Two-run shot by Ashley Prange (video) gives Alabama a 2-0 lead over UCLA in the top of the first... Single, double, and walk load the bases for UCLA in the bottom half... Frosh Jordan Woolery goes opposite field for grand-slam, putting Bruins on top 4-2... Prange with solo shot for her second homer of the game, but UCLA answers with one, making it 5-3 UCLA... No further scoring, as the Bruins win 5-3. UCLA's Megan Faraimo (complete game, 13 strikeouts) outduels Bama's Montana Fouts (4 2/3 innings, 9 strikeouts) in this battle of star pitchers.
This Friday (and all remaining Fridays of the regular season), I will preview the upcoming weekend's games. Before doing so, I wanted to do an entry, primarily for sports fans who have not watched much softball, on differences they could expect to see between softball and baseball. The Sandy Plains Softball Association of Marietta, Georgia has produced a document entitled Fastpitch 101 , which details the similarities and differences in the rules of the two sports. Here are some of my own observations from over the years: 1. Because the bases are considerably closer together in softball (60 feet) than in baseball (90 feet), softball infielders consistently must pick up ground balls and make their throws to first base quickly, in order to get the runner. In other words, many (if not most) softball grounders result in "bang-bang" plays at first base, necessitating a lot of close calls by first-base umpires, who must detect whether the thrown ball (to the first-baseperso...