After dropping their first SEC series of the season in Baton Rouge, the Alabama Crimson Tide performed impressively in California over the weekend.

Alabama went 4-1 during the Easton Tournament at Cal State Fullerton thanks in part to strong pitching. Alexis Osorio, Sydney Littlejohn and Madi Moore each pitched a completed game this weekend.

Junior Sydney Littlejohn’s progression in the circle continued for the Crimson Tide as she struck out a career-high 11 New Mexico batters while surrendering one earned run on four hits. For the weekend, Littlejohn allowed one run in nine innings pitched, striking out 15 batters while issuing one free pass.

Freshman Madi Moore tossed her complete game in a five-inning shutout of Grand Canyon Friday. In the complete game effort, Moore gave up four hits, did not walk a batter and fanned five batters in notching her seventh win of the season.

After struggling at LSU, sophomore Alexis Osorio responded with her best weekend of the season from the circle. Osorio began the Easton Tournament with a complete game victory over Cal State Fullerton. She allowed one run on three hits, walked three and struck out 11 Titans batters. As great as Thursday’s performance was for Osorio, her start against Oklahoma may have been the best single game for any Crimson Tide pitcher this season.

Despite losing to Oklahoma 2-0, Osorio no-hit the Sooner, allowed just two base runners and fanned 13 batters through the first six innings of the game. Oklahoma broke through in their final at-bat with a single from third baseman Sydney Romero followed by Shay Knighten’s walk-off home run to win the game.

Offensively, Leona Lafaele and Marisa Runyon paced the Crimson Tide from the plate. Lafaele recorded 6 hits along with 2 homers and 8 RBIs over the weekend including a two-homer, 7 RBI game against Grand Canyon. Runyon was 6-10 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs during the Easton Tournament including a 5-RBI game against DePaul.

After a successful weekend in southern California, Alabama returns home to open a four-game home stand beginning Tuesday night with Alcorn State out of the SWAC. The Braves are 7-13 overall but won all three games from Southern University to begin SWAC play. Tuesday’s contest against Alabama will be the first of a five game road trip for Alcorn State.

Alcorn State will likely send junior Ashley Breal to the circle against Alabama. Breal won all three games against Southern this past weekend as she struck out 10 batters in both of her starts while giving up one run in 14.1 innings pitched against the Jaguars. Breal has recorded at least 10 strikeouts in a game four times this season.

First pitch for Alabama vs. Alcorn State Tuesday is set for 6 PM.

 

College Softball Notes Around Alabama:

-#3 Auburn took two of three games at Mississippi State this weekend including a 3-2 win in 14 innings to open the series.

-Troy University swept Appalachian State thanks to 59 runs scored over the three games.

-On Saturday, Troy beat Appalachian State 25-19. The two teams combined for 13 home runs including four homers from Troy’s Carli Kayler.

-Jacksonville State opened OVC play with a three-game sweep over Tennessee Tech

-South Alabama swept Louisiana-Monroe in their Sun Belt home opening series.

-South Alabama pitcher Devin Brown pitched her first ever perfect game in an 8-0 Jaguars win over ULM SUnday.

-UAB opened C-USA play winning two of three games at Southern Miss.

-Samford took three of four games in the St. John’s Invitational in New York with their only loss coming 5-4 in 8 innings at defending Big East champion St. John's.

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