College Sports

TUSCALOOSA — There was no opening-game setback for the Alabama softball team this time.

A year after dropping its NCAA Regional opener to Tennessee Tech, the Crimson Tide stormed out of the postseason gate on Thursday. Alabama smashed Chattanooga 8-0, getting three doubles and three runs from Brittany Rogers and shutout pitching from Charlotte Morgan and Chrissy Owens to win by the eight-run rule at the Alabama Softball Complex.

The victory moves Alabama (52-6) to a second-round game with Jacksonville State, which beat Florida State 4-3 in Thursday's early game. Chattanooga (41-21) faces FSU in an elimination game at 5 p.m.

"If you get into the loser's bracket, it's like 12 games to get back to where you should have been," Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. "That's the toughest road to go. You just have to stay in the winner's bracket, and that's what we did today."

Alabama took a 1-0 lead on a Dani Woods sacrifice fly in the first inning, and stayed on top by turning double plays in both the second and third innings. The latter came with the bases loaded, with third baseman Kelley Montalvo starting it, and catcher Ashley Holcombe turning a flawless pivot.

The Crimson Tide scored four times in the third to put the game away. Brittany Rogers doubled for the second time in the game, and came home on Jordan Praytor's triple to right-center to make it 2-0.

Charlotte Morgan followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Praytor for her school-record 70th RBI of the season. Montalvo followed with a home run off the scoreboard in left-center, and Alabama led 5-0.

Alabama extended its lead to 6-0 in the fifth, with Montalvo driving home Morgan with a one-out single. The Crimson Tide ended the game with a two-out rally in the sixth, scoring on RBI singles by Praytor and Woods.

"We knew coming in that it was going to a tough game with the strength of Alabama," Chattanooga coach Frank Reed said. "But all in all, I think we played a pretty good game. They're a good team."

Chattanooga could not push a run across, despite eight hits overall, seven in the first four innings. The Lady Mocs hit into two double plays, had a runner picked off second base by Alabama's Holcombe and stranded seven.

Morgan (16-2) was far from overpowering but effective nonetheless, striking out five and walking two in 5 1/3 innings despite a painful stress fracture in her right foot. Chrissy Owens got the final two outs with runners on second and third in the sixth.

"There was somebody on base every inning, or it seemed like it," Morgan said. "But I just knew that when that happened, I couldn't let them get any more.

"It's good that I had to work out of it, but that's part of the game. They're going to hit a pitcher once in a while."

Today: Alabama vs. Jacksonville State
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