Alabama Softball Bounces Back with 7-1 Win at Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The top-ranked Alabama softball team bounced back in a big way as it downed No. 8 Tennessee, 7-1, Sunday afternoon from Lee Stadium. With the win the Crimson Tide improves to 23-3 on the season and 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play.

The Alabama bats came alive as the Tide banged out 12 hits on the afternoon. Freshman Haylie McCleney paced UA at the plate with a 3-for-4 day. The rookie added two runs and a walk. Sophomore Danielle Richard added two hits and two RBI while freshman Andrea Hawkins had her third multi-hit game of the series, going 2-for-4 with a RBI. Hawkins finished 6-for-10 in the series.

Jackie Traina (11-2) returned to her All-American form, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four. The right-hander did not allow a hit until one out in the sixth inning.

Alabama took its first lead of the series as it plated one run in the first inning. Richard ripped a double off the wall in left-center to score McCleney from second. McCleney started the inning with her first hit of league play, a sharp single to left, before moving over to second on a Traina single.

A five-run third inning broke the game open for the Tide. A bases loaded walk to Traina started the scoring and it continued when Richard hit a sac-fly to center to plate McCleney. Freshman Leona Lafaele then drove in two on a hit up the middle, before Hawkins ripped a double off the wall to end the scoring in the frame, plating sophomore Danae Hays.

Alabama added one more in the fifth inning to increase its lead to 7-0 when pinch-hitter Lauren Sewell ripped a single through the left side to score pinch-runner Kallie Case from second.