Softball Blanks Southern Miss, 11-0

The No. 4 ranked Alabama softball team wrapped up its nonconference schedule with a convincing, 11-0 victory, Tuesday night at Rhoads Stadium. With the win, the Crimson Tide improves to 38-6 while the Golden Eagles move to 11-33 on the season.

Alabama scored the 11 runs on nine hits, led by senior Kayla Braud’s 2-for-2 effort at the plate. Braud scored twice and stole a base.

Senior Lauren Sewell (8-0) earned the win, tossing four shutout innings before giving way to junior All-American Jackie Traina. Sewell allowed just one hit, walked three and struck out one in the winning effort.

Alabama batted around the order in the first inning to take an early 4-0 lead. A junior Kaila Hunt bloop single started the scoring and then back-to-back sacrifice flies carried the lead to 3-0. The Tide tacked on one more when Hunt scored on an error.

The Tide plated one more in the second to make it 5-0 when freshman Haylie McCleney singled up the middle to score Braud. The senior started the inning with a bunt single and a stolen base.

UA added two more in the third to take a 7-0 lead. Sophomore Danae Hays got the inning going with a double to left-center to score senior Keima Davis and then Hays later scored on an error.

Two home runs and a run on an illegal pitch in the fourth inning concluded the scoring for the Tide. Junior Jordan Patterson connected on her second home run and then after a Sewell single, sophomore Jadyn Spencer drilled a two-run shot to make it 10-0. Freshman pinch-hitter Kallie Case hit her first career triple and then scored on an illegal pitch.

Alabama will cap off its homestand against Southeastern Conference Western Division foe Mississippi State in a three game weekend series. The two teams will get the weekend started on Friday, April 19, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m.