Alabama started a 14-game homestand over 12 days with five wins in three days in a clean sweep of the Easton Bama Bash. Alabama beat Western Illinois twice, Iowa twice and Winthrop once to claim the championship in its first of two tournaments it will host in the regular season.
Alabama started the tournament on Friday by winning both games of a doubleheader by a combined 26-0, including a tournament-opening 21-0 win over Western Illinois in five innings. Junior Kaila Hunt ripped a three-run homerun in the top of the first inning, part of a nine-run outburst for the Tide in the opening frame. Freshman center fielder Haylie McCleney was 3-3 from the plate in the opening game, while scoring all four times she got on base and batting in six runs.
In the second game against Iowa, Alabama was led by a complete game shutout from pitcher Jackie Traina. Traina gave up five hits and struck out six batters in the outing. Senior right firlder Keima Davis led the Tide offensively, going 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI. Senior left fielder Kayla Braud went 2-4 from the plate with an RBI.
On Saturday, Alabama beat Iowa 4-1 to start the action and won the second game of the doubleheader against Western Illinois 6-0. McCleney was 5-7 from the plate in the two games, knocking in four RBI and scoring two runs. Against Western Illinois, first baseman Jadyn Spencer was 2-3 with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
In the tournament finale, a 6-1 win over Winthrop, Alabama went into the bottom of the sixth inning tied at one before a five-run outburst secured the victory, including a three-run home run from sophomore Danielle Richard.
