TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Junior infielder Marisa Runyon blasted a fourth-inning grand slam and had five RBIs Sunday to lead the No. 4 Alabama softball team to an 8-1 victory against Mississippi State at Rhoads Stadium.
The victory helped Alabama (35-7, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) sweep the three-game weekend series.
Runyon also had a sixth-inning RBI double.
“She is really clutch,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “She has been thrown into those clutch situations so many times and has come through, so we expected it. It’s fun to watch.”
Katie Ann Bailey hit a home run in the first for Mississippi State (21-18, 2-10), but Kayla Winkfield and Amanda Ivy had the only other hits for the Bulldogs.
Starting pitcher Sydney Littlejohn (16-2) went 4 2/3 innings to get the victory. She gave up one run on three hits. She walked one and struck out three.
Five Bulldog pitchers saw action. Junior Mackenzie Toler (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings. Alexis Osorio pitched 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief..
For Alabama, Haylie McCleney posted her sixth three-hit performance, scored three runs, and drove in one on a sixth-inning RBI triple. Eight of the team’s nine starters on offense reached base safely in the game, and all 14 of the team’s offensive players saw playing time.
“It’s tough to get a sweep against any SEC opponent,” Murphy said. “You can tell that Mississippi State brought in the cavalry today throwing five different pitchers. It was a big win for us. Every win in SEC play is a big one.”
MSU will play Louisiana Tech at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, while Alabama will play Southern Mississippi at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Hattiesburg.
n No. 2 Florida 4, Ole Miss 2: At Oxford, Sophomore Kayla Landwehrmier pitched a complete game in her first start of the season, but the Gators completed the three-game weekend sweep at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Landwehrmier, who had started three games in 2015, tied her career high in innings pitched with just the second complete game of her two-year career. She gave up four runs, three walks, and allowed eight hits. She struck out four.
Ole Miss scored single runs in the fifth and seventh After Florida plated two early thanks to a two-run home run, the Rebels broke up the no-hitter in the fifth off Ashton Lampton’s single through the left side. Elantra Cox was hit by a pitch before Hailey Lunderman reached on a fielder’s choice.
After Miranda Strother put down a bunt single, Syrett punched through the first run on a fielder’s choice that scored Lampton. From there, the Gators added a run in the seventh off a solo blast, before Lampton provided a spark to start the final frame with a solo home run to left center, her third of 2016.
Ole Miss will play host to Tennessee-Martin at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
n Southern Mississippi 6, Texas-San Antonio 1: At San Antonio, Texas, Former New Hope High School standout Lauren Holifield had two hits to help the Golden Eagles (20-22, 6-8 Conference USA) win their series against UTSA at Roadrunner Field.
Tori Dew was 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored, while Sarah Evans led the team with two RBIs. Morgan McKeever scored a team-high two runs.
Samantha Robles tossed a complete game for her second win of the weekend. The redshirt sophomore surrendered one run on four hits in seven innings of work. She walked one and struck out five.
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