Big Bats Lift Softball to Sunday Win in Series Sweep over Missouri

Alabama softball completed the weekend sweep over Missouri with an 11-5 victory Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.

Alabama (25-0, 3-0 SEC) fell behind in the top of the first after Missouri (11-10, 0-3 SEC) scored two runs but immediately responded back in the bottom half and never trailed from that point on. The Crimson Tide hit five home runs, including three in the first inning from sophomore Kaylee Tow, junior Bailey Hemphill and sophomore Maddie Morgan. Senior Reagan Dykes blasted a second-inning grand slam and junior Claire Jenkins smacked her third long ball of the weekend with a fourth-inning solo shot.

In the circle, freshman Montana Fouts (10-0) threw 4.0 innings to earn the win while junior Sarah Cornell backed her up with 3.0 shutout innings to earn the save, her second of the season.

Missouri got its first two batters on base in the top of the first, with the pair moving into scoring position on  a sacrifice bunt and coming home two batters later on a two-run single to left. Tow wasted little time leading off the bottom half of the inning, sending the first pitch over the wall in left for a solo home run, cutting the deficit to, 2-1. After sophomore KB Sides reached on a fielding error, Hemphill dinged a two-run shot off the foul pole to give Alabama a 3-2 lead. Later with two out and a runner on, Morgan sent a third long ball over the fence in right, her first career home run to push the lead to 5-2.

The Tide hung another crooked number on the board in the bottom of the second, all coming on one swing of the bat from Dykes, who smashed a grand slam to make it 9-2. After consecutive 1-2-3 innings, Missouri threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. A fielding error allowed two runs to cross and another miscue two batters later added another to make it 9-5.

Alabama tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, with Jenkins launching a solo home run and freshman Kloyee Anderson coming home on a double steal. Cornell entered to pitch for the Tide in the top of the fifth and tossed 3.0 shutout innings to earn the three-inning save and secure the 11-5 win.

Next up, Alabama spends its spring break in Honolulu, Hawai’I at the Rainbow Wahine Classic. The Tide opens play in the Aloha State Wednesday, March 13 against SIUE at 6 p.m. CT.

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