Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, February 20
Tuscaloosa, AL
1:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
2-9
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at
9
Alabama
9-0
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5
6
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H
E
Middle Tennessee
0
0
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0
0
1
1
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Alabama
3
3
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9
9
0
Middle Tennessee Softball falls to No. 2 Alabama in Easton Bama Bash Finale
2/20/2022 6:21:00 PM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Middle Tennessee Softball (2-9) fell in its Easton Bama Bash finale on Sunday against No. 2 Alabama (9-0) at Rhoads Stadium.
The Tide struck first in the opening frame. Following a leadoff walk, Alabama connected on a two-run home run over the left field wall to take the 2-0 lead. The Tide pushed another across at the end of the inning, scoring on a Blue Raider fielding error to lead by three after one.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the second on a pair of singles and a walk, Alabama connected on a two-run RBI single through the left side to extend its lead to 5-0. A walk brought across one more in the inning for the Tide as Alabama carried a 6-0 lead into the third inning.
The Blue Raiders held the Tide to only one hit through the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Middle Tennessee got the bats heated up in the sixth. Senior Mia Marinakis pinch hit in the ninth spot. Marinakis battled Alabama's Fouts and connected on her sixth pitch to deny Fouts a no-hitter and knock a one-out single into left field. Sophomore Shelby Sargent came in to pinch run for Marinakis. After the Blue Raiders second out of the inning, junior Kelci Hill stepped up to the plate and knocked a single through the right side to move Sargent over to second. Sophomore Laura Mealer stepped up to the plate on a mission, get some points on the board. After working a 2-2 count, Mealer connected on her fifth pitch to knock an RBI-double into left field to plate Sargent and cut the Blue Raiders deficit to five, 6-1.
However, that was as close as the Blue Raiders would get. The Tide knocked a leadoff single and drew a walk to get two on before Alabama hit a three-run home run over the left field wall to bring the game to its final, 9-1.
Mealer, Hill and Marinakis led the Blue Raiders in the contest, each recording a hit. Mealer and Hill batted 1-for-3, with Mealer knocking in MT's sole RBI of the game. Marinakis went 1-for-1 on the day, providing a much needed spark on her pinch hit opportunity.
Freshman Keri Munn got the start in the circle for the Blue Raiders, putting in one inning of work and allowing six runs on six hits. Senior Gretchen Mead came in relief of Munn and pitched 4.1 innings for the Blue Raiders, allowing only three runs on three hits and striking out two Alabama batters. Mead pitched three innings in which she only allowed one hit to the Crimson Tide.
Mead and Mealer also received 2022 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team honors following their strong performances this weekend.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders head to Macon, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26 as they compete in the Mercer Invitational.
2022 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderSoftball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (MT_Softball).
The Tide struck first in the opening frame. Following a leadoff walk, Alabama connected on a two-run home run over the left field wall to take the 2-0 lead. The Tide pushed another across at the end of the inning, scoring on a Blue Raider fielding error to lead by three after one.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the second on a pair of singles and a walk, Alabama connected on a two-run RBI single through the left side to extend its lead to 5-0. A walk brought across one more in the inning for the Tide as Alabama carried a 6-0 lead into the third inning.
The Blue Raiders held the Tide to only one hit through the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Middle Tennessee got the bats heated up in the sixth. Senior Mia Marinakis pinch hit in the ninth spot. Marinakis battled Alabama's Fouts and connected on her sixth pitch to deny Fouts a no-hitter and knock a one-out single into left field. Sophomore Shelby Sargent came in to pinch run for Marinakis. After the Blue Raiders second out of the inning, junior Kelci Hill stepped up to the plate and knocked a single through the right side to move Sargent over to second. Sophomore Laura Mealer stepped up to the plate on a mission, get some points on the board. After working a 2-2 count, Mealer connected on her fifth pitch to knock an RBI-double into left field to plate Sargent and cut the Blue Raiders deficit to five, 6-1.
However, that was as close as the Blue Raiders would get. The Tide knocked a leadoff single and drew a walk to get two on before Alabama hit a three-run home run over the left field wall to bring the game to its final, 9-1.
Mealer, Hill and Marinakis led the Blue Raiders in the contest, each recording a hit. Mealer and Hill batted 1-for-3, with Mealer knocking in MT's sole RBI of the game. Marinakis went 1-for-1 on the day, providing a much needed spark on her pinch hit opportunity.
Freshman Keri Munn got the start in the circle for the Blue Raiders, putting in one inning of work and allowing six runs on six hits. Senior Gretchen Mead came in relief of Munn and pitched 4.1 innings for the Blue Raiders, allowing only three runs on three hits and striking out two Alabama batters. Mead pitched three innings in which she only allowed one hit to the Crimson Tide.
Mead and Mealer also received 2022 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team honors following their strong performances this weekend.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders head to Macon, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26 as they compete in the Mercer Invitational.
2022 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team
- Ally Shipman (MVP) - Alabama
- Montana Fouts - Alabama
- Lexi Kilfoyl - Alabama
- Keely Rochard - Virginia Tech
- Emma Lemley - Virginia Tech
- Alexa Davis - Evansville
- Jessica Fehr - Evansville
- Gretchen Mead - Middle Tennessee
- Laura Mealer - Middle Tennessee
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderSoftball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (MT_Softball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Montana Fouts (3-0)
L: Munn, Keri (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Mealer, Laura 1
RBI: Mealer, Laura 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sargent, Shelby 1
Batting:
HR: Ashley Prange 1 ; Jordan Stephens 1
RBI: Ashley Prange 2 ; Ally Shipman 2 ; Jordan Stephens 3 ; Kaylee Tow 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenna Johnson 1 ; Dallis Goodnight 2 ; Ashley Prange 2 ; Ally Shipman 1 ; Jordan Stephens 1 ; Kaylee Tow 1 ; Kat Grill 1
SB: Dallis Goodnight 1 ; Jenna Lord 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSS/2B
/ Softball
OF
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