Alabama softball roughs up Devilettes in milestone win

Alabama's Chandler Dare steals second as the ball bounds away from Mississippi Valley State shortstop Dejanae Gage at Rhoads Stadium. Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.The University of Alabama didn't prolong its 1,000-victory celebration.

A milestone game signifying 20 years of winning softball was overwhelming, but it was brief. The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide needed just five innings to put away Mississippi Valley State by the mercy rule. Alabama won 14-0 at Rhoads Stadium to improve to 32-7.

"I just told the team there's not many times when you're in a program that's 20 years old that you get to see history," said Patrick Murphy, who was an assistant for the program's first two seasons before…