TUSCALOOSA | It may be true that all's well that ends well, but the second-ranked University of Alabama softball team didn't end Tuesday's game against UAB well enough for head coach Patrick Murphy.

The Crimson Tide pounded out eight hits and drew eight walks in an 8-1 victory at the Alabama Softball Complex, but didn't finish what it started. Alabama left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings, missing a chance to win the game by the mercy rule.

Alabama improved to 28-3. UAB fell to 17-19 in losing to the Tide for the second time this season.

'I think it was a game we didn't put away,' Murphy said. 'We had probably five or six chances to end it early. You want a better shot than that.'

Alabama took advantage of its first opportunity, loading the bases in the bottom of the first inning on a hit batter, a single and an error for freshman Cat Dozier, who drew a walk to bring in the first run. Junior third baseman Kelley Montalvo then ripped a single to left field to drive in two runs and an outfield error allowed the ball to go all the way to the wall to clear the bases for a 4-0 lead.

'If they get on our job is to bring them in,' said Montalvo, who went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. 'We say that all the time. I found the base hit and it found the gap.'

Alabama didn't put together another big offensive outburst even though it had plenty of chances. Outfielder Jordan Praytor singled in freshman Whitney Larsen in the second to make it 5-0.

UAB got its only run on first baseman Laura Callaway's solo home run in the top of the fourth. Praytor, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run in the bottom of the inning, with first baseman Charlotte Morgan adding an RBI single to make it 7-1.

The Tide plated its last run in the fifth when catcher Ashley Holcombe, who had already walked three times, drew a bases-loaded walk for an RBI.

Winning pitcher Kelsi Dunne (12-3) pitched out of her own bases-loaded jam in the first inning and went on to hold UAB to four hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts, but she wasn't satisfied.

'It started off with an 0-2 hit, which should never happen,' she said of the first-inning trouble. 'After that you take it one pitch at a time.

'It's definitely not satisfying giving up a home run and three other hits when they didn't have to have them.'

Said Murphy, 'I wasn't real happy either. We just expect more out of her. If we didn't we'd be cheating her, because she's that good.'

Larsen went 1-for-3 with three runs scored and three stolen bases in the leadoff spot on a night when Murphy mixed up his lineup to get some non-regulars onto the field. All-America second baseman Lauren Parker did not dress out, with Murphy electing to rest her on a day when she had a doctor's appointment. The coach said he expects her back in the lineup this weekend.

Montalvo committed her first error of the season, breaking a 38-game streak of errorless games dating back to last season, when she failed to glove a throw from shortstop Kellie Eubanks for what should have been a force-out in the first inning.

'Just a routine play that should be an automatic out,' Montalvo said. 'The throw was perfect and it nipped right off. I'd rather be hit in the face than that.'

Lefty Jennifer Nelson (10-13) took the loss for UAB, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits with three walks in three innings.

Alabama will host Ole Miss in a three-game series this weekend, with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at 1:30 p.m.



Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.