Alabama Evens Series as Softball Takes Down Aggies 6-2

The No. 4 ranked Alabama softball team evened the series against No. 9 Texas A&M with a 6-2 victory, Saturday afternoon at the Aggie Softball Complex. With the win the Crimson Tide improves to 31-5 overall and 7-4 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama sophomore Leslie Jury gave the Tide a solid outing, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one in five innings. Junior Jackie Traina came in and tossed two key scoreless innings of relief, striking out five.

The Tide banged out seven hits and was led offensively by junior Molly Fichtner. The Texas native batted 2-for-2 with two RBI. Juniors Kaila Hunt and Traina both hit solo home runs in the win.

Alabama used its patience at the plate to take an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Tide loaded the bases and then used a Danae Hays hit by pitch to plate the first run. It was the 11^th time this season the sophomore had been hit by a pitch. Then freshman Andrea Hawkins drew a walk to score another.

Alabama added two more runs in the third inning when Fichtner scorched a two-run double off the wall in left-center to plate Hunt and Traina.

Traina added to the Tide lead when she led off the fifth inning with a moon shot well over the wall down the left field line to give Alabama a 5-0 advantage. The home run was her 12^th on the season.

Hunt would not be outdone by Traina as the junior hit a long solo home run of her own. This time a repeat of her shot last night a blast well over the wall in left-center. The homer was her 10^th on the season to give the Tide a 6-0 lead.

Texas A&M tried to mount a comeback in the sixth inning. The Aggies scored two and looked for more by loading the bases but Traina came out of the pen and stymied the heart of the A&M order to end the threat.

The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for Noon.