⚾ 🥎 Alabama Drops 13-Inning Marathon to Kentucky in Sunday Series Finale

[UA Press Release]

Softball Drops Series Opener to Kentucky, 4-1 - University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama dropped its series opener to Kentucky Friday night at Rhoads Stadium, 4-1.

Alabama (46-5, 14-5 SEC) and Kentucky (31-18, 13-9 SEC) were both scoreless through the first four innings before the Wildcats got on the board with three runs in the fifth. Kentucky tacked on another in the sixth before junior Bailey Hemphill erased the shutout with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, part of a 3-for-3 day at the plate. The home run was her 21st of the season, tying her for second in UA single-season history and just four behind Kelly Kretschman's SEC record of 25. Alabama got a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh but could not complete the rally.

Behind the dish, senior Reagan Dykes caught a runner stealing in the second inning, putting her one shy of Kendall Dawson's career record of 44. Freshman Montana Fouts (13-2) took the loss in the circle.

The two teams cruised through three scoreless innings before Kentucky threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases on a single and back-to-back errors to start the inning. A force out at home went for out number one and senior Reagan Dykes unloaded on a throw to third to pick off the runner for out number two. Fouts caught the final batter swinging to get out of the jam and keep the game at 0-0.

Kentucky loaded the bases with nobody out again in the fifth but broke into the run column this time with a two-run double down the left-field line. A sac fly in the next at-bat made it 3-0 before a fly ball and a runner-left-early call at third ended the half-inning.

The Wildcats made it a four-run game with a two-out RBI double in the sixth and, following a pitching change, a fly ball sent it to the bottom half of the inning. With one out in the sixth, Hemphill erased the shutout with a solo home run, but that was the only run the Tide could muster over the final two innings.

Game two of the weekend series is set for an 8 p.m. CT start Saturday, April 27 live on ESPN.

 

[UA Press Release]

Sixth Inning Rally Pushes Alabama to 3-1 Win Saturday to Even Weekend Series - University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Trailing 1-0 with two out in the bottom of the sixth, a bases-loaded walk and a clutch two-run double pushed Alabama ahead in the eventual 3-1 victory Saturday to even the weekend series with Kentucky.

After five scoreless innings, Alabama (47-5, 15-5 SEC) fell behind as Kentucky (31-19, 13-10 SEC) broke into the run column with a solo home run in the top of the sixth. Alabama would go on to load the bases with two out before sophomore Maddie Morgan drew the bases-loaded walk to tie the game and freshman Skylar Wallace roped the second pitch of her at-bat down the right-field line for a two-run double to give the Crimson Tide a 3-1 lead. Junior Sarah Cornell (19-1) struck out the first two batters in the seventh and, following a double, struck out the final hitter to secure the win and even the weekend series.

Wallace led the offense with a 2-for-2 day at the plate, her eighth multi-hit effort of the season and her second in the last five games. Cornell went the distance in the circle, fanning four batters with one run allowed on four hits.

Alabama got a pair of runners into scoring position in the bottom of the fourth but could not break the scoreless tie. Kentucky threatened in the next half-inning, loading the bases with one out before sophomore Maddie Morgan fielded the sharp hopper, stepping on third and firing over to first for an inning-ending 5-3 double play to get out of the jam and keep the Wildcats off the run column.

Kentucky's Abbey Cheek broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth, sending a one-out solo home run to center field. Alabama got the potential tying run into scoring position in the bottom half on a one-out double from senior Merris Schroder and senior Reagan Dykes drew a four-pitch walk behind her to put two on base. The Wildcats made a change in the circle, turning to game-one winner Grace Baalman. After a force out at third went for out number two, another walk loaded the bases. Sophomore Maddie Morgan drew a walk to bring in the tying run and then freshman Skylar Wallace came through with the biggest hit of the night, roping a two-run double down the right-field line to put Alabama ahead 3-1.

In the top of the seventh, Cornell struck out the first two batters and, after a double, caught the final hitter swinging to secure the two-run victory.

The series rubber match is set for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch Sunday, April 28 live on SEC Network.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Bama lost 3-2 to Big Blue in 13....

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Drops Extra-Inning Marathon to Kentucky in Sunday Series Finale - University of Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama and Kentucky battled for 13.0 innings in Sunday's series rubber match in front of a sellout crowd at Rhoads Stadium, with the Wildcats ultimately coming through to defeat the Crimson Tide, 3-2.

Alabama (47-6, 15-6 SEC) found itself in an early 2-0 hole after Kentucky (32-19, 14-10 SEC) scored runs in the first and third innings. Two runs in the sixth, including an RBI double from senior Reagan Dykes, tied the game up and neither team scored in the seventh, forcing extra innings. After five scoreless innings, an RBI single by the Wildcats in the top of the 13th broke the tie. The Tide got the potential tying run on base in the bottom half but could not bring her in.

The 13 innings marks the longest game for Alabama since playing 14 at LSU on April 8, 2011. Junior Elissa Brown was 3-for-6 in the leadoff spot, also swiping a pair of bases. Her first stolen bases marked the 100th of her career, becoming the seventh player in program history to reach the milestone. Of the six previous to do so, only three hit triple digits in their junior season.

Dykes also caught a runner stealing in the ninth, tying her with Kendall Dawson (2009-12) for the career record at Alabama with 44. Dykes and junior Bailey Hemphill tallied the two other multi-hit efforts for Alabama in the loss. Freshman Montana Fouts (13-3) took the loss in relief, with the go-ahead run as her only run allowed over 10.2 innings pitched.

Kentucky struck first in the opening frame on a solo home run from Abbey Cheek. Alabama got the potential tying run into scoring position the bottom half, but was picked off at second before a strikeout ended the inning. In the top of the third, a leadoff single and some aggressive running on a sac bunt got the runner all the way to third and a single to right made it a 2-0 Kentucky lead.

With a runner at second in the bottom of the fourth and two out, sophomore KB Sides knocked a single up the middle but a good throw from the outfield caught the runner at the plate to end the inning and keep the Tide out of the run column. Alabama looked to start a rally in the bottom of the sixth, with Brown leading off the inning with her third single of the day before stealing second. After a popup, a single from junior Bailey Hemphill put runners at the corners. A slow roller to second wasn't enough to turn a double play for Kentucky as the runner at third came home on the RBI fielder's choice to make it 2-1. Dykes roped one into the left field gap and fellow senior Merris Schroder hustled all the way around from first to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Both teams went down in order in the seventh, sending the game to extras. Kentucky left four on base over the next five innings before breaking through in the top of the 13th with an RBI single to move ahead 3-2. A one-out bunt from freshman Skylar Wallace but her on as the potential tying run to turn it back to the top of the order, but a force out and lineout ended the rally as Kentucky held on to win and take the series.

Alabama concludes the regular season next weekend with a three-game series in Baton Rouge, La., against LSU (40-12, 14-7 SEC) starting Friday, May 3 at 6 p.m. CT live on ESPN2.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

The 2 pitchers were sensational.....

 

[bamanc50]

Great game by both teams. However, I think Coach Murphy loss this one early by being too aggressive. Sent Dykes home from second on a shallow hit to center field and got thrown out at the plate. Also had Hemphill try to steal second from first. Good series coming up with LSU. RTR

 

[50+yeartidefan]

@bamanc50 ....
Well. Murph is aggressive....
Sometimes it pays and sometimes not....
Your right. Big series coming up vs Lsu