No. 1 Alabama softball team stays undefeated

By Ken Rogers

Published: February 14, 2009

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s loss to South Carolina in basketball wasn’t the only action involving Crimson Tide teams this weekend.
The top-ranked women’s softball team earned easy shutout victories over Notre Dame and Wisconsin in the Bama Bash tournament.
The Tide (7-0), who led the nation in attendance last season, battered the Irish 10-0. Alabama then beat the Badgers 8-0, also in five innings.
Amanda Locke hit home runs in both games and went 4-for-5 for the day.
First-game starter Charlotte Morgan gave up five hits to Notre Dame. She struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. In the nightcap, Locke also pitched a five-hitter, struck out four and didn’t allow a walk.
The Tide plays East Carolina at 12:30 today, after Wisconsin plays Notre Dame at 10 a.m.

Track
Sara Vaughn recorded a sub-five minute mile to pace the Crimson Tide at the Tyson Invitational at Fayetteville, Ark. Vaughn’s time of 4:58.33 was a personal best. She finished in fifth place.
Former Alabama track star Calvin Smith was named one of the top 10 Drake Relays Athletes of the Century last week. Smith captured five individual Drake Relay titles. He won the university/college 100m dash in 1982, while anchoring Alabama to victories in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. He was named the Outstanding Performer of the 1983 Drake Relays after setting a university/college record in the 100m dash while running on Alabama’s 4x100m and sprint medley relays, which set meet records. He ran the 200m leg on the sprint medley relay which set a national collegiate and American record of 3:12.19. He captured the invitational 100m and 200m dashes in 1985. Smith was inducted into the 1988 Drake Relays Hall of Fame. He set a world record in the 100m dash (9.93) in 1983 and was a two-time world champion in the 200m dash (1983, 1987). Smith won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics running on the 4x100m relay team and captured a bronze medal in the 100m dash at the 1988 Olympics.
The Drake Relays will be celebrating its 100th running this April 23-25, Des Moines, Iowa.

Women’s Tennis
The Crimson Tide defeated No. 58 Iowa 6-1 Saturday at home. The Crimson Tide’s lone senior, Shelley Godwin, clinched the match with her singles win.

Gymnastics
Fifth-ranked Alabama lost to No. 11 LSU 196.625-195.750 at Coleman Coliseum.
The difference proved to be on the beam. Alabama scored a 48.75 on the beam, its lowest total of the season. LSU scored a 49.225 on the event. The Tide closed out the night with a 48.700 on the floor exercise, also a season low, paced by freshman Ashley Priess’ 9.875. After back-to-back home meets, Alabama heads back out on the road next week, taking on the Florida Gators in Gainesville on Friday.