Alabama softball experienced another successful weekend by taking all four games played in the Easton Crimson Classic.

The Crimson Tide defeated Michigan State 2-1 and Southern Miss 3-2 on Friday while coming away with identical 3-1 victories over Saint Francis and Southern Miss on Saturday. Sunday's contest with Michigan State was washed out due to rain.

Play Defense, Good Starting Pitching and Key Hits

Regardless of the talent level that is on your team, the sport of softball comes to three key elements that head coach Patrick Murphy mentioned to reporters after Friday's victories over Michigan State and Southern Miss.

"The name of the game of fast pitch is play defense, get good starting pitching and then get a key hit." Murphy said.

Following their 8-0 shutout of UAB, Alabama's pitchers came through once again with clutch performances to maintain the team's undefeated record.

The quartet of Montana Fouts, Sarah Cornell, Courtney Gettins and Krystal Goodman kept the Easton Crimson Classic field in check allowing only five runs in 28 innings of play. Fouts dominated again with 11 strikeout performances in her Friday performance against the Spartans and Saturday outing against the Golden Eagles.

On her senior day, Gettins did not pick up a win but put the Crimson Tide in position to win by holding Saint Francis to one run on four hits with no walks in 5.2 innings pitched.

Sarah Cornell came out of the bullpen twice and secured two of the four Crimson Tide wins Saturday

Despite allowing a first inning run, Krystal Goodman had a solid start with just one run, three hits and two walks in nearly five innings from the circle.

Although Alabama's defense put up three errors on Friday, they only committed one error on 14 innings of play Friday. According to Murphy, the defense and the trio of pitchers were the reasons for the wins on Friday.

"The three pitchers and the team defense kept us in both games." Murphy said.

From the plate, the Crimson Tide scored only 11 runs in four games but got key hits in each game. Sophomore Kaylee Tow doubled in two runs with two outs in Friday's win over Michigan State. She also tripled in a run and lofted a sacrifice fly in the next game against Southern Miss.

In her Easton Crimson Classic weekend, the sophomore outfielder went 4-10 with five RBIs. Following Friday's games, Alabama's head coach commented on the decision to put Tow at the number three spot in the order against Southern Miss.

"It was just kind of a flip of the coin in the dugout between games and she came up key twice. It's just a matter of time before she starts hitting the ball like she did last year because she's too good and the more she sees, the better it's going to be." Murphy said.

Final Pre-SEC Tune-Ups

Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
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Alabama softball has two more games before beginning Southeastern Conference play Friday night against Missouri.

South Alabama comes to Tuscaloosa tomorrow while Mississippi Valley State travels to town Wednesday.

Both teams come in off disappointing weekends as Mississippi Valley State was run-ruled in losses to Memphis, Loyola-Chicago and UT-Martin while South Alabama went 1-4 in Diamond 9 II Citrus Classic with two losses to Bradley, a narrow defeat to Purdue and a win over Savannah State.

This Week's Schedule

Tuesday

Alabama vs. South Alabama 5 PM

Wednesday

Alabama vs. Mississippi Valley State 6 PM

Friday

Alabama vs. Missouri 6:30 PM

Saturday

Alabama vs. Missouri 2 PM

Sunday 

Alabama vs. Missouri 1:30 PM

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