Box Score
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TUSCALOOSA, AL— A five-run sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie as the Winthrop softball team fell 6-1 to top-ranked Alabama in its final game of the Easton Bama Bash, Sunday afternoon.

Winthrop (4-7) was neck-and-neck with the defending national champion Crimson Tide (16-0) until a big one-out single to left center by Danae Hays broke the 1-1 tie as Kaila Hunt and Kayla Braud came around to score. Braud led off the inning with a single to short and moved over on a sacrifice before Hunt walked to put runners at first and second. Jadyn Spencer singled to left center, but the runners were held to load the bases for Hays. Danielle Richard followed Spencer with a three-run homer down the left field line, her first of the season.

“We played them eye-to-eye. We got a lot of respect down here today. I couldn't be prouder,” said head coach Mark Cooke. “The two runs that put them in front came off a hit just over our head. For six innings it was 1-1 with the number one team in the nation and in the end they were just too much for us. This is a weekend to really build on.”

Winthrop scored first as it took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Senior Teja Durante led off with a single up the middle and was sacrificed to second base. Durante came around to score as McKenzi Corn reached on an error by the first baseman.

The lead didn't last long as Alabama answered with two outs as Hunt launched her seventh home run of the season over the left field fence.
Sutton Watson suffered the loss and is now 4-2 on the year as she allowed six runs on six hits with two walks in 5.1 innings. Her counterpart Lauren Sewell tossed a complete game allowing one run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Durante had both hits for the Eagles and now has four in the last two games played as she was named All-Tournament. Joining her on the Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team were Corn and Watson.

Winthrop will be back in action next weekend when it hosts the Combat Invitational beginning Friday, March 1. Winthrop's home opener will be Friday at 3 p.m. against the University of Virginia and will face Monmouth following that game scheduled at 5 p.m.