TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The top ranked Alabama softball team used timely pitching and clutch hitting to score four unanswered runs to knock off UAB, 4-1, in the finale of the Easton Alabama Invite Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium. With the win the Crimson Tide improve to 17-0, tying the third best start in school history. UA swept through the tournament, going 4-0 on the weekend.
Sophomore pitcher and tournament MVP Jackie Traina pitched three perfect innings in relief to win her third game of the tournament, improving to 10-0 on the season. The right-hander struck out two and finished the tournament with an unblemished 0.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.
After UAB pitcher Lannah Campbell mowed down Alabama’s first six batters with strikeouts, her counterpart Lauren Sewell helped her own cause by blasting her first career home run into the Brickyard in centerfield to even the score at one in the bottom of the third inning.
Sewell, who started the game in the circle, allowed one run on six hits and struck out two in four innings to get the no-decision.
The Tide took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when sophomore Ryan Iamurri blooped a two-out double down the line in left to score sophomore Kaila Hunt from third.
Alabama expanded the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when junior Courtney Conley hit a two-out, two-run, pinch-hit home run. The at-bat was her first since she went 3-for-3 against East Carolina on Feb. 24.
UA tallied six hits with Iamurri recording two. Mandy Lowman led UAB with two hits. Campbell took the loss after allowing all four runs on six hits while striking out nine.
On top of Traina earning MVP honors, freshman Danielle Richard, senior Amanda Locke and Iamurri were named to the all-tournament team.
Alabama will finish off its homestand when it hosts instate foe Samford on Wednesday, March 7. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
Release and Photo Courtesy UA Athletics
