The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Alabama
Softball Drops Third Game To No. 3 Alabama
4/9/2006 | Softball
April 9, 2006
Box Score
OXFORD, Miss. - Third-ranked Alabama scored two runs in the first inning and used a four-run fourth inning to break away to an 8-0 victory over Ole Miss on Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
In Ole Miss' first-ever televised home game (FSN South) and in front of a season-high 241 fans, the Rebels could not get it going against the Crimson Tide and All-American pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle.
VanBrakle (21-2) pitched the first four innings, giving up two hits and striking out eight. Blair Potter closed out the contest with a scoreless fifth inning.
Senior right-hander Dana Brill (7-11) went 3 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and eight runs, but only five earned, while striking out three Alabama batters. Junior lefty Mary Jane Callahan finished for the Rebels, tossing 1 1/3 frames and allowing just one hit.
"Dana pitched pretty well today, she just didn't get any help from her teammates in the field," said Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson of the team's three-error performance. "Not to take anything away from Alabama, who is a real good team, but those errors are a large part of what caused the runs today. When you play a team as good as Alabama, you have to limit those mistakes."
After two quick outs in the top of the first inning, Alabama scored twice on a pair of Ole Miss errors to make it a 2-0 game.
It appeared that Ole Miss may answer back in the bottom of the first. Senior third baseman Rebecca McIntire was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a base hit by freshman shortstop Lisa Conchos and advanced to third on a fielder's choice by sophomore second baseman Lauren Rowe, giving the Rebels runners on first and third for the first time in the weekend. They would not score, though.
Alabama (36-4, 15-0 SEC) added two more in the third and four more in the fourth inning. Jordan Praytor highlighted the scoring in the fourth inning with a two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded. The next batter, Staci Ramsey, cleared the rest of the bases with a two-run single to give the Tide an 8-0 advantage.
Callahan and Conchos notched the Rebels' two hits on the afternoon.
The Rebels (14-28, 2-14 SEC) return to action at the Ole Miss Softball Complex on Tuesday with a matchup with No. 25 Mississippi State at 6 p.m. Ole Miss defeated the in-state rival 2-1 last Wednesday in Ridgeland at the M&F Fastpitch Classic.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)