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Alabama Softball Sweeps 24th-Ranked Arkansas Off Great Offensive Play

By Chris Dodson

Sep 11, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; A general view of first base plate during the fourth inning between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; A general view of first base plate during the fourth inning between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Alabama offense has been Jekyll and Hyde at best this season, but it proved how good it can be this weekend. Offensive power was the main factor in bringing Alabama Softball the 3-game sweep over No. 24 Arkansas to start the SEC season.

The three wins send Alabama softball to 24-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Junior Alexis Osorio was the breadwinner of the weekend among pitchers, earning the win in all three games and moving to 14-1. As impressive as that was, it was Alabama’s offense that brought the sweep of Arkansas to fruition.

Dominant and Clutch

These two adjectives are not what you would normally use to describe the Alabama offense. There have been periods where the team has seemed inept to score. That was not the case this weekend.

Game one was all Alabama. As Osorio pitched a shutout, Alabama’s offense put on the best performance it has all season. Alabama got 10 hits total and scored a one run in each of the four innings played. Alabama knocked a total of nine runs to take the run-rule win 9-0 in five innings. Senior Chandler Dare went three for five in batting, leading her team.

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Game two was a different story. Rain pushed Saturday’s game to a doubleheader Sunday. Senior Sydney Littlejohn started the game and she struggled to find her usual groove. The pitching struggles gave Arkansas a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth.

The offense for Alabama started to pick up. Merris Schroder got a RBI single to bring the score to 3-1. In a last-ditch effort, Dare hit an RBI triple to get Alabama within one. Peyton Grantham hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to tie the game and send it to extras.

It was Dare, on her senior day, that knocked a walk-off home run in the ninth to give Alabama the comeback win 4-3. Game three immediately followed and saw Alabama deliver the knockout punch. Arkansas played as though they had enough and fell short 5-0 in a game that ended in the sixth due to travel.

Check out some highlights in the tweet below:

What brought about the explosion of offensive firepower? It could have been due to the head coach, Patrick Murphy. There were several lineup changes that shook up the game. Whatever it was, this is a good sign for Alabama going forward. Offense will definitely be needed as the SEC season continues.

Next: The Big Key to a 2017 Football Championship

Next Up

Alabama has a doubleheader at Rhodes Stadium on Wednesday against Winthrop and Georgia Southern. The weekend sees Alabama making just its second road trip in a month. The Crimson Tide travel to Starkville to take on Mississippi State for a three-game series. Give us a shout on Facebook and let us know what you think about Alabama softball.

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