⚾ 🥎 Easton Bama Bash: Alabama Softball Splits Saturday Games--Sunday, GA St. @ 1:30 CT

[UA Press Release]

THIS WEEK: EASTON BAMA BASH
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Rhoads Stadium
Friday, Feb. 23

• vs. Georgia State (5-6) – 4 p.m. CT
• vs. #9/7 Florida State (9-3) – 6 p.m. CT

Saturday, Feb. 24

• vs. Northern Iowa (9-2) – 1:30 p.m. CT
• vs. #9/7 Florida State (9-3) – 4 p.m. CT

Sunday, Feb. 25

• vs. Georgia State (5-6) – 1:30 p.m. CT

SCOUTING ALABAMA

• Alabama is 6-1 heading into week three after a 3-1 weekend at the Black and Gold Invitational, defeating Southern Miss, McNeese and Mississippi Valley State before falling to Baylor.
• The Crimson Tide is hitting .359 as a team, which ranks second among SEC teams. Alabama ranks second in slugging percentage (.609) and leads the league in on-base percentage (.477) and fielding percentage (.983).
• Junior Caroline Hardy leads the offense after a stellar weekend at the plate. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native has six hits in 11 at-bats for a .545 batting average with six runs scored and five RBI. She also has a team-leading six walks, good for a .706 on base percentage.
• Alabama pitching has only allowed four runs, three earned, over 39.0 innings pitched this season, which leads the SEC. The Tide boasts a 0.54 team ERA.
• Freshman pitcher Madison Preston has yet to allow an earned run through 11.0 innings pitched. Junior Courtney Gettins has only allowed two through 10.0 innings (0.70 ERA) and senior Alexis Osorio only has two through 18.0 (0.78). Osorio has fanned 22 batters over those 18.0 innings pitched.
• Alabama is ranked No. 10 in the latest USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 13 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. After facing two ranked teams in McNeese and Baylor last weekend, the Tide will play two games against ninth-ranked Florida State this weekend.

LAST TIME OUT: AT BLACK AT GOLD INVITATIONAL

• Alabama went 3-1 last weekend in Hattiesburg, Miss., defeating Southern Miss, #24 McNeese and Mississippi Valley State by a combined score of 33-2 before dropping a hard-fought 2-1 decision to #11 Baylor in the weekend finale.
• The Tide opened its weekend with an 11-1 win over the host Southern Miss Golden Eagles Friday. Alabama hit three home runs in the game, its highest total since the April 1 win at Missouri last season and the first time at least three different players had a home run in a game since the 2017 season opener against Towson. An unearned run in the sixth inning for Southern Miss was the first run scored against the Tide this season.
• Alabama had two more dominant wins on day two in Hattiesburg, defeating 24th-ranked McNeese, 11-1, and Mississippi Valley State, 11-0. Freshman Kaylee Tow was 3-for-5 at the plate between the two games, hitting a three-run home run against the Cowgirls and an RBI triple against the Devilettes.
• The Tide had its first loss of the season Sunday at the Black and Golf Invitational, battling to a 2-1 decision against 11th-ranked Baylor. The Bears took a 2-0 lead on a two-run single in the first but Tow cut the deficit in half with a solo home run in the top of the third. Alabama had a pair of runners in scoring position with one out in the seventh inning, but ultimately could not bring home either in the low-scoring pitcher's duel.

SHUTOUT STREAK TO OPEN SEASON
A late run allowed in the sixth inning against Southern Miss last Friday ended Alabama's shutout streak to start the season at 23.0 innings, the second-longest streak in program history.

Longest Start to Season Before Allowing a Run

• 29.2 (2011)
• 23.0 (2018)
• 18.1 (2005)
• 13.1 (2017)

FACING A TOUGH TASK EARLY
The two games against ninth-ranked Florida State this weekend will give Alabama four games against ranked opponents through the first three weeks of the season. That is the third-highest total in program history through the first three weeks. In the 22-year history of Alabama softball, it is just the eighth time the Tide have played four or more ranked games through the first three weeks.

