This series was reminiscent of the Alabama-Texas series — but in a bad way.
The Crimson Tide players came out guns a-blazing and looked like they would sweep the series. Brooke Wells got things going when she smacked her 20th homer of the season on the third offering of the 1st inning by Karlyn Pickens.
Home Run #⃣2⃣0⃣ for Brooke Wells!📺SECN+ | https://t.co/MmIBQNeaXY#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/lCWoYn5tXm
Wells started the 3rd inning off with a walk. A fielding error put Marlie Giles on base. Ana Roman and Audrey Vandagriff (RBI) both walked. Ambrey Taylor singled two in to make it 4-0 Tide. Alabama again loaded the bases when Salen Hawkins was hit by pitch. Pickens then plunked Alexis Pupillo (RBI) and the day was over for the Vols ace.
It was deja vu in the 4th inning when Giles walked and Roman reached on an error. Vandagriff was hit by a pitch and Taylor (RBI) walked. Hawkins collected an RBI on a firm single and Kristen White picked up two on a slap to make it 9-0 Bama.
Jena Young joined the fun in the 5th with a solid lead off double to the wall. Giles bunt singled and then a big blast from Roman pushed three more Alabama runs across the plate to give the Tide a dozen runs.
(Adjust your volume before playing this clip unless you like shrill)
Ana Roman with the three-run blast‼️💥📺SECN+ | https://t.co/MmIBQNeaXY#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/UjtaFBkv3W
Jocelyn Briski (19-1) was again outstanding. She allowed just two hits and none after the 2nd frame. The junior had one walk and struck out six in an 80-pitch 5 inning complete game.
On White’s 4th inning single to right field, Vandagriff easily scored and coach Patrick Murphy sent Taylor home as well. Fortunately for the crimson and white, the throw home sailed high and Taylor scored the ninth run of the game. However, a good throw probably would have gotten her.
Briski made a nice play on a high chopper to throw out a Vol at first base.
Vandagriff almost made a terrific diving catch in left center field.
Wells’s homer made her the 4th player in program history to hit 20 home runs in a season Bailey Hemphill (26 – 2019), Kelly Kretschman (25 – 1998), Kaila Hunt (21 – 2012).
Roman also hit her 12th home run of the year, the most for an Alabama freshman since Reagan Dykes hit 12 in 2016.
The 12 runs scored are the most by Alabama over Tennessee since a 12-0 win in 2009.
It was senior night for three Volunteers including Pickens. The other two are bench players.
For as many accolades that Patrick Murphy handed out to his staff for Game 1, they utterly failed the team in Game 2. He was so proud of the scouting that his assistants did for Game 1, but no attaboys this time.
Tennessee threw a little curve ball at Bama by starting Sage Mardjetko (11-1) and she had the Tide batters flummoxed. The junior was perfect against Alabama the first time through the lineup. The Crimson Tide did not get a baserunner until the 4th when Brooke Wells walked and Jena Young was hit by a pitch with one out. Alas, Marlie Giles and Ana Roman struck out to end the threat.
In the 7th inning with one out, Giles walked and Audrey Vandagriff FINALLY broke up the no-hitter with a one out single. Sadly, it was the only hit for the Crimson Tide in the entire game.
In response, Bama starter Vic Moten (16-4) had been solid through 4 frames, allowing only a pair of singles. However in the 5th, the Vols leadoff hitter hit a ball out of the park for the first run of the game. Moten walked the next batter on four pitches and was looking a little winded during a timeout, but got out of the inning with no further damage. More bad news in the 6th when Tennessee hit another solo homer to make it 2-0 bad guys and that is how it stayed.