OKLAHOMA CITY — The No. 2 University of Alabama softball team had a big first inning that led to a 5-3 victory against the University of Tennessee in its opening-round game of the Women’s College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Thursday evening.
With the win, Alabama moves into the winners’ bracket for the second consecutive year. It will play Arizona State University, which defeated the University of Oregon 3-1 on Thursday night, at 8:30 tonight (ESPN2).
Sophomore pitcher Jackie Traina improved to 38-2 on the year, tying Shelley Laird for the most victories in a season. Traina threw a complete-game five-hitter, giving up the three runs while striking out eight. Ivy Renfroe (25-9) took the loss.
The Crimson Tide (56-7) had out five hits, including three by junior Kayla Braud, who also scored two runs. Senior Jennifer Fenton reached base for the 14th consecutive game with a walk in the first inning and moved her hitting streak to 11 with a hit in her third at-bat.
Alabama scored four runs in the first inning. Braud led off with an infield single and stole second before Fenton drew a walk. Sophomore Kaila Hunt reached on an error to load the bases, and then Reilly-Boccia hit a three-run double to the center-field wall to make it 3-0. Alabama then loaded the bases and pushed it to 4-0 when Traina walked.
After Tennessee (52-13) cut the lead in half with a home run, Alabama added some insurance in the bottom of the fourth. Braud doubled to right-center field with one out and scored on Fenton’s single up the middle. The hit increased Fenton’s hitting streak that includes every game in the postseason this season.
Tennessee added a run in the top of the seventh and had two runners on base with the lead run at the plate, but Traina struck out the final two to preserve the win.
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