The University of Alabama softball team moved on in the Winner’s Bracket at the Women’s College World Series with a 6-2 victory against the Oklahoma Sooners at Hall of Fame Stadium on Oklahoma City, OK. Jaclyn Traina (7 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 9 K ) pitched the complete game only giving up one hit and recorded 9 strikeouts. The Tide will take on the Kentucky Wildcats tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 8:30 Central time. Two straight wins from the Tide will now put them in the Championship Best of 3 Series for the National Title.
Traina recorded 2 strikeouts in the top of the first but gave up a 2 out home run from the bat of Shelby Stevens to give the Sooners a 1-0 lead. Oklahoma starting pitcher Kelsey Stevens ( 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K ) recorded 2 strikeouts of her own in the bottom half, retiring the Bama side in order. The top of the second saw the Sooners with a runner in scoring position after Erin Miller drew a one out full count walk and advanced to second on a ground out from Callie Parsons. Traina added two more to the strikeout column to leave her stranded. Alabama knotted things back up at 1 in the bottom half of the same inning. Kaila Hunt led off the frame with a walk followed by a single from Molly Fichtner. A bad throw on a failed pick off attempt at second allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. An RBI single down the right field line from Marisa Runyon plated Hunt.
Traina kept the 2 strikeouts per inning theme going into the 3rd, only allowing a 2 out walk from Lauren Chamberlain. The Tide went quietly in their half of the 3rd, going down in order. The Sooners reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth, going up 2-1. Miller reached on a 2 out walk. A throwing error from Danae Hays put 2 on base for Oklahoma. Parsons was caught between first and second on a run down but a throwing error on Leona Lafaele allowed Miller to cross the plate. Back to back singles from Fichtner and Hunt to lead off for Bama in the home half of the 4th had the Tide in business. Freshman Peyton Grantham stepped to the plate and sent a one out 3 run homer over the left center field wall to give Alabama the 4-2 lead.
Not much going in the fifth for the Sooners on the offense as they only saw a 2 out base runner after a walk from Chamberlain. Alabama extended the lead in their half of the 5th. Kallie Case singled with one out and Jaydyn Spencer followed with a low flying 2 run homer that gave Bama the 6-2 lead. Shelby Pendley ( 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K ) was sent in to pitch for the Sooners after that to try to limit the damage. She took care of business striking out the next 2 to retire the side. In the top of the 6th, the Sooners put one in scoring position from a Georgia Casey one out walk. She advanced to second on a ground out from Miller but would be stranded on a ground out from Parsons. Grantham drew a one walk in the top of the 6th and Danielle Richard reached on a fielder’s choice but the Tide couldn’t do anything with it, sending the game to the 7th. Traina retired the side in order to close out the game.
Feature Image Courtesy of UA Media Relations