No. 18 Alabama Outduels No. 24 State, 4-0
'Bama Stretches Winning Streak Against 'Dogs To Nine Games COLUMBUS, Ga. -- 18th-ranked Alabama (11-7) showed its bats in a multi-run third and rallied behind a gem of a pitching performance to defeat 24th-ranked Mississippi State (10-4), 4-0, Saturday evening in the first round of the Gold Championship bracket at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Jennifer Waterman (1-for-2) managed State's only hit of the ballgame in the fifth inning, with only one other Bulldog reaching base in the game. Alabama got a multi-hit performance from both Suzanne Olcott (2-for-4) and Ashley Courtney (2-for-3) and a multi-RBI showing from Emily Currie (1-for-3, 2 RBI). Bulldog starter Kasey Whitehead (5-3) scattered eight hits over a complete game and struck out five Alabama batters, but took the loss on the shoulders of three earned runs. Alabama starter Erin Wright (4-2) threw seven innings of one-hit ball and just 95 pitches, striking out 10 batters along the way, to nab the victory for Alabama. Despite taking the loss, Whitehead continued to show her perseverance against all-American hitters, holding third team all-American Suzanne Olcott and second team all-American Jackie McClain to a combined two hits on the night. The win gave Alabama its ninth-straight against the Bulldogs. Mississippi State's last victory over the Crimson Tide came in the form of a 6-3 decision at the 1999 SEC Tournament in Columbus. Alabama wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard, using three hits, two of the extra base variety, to plate a trio of runs in the second inning. Ashley Courtney led off the frame with a double to right center, just past the outstretched glove of Iyhia McMichael, and was plated two batters later on a base hit by Angela Johnson, coupled with a two-base fielding error by the Bulldogs. Leah White finished the rally with the next at-bat on a sacrifice fly to rightfield. Whitehead broke up Wright's perfect game with a leadoff walk in the fifth, then watched as Waterman broke up the no-hitter two batters later on a bloop single down the leftfield line. However, Wright got out of the minor jam with the next two at-bats, getting Jennifer Jessup to pop-out to second base and striking out pinch hitter Blaire Brown. Courtney reached base on a one-out single in the sixth, then moved to second base on a defensive error by the Bulldogs to give Alabama a runner in scoring position. Although getting Wilkins to pop up to Wilkerson with the next at bat, State allowed the insurance run to score one batter later on an RBI single by Emily Currie. Mississippi State will return to action Sunday morning when the Bulldogs suit up to face the 13th-ranked Fresno State (9-4) in Gold Consolation bracket play. First pitch is set for 7 a.m. CT at the South Commons Softball Stadium.
#18 Alabama 4, #24 Mississippi State 0Alabama 030 001 0 - 4 8 0Mississippi State 000 000 0 - 0 1 4E. Wright and Prejean; Whitehead and Waterman.W - Wright (4-2). L - Whitehead (5-3). Save - None.