After a long rain delay and extra innings in the prior game, Alabama Softball opened the SEC Tournament with a two-homer day from Ashley Prange and a complete game from Montana Fouts for a 7-2 win over Missouri.
Alabama opened the game with some fireworks from its bat in the regular season, as Prange hit a solo home run.
“Clutch hitting comes from within the gene and it is contagious,” said Alabama coach Patrick Murphy.
The bats continued to get in rhythm in the second, finding different ways to score runs with RBIs from Kali Heivilin, Kristen White, and Jenna Johnson on a single, sac bunt and sac fly.
Missouri responded with two RBIs from Alex Honnold and Kara Dailey on two out singles.
The Tide were able capitalize on fielding mistakes all night by Mizzou – scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth.
Prange continued her hot streak at the plate, hitting her second homer of the day. This one was nearly identical to the first, but came as a two-run homer in the fifth.
“We felt like we needed to play with a chip on our shoulder tonight,” Prange said.
Fouts got the start in the circle to start the postseason for the Tide, pitching a complete game. She allowed just two runs on eight hits with 10 strikeouts. Fouts also recorded her 300th strikeout of the season – her second time reaching that milestone while at Alabama –and recorded her 23rd win on the season.
The Tide were led by Prange at the plate going a perfect 3-3. She recorded two home runs on three RBI and is up to 15 home runs on the season. Wednesday night marked her second multi-HR game of the year. Bailey Dowling also went 2-3 against Missouri.
Up Next
Alabama will play the tournament host No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday, May 11. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. CST on the SEC Network.
