| BSB/SB 🥎 Alabama (19-1) Falls for the First Time this Season in 1-0 Pitcher’s Duel vs. South Alabama

[UA Press Release]

Second-Ranked Alabama Softball Hosts Easton T-Town Showdown This Weekend - University of Alabama Athletics

Second-ranked Alabama (15-0) concludes its 18-game home stand hosting the Easton T-Town Showdown this weekend at Rhoads Stadium

rolltide.com

The Crimson Tide welcomes Kent State, Northern Iowa and South Alabama to Rhoads Stadium
Story Links

• Game Notes (PDF)
• Live Stats
• Live Audio (93.3 FM)
• Friday Video DH-1
• Friday Video DH-2
• Saturday Video DH-1
• Saturday Video DH-2
• Sunday Video (SEC Network)

THIS WEEKEND: EASTON T-TOWN SHOWDOWN (TUSCALOOSA, ALA.)

• Friday, March 5 vs. Kent State (DH) – 4 p.m. CT
• Saturday, March 6 vs. UNI (DH) – 11 a.m. CT
• Sunday, March 7 vs. South Alabama – 4 p.m. CT (SEC Network)

SCOUTING ALABAMA

• No. 2 Alabama heads into the weekend with a 15-0 record, most recently shutting out Mississippi State, 4-0, on Wednesday
• The Crimson Tide has gone 28-straight innings without allowing a run, shutting out each of its last four opponents
• Lexi Kilfoyl threw her first career no-hitter and the 37th in program history last weekend in game one against the Tar Heels
• Alabama is ranked No. 2 in this week's USA Softball poll and No. 3 in the NFCA poll, receiving first-place votes in both
• Alabama returns 17 players from last season, including all seven 2020 seniors, while adding five freshmen

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Overall vs. Kent State: 1-0
  • In Tuscaloosa: 1-0 | In Kent: 0-0 | At Neutral Sites: 0-0
• Current Streak: Alabama +1
• Last Meeting: March 28, 2017 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - 13-0 (5)
• Overall vs. Northern Iowa: 4-0
  • In Tuscaloosa: 1-0 | In Cedar Falls: 1-0 | At Neutral Sites: 2-0
• Current Streak: Alabama +4
• Last Meeting: Feb. 24, 2018 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - W, 11-3 (6)

• Overall vs. South Alabama: 15-0
  • In Tuscaloosa: 9-0 | In Mobile: 3-0 | At Neutral Sites: 3-0
• Current Streak: Alabama +15
• Last Meeting: March 5, 2019 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - W, 5-2

LAST TIME OUT: ALABAMA VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE

• Alabama shut down a potent Mississippi State lineup, holding the Bulldogs scoreless in a 4-0 win Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa
• Montana Fouts struck out a career-high 16 batters, the most in a single game for UA since Alexis Osorio tied the NCAA record with 21 in a seven-inning game on March 10, 2018
• The game extended the Crimson Tide's shutout streak to 28 innings, holding opponents scoreless since a seventh-inning home run by Memphis on Feb. 26
• Alexis Mack drove in two of the team's four runs, marking her fourth multi-RBI game of the season

PITCHING POWER

• The Alabama bullpen has been dominant so far this season, owning a 0.85 team ERA with just 12 earned runs allowed over 99.0 innings pitched
• Tide pitchers have struck out 132 batters as opposed to just 10 walks
• Alabama leads the SEC in opposing batting average (.129), strikeouts (132) and wins (15) and is second in ERA (0.85) and innings pitched (99.0)
• Montana Fouts and Lexi Kilfoyl are both ranked in the top five in the SEC in strikeouts with 77 (1st) and 43 (5th), respectively, and are the top two in the league with seven wins for Fouts and six for Kilfoyl
• Alabama is fourth nationally in team ERA and is tied with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Florida for the lead with seven shutouts
• Fouts is ranked sixth in the NCAA in strikeouts and fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio
• Fouts and Kilfoyl are two of eight players in the nation with six or more wins

ALABAMA RECEIVING FIRST PLACE VOTES IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

• Alabama is ranked as high as No. 2 in this week's national rankings, climbing to second in the USA Softball poll, third in the NFCA and D1 Softball rankings and fourth in Softball America
• The Crimson Tide received five first-place votes in the USA Softball poll and three in the NFCA poll

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

LOL, Hemphill just put down a safety squeeze. Don't see that every day.

Maddie Morgan followed it up with a suicide squeeze (that barely failed).

Murphy puts a ton of pressure on defenses, love that.

Good girls up 3-1 on Kent St. in the 3rd....

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Softball Posts Pair of Run-Rule Victories Over Kent State - Alabama Athletics

Second-ranked Alabama softball scored a combined 20 runs in a pair of run-rule victories Friday night against Kent State.

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Second-ranked Alabama softball scored a combined 20 runs in a pair of run-rule victories Friday night against Kent State.

Alabama (17-0) defeated Kent State (2-4), 9-1, in six innings in game one of the doubleheader before the Crimson Tide offense scored even more runs in the second six-inning contest, winning 11-3. Today's games were the second- and third-highest run totals of the season for Alabama, only trailing the 13 scored against LSU on Feb. 21.

