Alabama Softball Shines in Season Opening Weekend

Alabama Softball opened the 2016 season with an impressive 4-1 showing at the UCF Classic in Orlando, Florida.

The Crimson Tide split the opening games of the season defeating Fordham 9-1 in five innings but falling to #17 UCF 8-1. Alabama swept through the rest of the weekend with a 6-0 shutout of Rutgers, a 2-1 comeback win against #19 James Madison and a 10-2 win in six innings over Liberty.

In the win against James Madison, James Madison starting pitcher Jailyn Ford no-hit Alabama’s lineup through nearly six innings but couldn't finish the game. Alabama scored a run in the sixth inning thanks to a two-out single from Demi Turner and a pair of errors in the following at-bat allowing Reagan Dykes to reach base and Turner to score from first base. An inning later, James Madison’s Kassie Brammer committed a fielding error that set the table for Alabama. Two batters later, Marisa Runyon scored the winning run on a walk-off single from Peyton Grantham.

Highlighting Alabama’s weekend individually was freshman pitcher Madi Moore. The freshman southpaw tossed two complete games including a seven inning shutout over Rutgers on Saturday. Moore struck out six batters while issuing two walks during the weekend.

From the plate, Leona Lafaele and Demi Turner led the Crimson Tide with 15 hits and 8 RBIs between the two players.

The weekend performance provides the team with a positive boost going into a busy week with a total of six games beginning tomorrow night at UAB. The Blazers are picked to finish third according to Conference USA coaches. UAB struggled over the weekend losing four of their first five games including shutout losses to South Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette and Central Arkansas.

The Blazers possess two preseason All-Conference USA selections in outfielder Caitlin Attfield and first baseman Sarah Beth Williamson. Attfield has assembled a stellar career with the Blazers as she earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors in 2013 along with all-conference honors in her first three seasons. Williamson earned first team all-conference honors a season ago as she led the Blazers with 11 home runs.

First pitch tomorrow from Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham is at 6 PM.

College Softball Notes Around Alabama:

-Auburn scored a school record 28 runs in a 28-2 win over Butler on Saturday.

-Auburn hit 10 home runs as a team this past weekend.

-Auburn and South Alabama went 5-0 during the season opening weekend

-Samford lost three of five games at the Sand Dollar Classic with four of their five games decided by one run including a 1-0 loss to #11 Louisiana-Lafayette.