Second-Ranked Alabama Uses Pitching To Defeat Bulldogs, 4-0 :: Samford's Fisher breaks up Owens' perfect game with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning

Samford's Fisher breaks up Owens' perfect game with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning

April 2, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team limited Alabama's potent offense to eight hits Wednesday, but the Crimson Tide's Chrissy Owens came one out shy of recording the program's second perfect game in school history. Samford's Aaren Fisher broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning as Alabama won 4-0.

"I thought that our pitchers really executed the game plan well tonight and that's what we have to get from them," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "Another nice thing is that I can see our pitchers maturing and tonight we held a very good team at bay for the most part."

Samford (12-20) limited second-ranked Alabama (32-3) to its lowest scoring output in nearly three weeks. The Crimson Tide's four runs scored Wednesday was its lowest total since a 3-0 road victory against 15th-ranked Mississippi State on March 15.

Alabama, which extended its winning streak to 11-consecutive games, came into Wednesday's in-state duel averaging eight runs and nine hits per contest.

The Bulldogs' Amanda Barrs (2-5) started in the circle and limited the Crimson Tide to five hits and one earned run in four innings. She tallied one strikeout and only allowed a pair of base on balls. Samford's Margaret Carter came on in relief and held Alabama to three hits and one earned run.

"I think that even though we lost, this will be a huge confidence-boost for our pitching staff," said Ketcham. "They have struggled with confidence at times this season, but I think with the way that they pitched today it will help them a lot in the future. I also thought that our defense played well for the most part and that's what we have to have."

Despite Samford's solid pitching performance, Alabama's Owens proved to be the star of the game.

The Crimson Tide's senior from Miami, Fla., finished with eight strikeouts and came one pitch from recording Alabama's second perfect game in school history. Owens retired the first 20 batters she faced Wednesday and opened up with an 0-2 count to Fisher in the bottom of the seventh inning.

On the 0-2 pitch, Fisher rifled a line drive to left center field. On the play, centerfielder Brittany Rogers charged hard to her right and dove forward for the ball, but it skimmed underneath her glove and bounded past her to the fence.

Fisher advanced to second base for a double, the Bulldogs' lone hit of the game.

"Aaren said that she was seeing the ball very well tonight, so I knew that she would probably make contact and possibly get a hit," Ketcham said. "She looked at two strikes in the at-bat and I wondering what she was doing, but then she roped the third pitch into center field for a double."

Alabama jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Jordan Praytor walked and later scored on a two-out single from leftfielder Dani Woods. Praytor and Woods both tallied 1-for-3 performances at the plate Wednesday. Woods led the team with two runs batted in.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Crimson Tide extended its lead to 3-0. Alabama started the rally by loading the bases with a single from Kelley Montalvo, a double from Ashley Holcombe and a walk by Kellie Eubanks.

Then, with one out and the bases loaded, Whitney Larsen sent a ground ball to Samford's Katie England at third base.

England threw out the runner at the plate for the second out, but then catcher Tracey Deaux attempted to turn the double play with a throw back to third base. Deaux's throw slipped out of her hand and sailed into left field allowing both Holcombe and Eubanks to score. The two runs extended Alabama's lead to 3-0.

Both Holcombe and Charlotte Morgan paced the Crimson Tide with 2-for-3 performances from the plate.

In the top of the fifth inning, Alabama tacked on its fourth run of the game as Lauren Parker walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Woods. Only two of the Crimson Tide's four runs were earned.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Saturday at 1 p.m., as the Bulldogs return to Ohio Valley Conference play for a three-game series against the Eastern Illinois Panthers.

The conference rivals will play a doubleheader Saturday, followed by the series finale Sunday at noon. All three of the games will be played at Eastern Illinois' Williams Field in Charleston, Ill.