Runyon's grand slam sends Alabama to Women's College World Series
TUSCALOOSA — Marisa Runyon hadn’t done a thing all weekend.
The Alabama sophomore was hitless in her previous 13 at-bats, including 0-for-8 in the Super Regional against Oklahoma. Crimson Tide coach Patrick Murphy pinch hit for Runyon to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Runyon had struggled to even get the ball out of the infield.
But none of that mattered in the bottom of the sixth.
Jadyn Spencer hit a single to get on base. Chaunsey Bell was walked. And with two outs and two on, Danae Hays was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
With the Crimson Tide trailing by two runs, Runyon crushed the first pitch for a grand slam to lead No. 6 Alabama to a 5-3 win over No. 11 Oklahoma. The grand slam now ties her with Charlotte Morgan for the single-season RBI record at Alabama with 79.
Runyon took a couple of steps, dropped the bat and threw her arm up in celebration as the ball sailed over the right field wall.
“It felt good right off the bat,” Runyon said with a smile.
One inning later, the Tide clinched its 10th trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. Alabama has now made it to the Women’s College World Series in four of the last five years, including a national title in 2012 and a runner-up finish in 2014.
Runyon’s heroics sent the capacity crowd at Rhoads Stadium into a frenzy.
After dropping the opening game on Friday, the Tide won a double-header over the Sooners on Saturday. Game 2 of the series ended with a 2-0 victory for the Tide.
To best describe Runyon’s feat, one must get a glimpse of the at-bat through the eyes of some of those closest to the play.
A teary eyed Jennifer Runyon, Marisa’s mother, described her reaction from her seat.
“I just started screaming and jumping all over the place,” Jennifer said. “Just real excitement, really happy.”
Chaunsey Bell, who was on second base when it happened, said the dugout was filled with “absolute” and “indescribable joy.”
Murphy said the reason he pinch hit for Runyon to lead off the bottom of the fifth was because Andrea Hawkins is better in leadoff situations. But he had a feeling the moment would find Runyon.
“I know that she was upset that she was not producing, I could see it,” Murphy said. “I just said it’s going to be fate when she gets up. Then Danae gets hit, and there goes Runyon. It’s fate. I thought she’d come through.”
Then there’s the other side of the matchup. Choking back tears, Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso witnessed the chaos from the Sooners’ dugout.
“(Runyon’s) an experienced player who’s got great power and she did a great job with the pitch,” Gasso said. “Congratulate Alabama. They’re a great team.”
Alabama (47-13) ace Alexis Osorio (21-8) powered through three games in two days. The freshman threw a combined 241 pitches. In the first game on Saturday, Osorio shut out Oklahoma (49-9). In the second game, she allowed three runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs to NCAA career leader Lauren Chamberlain.
“(My arm) is hanging on, it’s doing good,” Osorio said after a long sigh. “There was (some fatigue), but I couldn’t let that affect me. I had to do what I could for the team.”
Runyon’s play won the game. But it was center fielder Haylie McCleney who “saved” it in the first inning. First, McCleney robbed Shelby Pendley of a potential two-run home run by reaching over the wall in center to make the grab.
Then, with two outs and the bases load, McCleney sprinted from her position to make a diving catch worthy of ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Countdown. The snag robbed Oklahoma’s Georgia Casey of a hit while keeping the Sooners off the board in the first.
“She definitely set the tone because if they score there, it’s a little bit of a downer for us,” Murphy said. “She makes those two great plays and we felt really good about ourselves. That’s typical Haylie though.”
Alabama will open Women’s College World Series play on Thursday, May 28 against Michigan, who defeated Georgia in two games this weekend in Ann Arbor. The Tide and the Wolverines met earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, with Michigan winning both games.
Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett@annistonstar.com. On Twitter: @Marq_Burnett.
This story was originally published May 24, 2015 at 7:24 AM with the headline "Runyon's grand slam sends Alabama to Women's College World Series."