Alexis Mack provided the spark at the leadoff spot, scoring four runs and hitting 6-for-7 between the two games, including a double and a triple. Bailey Hemphill batted 5-for-7 and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in game two against the Golden Flashes. Lexi Kilfoyl (7-0) allowed just one unearned run on two hits across 6.0 innings in the opener with Krystal Goodman (2-0) throwing 4.0 innings in game two backed up by 2.0 from Jaala Torrence in relief.

FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK MURPHY
"I thought it was a good doubleheader for us. Our offense was really good tonight, all up and down the lineup. Bailey Hemphill hit the ball really well tonight. All of us thought she was going to go for the cycle. She just missed that last one. The bottom of the lineup came through, Kat Grill and Taylor Clark were impressive. It was a fun night. Alexis Mack's bunting skills are just unreal. When someone can do what she does, it puts so much pressure on the defense. If she puts it where she wants to, she will beat it out."

HIGHLIGHTS

• Alabama entered the game on a 28-inning scoreless streak and extended it to 30 before Kent State scored on an RBI single in the top of the third of game one. It was the longest shutout streak of the season for Alabama, beating the 26.1 to start the year
• The 13 and nine runs scored are the second- and third-highest run totals of the year for the Tide
• The 16 hits in game two is the most since totaling 17 on Feb. 9, 2019 against Murray State
• Alexis Mack extended her hitting streak to five games with a pair of three-hit performances today, tying her season high
• Bailey Hemphill was a home run shy of the cycle in game two, starting things off with a first-inning triple, the third of her career and first since her freshman season

SCORING SUMMARY

• GAME ONE (Alabama 9, Kent State 1)
  • T3 | Kent State got on the board first with an RBI single (0-1, 2 Out)
  • B3 | Bailey Dowling dropped a single into center field to dive in Elissa Brown from third (1-1, 1 Out)
  • B3 | Bailey Hemphill laid down a bunt single against an infield playing deep to score Alexis Mack (2-1, 1 Out)
  • B3 | Claire Jenkins added another with an RBI single down the left-field line (3-1, 2 Out)
  • B4 | A dropped fly ball in right field extended the inning and allowed two to score for Alabama (5-1, 2 Out)
  • B4 | Bailey Hemphill ripped an RBI single into center field (6-1, 2 Out)
  • B5 | Brown made it a six-run lead with a sacrifice fly (7-1, 0 Out)
  • B6 | With the bases loaded, Abby Doerr was hit by a pitch to move everyone up 60 feet (8-1, 1 Out)
  • B6 | A bases-loaded walk to Brown ended it (9-1, 1 Out)
• GAME TWO (Alabama 11, Kent State 3)
  • B1 | Alexis Mack scored on a wild pitch (1-0, 1 Out)
  • B1 | Bailey Hemphill scored on a wild pitch (2-0, 2 Out)
  • T2 | An infield single ticked off the edge of a diving defender's glove to drive in a run (2-1, 2 Out)
  • T2 | Brooklyn Whitt tied it with an RBI triple (2-2, 2 Out)
  • T2 | An RBI double gave the Golden Flashes the lead (2-3, 2 Out)
  • B2 | Mack bounced a triple off the wall in left center to score Elissa Brown from first (3-3, 2 Out)
  • B3 | A hot shot from Maddie Morgan ate up the Kent State second baseman for an RBI single (4-3, 1 Out)
  • B3 | Taylor Clark dropped an RBI single into center field (5-3, 1 Out)
  • B3 | Kat Grill drove in a run with a single to left (6-3, 1 Out)
  • B3 | Elissa Brown popped up to the shortstop, playing deep enough for Taylor Clark to tag from third and score on the sacrifice fly (7-3, 1 Out)
  • B4 | Hemphill drove in Kaylee Tow with an RBI single (8-3, 1 Out)
  • B5 | Tow hit an opposite-field double to score Mack (9-3, 2 Out)
  • B5 | Bailey Dowling pulled a double down the left field line to drive in Tow (10-3, 2 Out)
  • B6 | An infield single from Grill brought in the game-ending run from third (11-3, 1 Out)

UP NEXT – EASTON T-TOWN SHOWDOWN (TUSCALOOSA, ALA.)

• Saturday, March 6 vs. UNI (DH) – 11 a.m. CT
• Sunday, March 7 vs. South Alabama – 4 p.m. CT (SEC Network)

 

[TerryP]

LOL, Hemphill just put down a safety squeeze. Don't see that every day.

 

[mando]

Impressive execution....

 

[rick4bama]

These ladies are playing some ball games!

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Savannah Woodard ends game 2 with a slam...

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Softball Takes Two in Saturday Doubleheader against Northern Iowa - University of Alabama Athletics

Alabama softball took a pair of games Saturday in a doubleheader sweep over Northern Iowa, scrapping out a 5-3 win in game one before posting a five-inning run rule

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball took a pair of games Saturday in a doubleheader sweep over Northern Iowa, scrapping out a 5-3 win in game one before posting a five-inning run rule win in game two, 8-0.

