TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -Sunday’s second game featured the NPF All-Star team in its Back to School fall tour playing college teams around the nation.
Alabama got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Kayla Braud lined a ball off the glove of Montalvo into the corner down the left field line, Braud raced around the bases, beating the throw of Francesca Enea for an inside the park home run.
“The feeling of running out in front of the crowd here never changed,” Montalvo said. “It really hit home. The second I came out here it was like I was in an Alabama uniform again. It was a real special day.”
Sophomore pitcher Jackie Traina was perfect through the first 4.2 innings before giving up a single to Kretschman in the fifth inning. The single was followed by a single from another former Alabama player when Montalvo punched one into center, however the NPF team stranded both runners.
“It was a who’s-who of college softball,” Murphy added. “For Jackie Traina to come out as a sophomore and four-hit them and strike out 10 was remarkable. She showed great poise, the sky is the limit for her.”
The NPF team would capitalize the next inning as it plated two runs to take the lead late. Traina struck out 10 against a roster that featured former All-Americans and Olympic talent.
Alabama will close out its fall slate on Sunday, Oct. 16, when the Crimson Tide host North Georgia and Tennessee State. The first game will start at 1:30 p.m.
About USSSA Florida Pride:
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!
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