Alabama Softball Opens Series with 4-1 Win over Missouri

The No. 4 ranked Alabama softball team tagged the NCAA leader in ERA, Chelsea Thomas, for four runs en route to a 4-1 victory over No. 7 Missouri, Friday night at Rhoads Stadium. With the win, the Crimson Tide improves to 34-5 overall and 9-4 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama scored the four runs on seven hits and used a stellar pitching performance from All-American Jackie Traina to down Missouri. Traina allowed one run on five hits and struck out six in the winning effort.

Thomas (13-2) took the loss after allowing all four runs on seven this while striking out six. Missouri falls to 22-3 overall and 7-2 in the SEC.

Junior Molly Fichtner led the offensive attack with a 3-for-3 night with a run and a RBI. Junior Kaila Hunt batted 2-for-2 while senior Courtney Conley drove in two.

With two outs and a full count in the second inning, the Tide opened the scoring with two runs on one swing of the bat. Conley drilled a double to deep left-center to plate Fichtner and sophomore Danae Hays to take a 2-0 lead.

Alabama extended its lead to 4-0 with two runs in the third. Senior Kayla Braud was able to beat out a throw at the plate on a Traina chopper to third. Fichtner then singled to left to score Hunt.

Missouri put up their only run of the night in the top of the seventh with a RBI single from first baseman Kelsea Roth.

The two teams will meet for game two of the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT. The game can be heard on the flagship station for Alabama softball, 99.1 WDGM, 991wdgm.com and the Radio Pup application for Androids and Iphones.