Alabama (19-0) took a three-run lead in the opening game before Northern Iowa (6-8) closed the gap with a pair in the next half-inning. The Crimson Tide answered right back with two in the bottom half to make it 5-2. The Panthers would score on a fielding error in the sixth but that would go as the final run in the 5-3 win for Alabama. Game two was much more decisive, with the Tide shutting out UNI and scoring in three of the five innings played, capped by a grand slam from Savannah Woodard in the bottom of the fifth to bring it to its final tally of 8-0.

Bailey Dowling batted 4-for-6 (.667) between the two games, scoring a team-leading three runs. Bailey Hemphill went 3-for-5 (.600) with a pair of RBIs, pushing her past Whitney Larsen (2008-11) for third all-time with 197 for her career. Celebrating her senior day on Saturday, Sarah Cornell (2-0) earned the win in the circle in game one while Jaala Torrence (1-0) pitched 1.1 innings for a save and then started game two, earning her first career win.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bailey Hemphill passed Whitney Larsen to move to third place on UA's career RBI list with 197
• In the 14 innings opponents have scored against Alabama, the Tide has responded with a run in the next half-inning 10 times, including three of four opportunities this weekend
• Kyra Lockhart earned her first hit of the season, a fourth-inning pinch hit RBI double
• Alexis Mack extended her hitting streak to six games after game one but went 0-for-2 in the second game of the day

SCORING SUMMARY

• GAME ONE (Alabama 5, UNI 3)
  • B4 | Bailey Hemphill led off the half-inning with a solo home run to center field (1-0, 0 Out)
  • B4 | Bailey Dowling drove in Claire Jenkins with an RBI single (2-0, 1 Out)
  • B4 | Dowling stole third and came home on an errant throw (3-0, 2 Out)
  • T5 | UNI's Hannah Kelley hit a two-run pinch hit home run (3-2, 2 Out)
  • B5 | Hemphill ripped a 3-1 pitch through the left side to drive in a run (4-2, 1 Out)
  • B5 | An RBI groundout from Jenkins plated another (5-2, 1 Out)
  • T6 | A fielding error brought a runner home from third (5-3, 1 Out)
• GAME TWO (Alabama 8, UNI 0)
  • B2 | Taylor Clark ripped an RBI double down the left field line (1-0, 1 Out)
  • B4 | Savannah Woodard sent a two-out single back up the middle to drive in Bailey Dowling (2-0, 2 Out)
  • B4 | Pinch hitter Kyra Lockhart went opposite field for an RBI double (3-0, 2 Out)
  • B5 | Kaylee Tow pulled an RBI single through the right side to score one (4-0, 0 Out)
  • B5 | Savannah Woodard ended the game with a grand slam (8-0, 2 Out)

UP NEXT – EASTON T-TOWN SHOWDOWN (TUSCALOOSA, ALA.)

• Sunday, March 7 vs. South Alabama – 4 p.m. CT (SEC Network)

 

[TerryP]

Alabama Softball Falls for the First Time this Season in 1-0 Pitcher’s Duel vs. South Alabama - Alabama Athletics

Alabama softball took its first loss of the season in a 1-0 pitcher's duel to South Alabama Sunday at Rhoads Stadium.

rolltide.com

The Crimson Tide opens conference play this weekend at Auburn


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball took its first loss of the season in a 1-0 pitcher's duel to South Alabama Sunday at Rhoads Stadium.

Alabama (19-1) fell behind after a three-hit inning for South Alabama (10-7) plated a run for the Jaguars. The Crimson Tide remained hitless until a leadoff double from Claire Jenkins in the fifth, who ended up with two of the team's three hits. Montana Fouts (7-1) took the loss in the complete-game effort, allowing just one run on six hits with 12 strikeouts. South Alabama's Olivia Lackie (7-3) earned the win with the complete-game shutout.

FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK MURPHY

"It was a great game by South Alabama, congratulations to them on the win. Their pitcher did a great job, she didn't miss many spots. We didn't make quick enough adjustments and kept swinging at too many high pitches. I think we had 13 flyouts, which is just too easy for a defense. You have to score to win, a 1-0 game should not be insurmountable for us."

HIGHLIGHTS

• Montana Fouts has thrown double-digit strikeouts in six of her eight appearances this season
• Alabama heads into SEC play this weekend tied with Kentucky for the most wins in the leauge

SCORING SUMMARY

• T2 | South Alabama got on the board first with an RBI single (0-1, 2 Out)

T-TOWN SHOWDOWN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Bailey Hemphill (MVP)
• Alexis Mack
• Jaala Torrence
• Savannah Woodard
• Kamdyn Kvistad (South Alabama)
• Olivia Lackie (South Alabama)
• Sammey Bunch (UNI)
• Kailyn Packard (UNI)
• Brooklyn Whitt (Kent State)

UP NEXT - ALABAMA AT AUBURN (AUBURN, ALA.)

• Friday, March 12 – 5 p.m. CT
• Saturday, March 13 – 4 p.m. CT
• Sunday, March 14 – 2 p.m. CT (SEC Network)

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Wont have long win streak and internal pressure that goes with it......