunday, Apr 13 vs Oklahoma 5pm/6pm SECN
• Monday, Apr 14 vs Oklahoma 6pm/7pm SECN

HOW TO WATCH

So NOW they put Bama on TV. Ugh. The competent duo of Matt Schumacker and Amanda Scarborough will be at the controls.

UPCOMING

• vs #3 Oklahoma
• at #2 Florida
• vs NR Missouri
• at #6 South Carolina

#RollTide #Team29