By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Kelly Ward)
Three freshmen led the way for No. 6 Alabama softball in its 8-0 mercy-rule win over Alcorn State on Tuesday.
Merris Schroder went 1-3 with a two-run single in the first inning. Reagan Dykes went 2-3 with two home runs good for four RBIs. Madi Moore (9-0) went the distance and picked up her ninth win of the season.
Getting freshmen experience in games is something Alabama coach Patrick Murphy wants with the meat of SEC play coming up.
“There’s a lot of games left, and there’s going to be a situation where I need a lefty to come up or whatever the situation might be, they’re going to have to do the job, and Caroline [Hardy is] another one,” Murphy said. “And I trust them all. I think everybody on the team trusts them to do something good.”
Moore struck out five, walked one and allowed three hits in the win.
“She’s been making the pitches when she’s needed to, and I think everyone’s confident behind her,” Murphy said.
Alabama had eight runs on nine hits. Senior Haylie McCleney went 2-2 with two doubles and a walk. Junior Chandler Dare went 2-3 in the two-hole. Sophomore Rachel Bobo was pinch hit for McCleney in the bottom of the fifth, up 7-0. She hit an RBI single to bring about the mercy rule.
“I went up to her and I said, ‘Don’t think what the score is, just think it’s zero-zero because you’re going to hit a walk-off whatever. It’s a walk-off not necessarily a run rule, but pretend it’s zero-zero,’ ” Murphy said.
Injury update
Sophomore infielder Demi Turner dislocated her left elbow on Saturday, March 12, against LSU, Murphy said. She could be out six to eight weeks before playing again.
“And the only saving grace was it was her glove arm and she hits left-handed so that was even better for hitting,” Murphy said. “But knowing her, it will probably be six if everything goes well.”
Alabama (27-5) hosts No. 16 Missouri (22-4) for a three-game series starting Saturday at 2 p.m. Sunday and Monday’s games start at 6 p.m. and will be shown on the SEC Network.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
