Game 3 Box Score
Game 4 Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A late inning rally by No. 11 Alabama gave the Crimson Tide the doubleheader sweep over the 2000 Southeastern Conference champion No. 7 LSU.
The Crimson Tide posted scores of 5-0 and 3-2 in eight innings to keep LSU from a four game sweep to copy last year in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are now 53-10 on the season and 26-4 in the SEC. The Tide is 59-10 and 25-5 in the SEC.
“It is great to be repeat as the SEC champions, but again we have to step out and play every time regardless of the situation. I am a little disappointed not of the effort but the mental focus we had today. We had some mental errors, but we were preparing for the SEC Tournament next week. I think the different players who got experience in this double header will be a positive thing for us.”
The Tide took an early lead with five runs in the third inning and held on to shutout the Tigers for the first time since March 5 when Washington held LSU scoreless.
The Tiger bats combined for six hits off pitcher Shelley Laird but could not score a run. Dee Douglas was 2-for-3, Tara Asbill hit her 11th double of the season.
Julie Stashko picked up her first loss of the season, bringing her record to 9-1. Stashko allowed six hits, walked two and struck out one. Douglas relieved her in the fourth and held the Tide to one hit. Douglas only walked one and struck out one.
Laird pitched six for the Tide to pick up her 30th win of the season. She struck out eight and walked one.
Alabama proceeded to snatch the lead early again in game two when Kelly Kretschman scored on a Tiger error.
The Tigers scored their first run of the day in the fourth inning to tie the Tide at one. Megann Steege hit a sacrifice fly to send Ashlee Ducote home.
Ducote hit a long ball over the center field fence in the top of the sixth to take the lead. The homer was her 10th of the season.
Alabama tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Lacy Prejean doubled to right center to send home Kierstin Arntsen and go into extra innings.
Kretschman’s single to right field sealed the victory for the Tide in the bottom of the eighth.
Ashley Lewis pitched four innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. Britni Sneed relieved her in the fifth, giving up three hits, walking three and striking out two.
The Tiger bats combined for eight hits with Ducote going 2-for-3 with a home run and Steege going 2-for-2.
LSU will be the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament and play at 8 p.m. on Thursday in Columbus, Ga.