BOL Round Table

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The second ranked Alabama softball team used a one-hit gem from pitcher Jackie Traina to defeat No. 21 LSU, 6-0, in front of 2,684 fans at Rhoads Stadium on Sunday. The Crimson Tide improved to 37-2 on the year, and 14-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Tigers dropped to 29-10 overall and 11-3 in league play.

Traina threw a complete game to improve to 23-0 on the season, and set an Alabama school record with her 25th consecutive winning decision. Traina needed only 99 pitches, and struck out 12 Tigers in the winning effort. LSU did not have a ball leave the infield.

Alabama banged out seven hits with senior Jazlyn Lunceford leading the way with a pair of singles. A.J. Andrews tallied the only hit for the Tigers, an infield single in the sixth inning.

After dropping just its second game of the season in the second game of the series against LSU, Alabama responded in a big way with a five-run first inning.

All the runs were scored with two outs as seniors Amanda Locke and Lunceford hit back-to-back singles to drive in three and then senior Kendall Dawson singled down the line to drive in a pair. The Tide has now outscored its opponents, 72-9 in the first inning this season.

Alabama tacked on another run in the fifth when junior Kayla Braud scored on a Jennifer Fenton sac-fly. Braud started the inning with a bunt single, stole second and then moved over to third on a wild pitch.

Alabama will remain at home for Southeastern Conference play as it will host South Carolina for a weekend series. The opening game of the three-game set will start on Friday, April 13, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m.