Most Ranked Games Through First Three Weeks of Season

• 7 (2010)
• 5 (2003, 2002, 1999)
• 4 (2018, 2016, 2000, 1997)

HOME SWEET HOME
Alabama makes its home debut this weekend at Rhoads Stadium, the home of the Crimson Tide since 2000. It has proven a sizeable home field advantage for Alabama over the years, as the Tide is 526-86 (.859) all-time at Rhoads Stadium and has never lost more than nine games at home in a season. Alabama has hosted 15 NCAA Regional rounds at the park, including a streak of 13-straight Regional titles in Tuscaloosa, along with series wins in eight of the nine Super Regional rounds it has hosted.

ALABAMA SOFTBALL MAINTAINS TOP-10 RANKING IN WEEK TWO NFCA POLL
Alabama softball maintained its top-10 ranking in the week two USA Today/NFCA poll, coming in at No. 10, while the Crimson Tide dropped to No. 13 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball.

After a 3-1 outing at last weekend's Black and Gold Invitational in Hattiesburg, Miss., Alabama fell one spot in the NFCA poll and four spots in the USA Softball poll. After defeating Southern Miss, McNeese and Mississippi Valley State by a combined score of 33-2, the Crimson Tide had its first loss of the season in a narrow 2-1 contest to Baylor, who moved up to No. 8/10 this week.

All 13 SEC teams are either ranked in the top 25 or are receiving votes. Ranked SEC teams include Florida (#2/1), Texas A&M (#6/9), LSU (#7/8), Alabama (#10/13), Tennessee (#11/11), Auburn (#12/6), Georgia (#14/14), Ole Miss (#16/18), Kentucky (#23/24) and South Carolina (#24/RV). Mississippi State, Arkansas and Missouri are receiving votes outside the top 25 in at least one poll.

UP NEXT
Alabama travels to Birmingham, Ala., Tuesday, Feb. 27 for a 6 p.m. CT game against UAB before heading to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Classic, hosted by Washington. There, the Tide will play two games against the top-ranked Huskies as well as BYU, Portland State and Northwestern starting Friday, March 2.

Alabama Softball Makes 2018 Home Debut Hosting Easton Bama Bash - Alabama Athletics

 

[UA Press Release]

• BOX SCORE VS. GEORGIA STATE (PDF)
• BOX SCORE VS. FLORIDA STATE (PDF)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama opened Friday play at the Easton Bama Bash with a pair of strong wins, defeating Georgia State, 5-1, before shutting out ninth-ranked Florida State, 3-0, and defeating the reigning national pitcher of the week.

Alabama (8-1) was guided by timely hitting and two great performances in the circle against Georgia State (5-8) and Florida State (10-4). Freshman Madison Preston led the Tide against the Panthers, tossing 7.0 innings with just one unearned run allowed, and senior Alexis Osoriobacked that up with a complete-game shutout over the ninth-ranked Seminoles, striking out a season-high 10 batters.

"[Alexis] Osorio did a great job again tonight," Murphy said. "Every now and then she gets in trouble but pitches out of it. It was the best performance of the year so far for her."

Alabama's offense chased the reigning national pitcher of the week, Florida State's Kylee Hanson (5-2), after just 4.0 innings of work with all three runs credited to her. The Tide was led at the plate by junior Reagan Dykes, who went 2-2 with an RBI, while senior Demi Turner made her first start of the season, lacing a leadoff triple in the fifth-inning before scoring the final run of the game for Alabama.

Starting on second base in the game against Georgia State, freshman Maddie Morgan tallied nine assists, tying the single-game record originally set by Staci Ramsey on April 19, 2003 at South Carolina. Sophomore Gabby Callawaytallied a pair of hits against the Panthers, driving in two runs on a third-inning double, while senior Peyton Granthambelted a second-inning home run, her second of the young season.

GAME ONE: ALABAMA 5, GEORGIA STATE 1
Georgia State scored the first run of the day in the top of the second, scoring on a Crimson Tide throwing error to make it 1-0 on the unearned run. Alabama wasn't down long as senior Peyton Grantham blasted a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 2-1.

Senior Sydney Booker and sophomore Elissa Brown led off the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles and freshman Kaylee Tow followed with a third-straight hit, knocking it up the middle to score Booker and make it 3-1. Later in the inning with one out and runners at the corners, Callaway laced a two-run double into the left field gap, advancing to third on the throw with the score now 5-1.

Neither team would score for the remainder of the game, as Preston and the Crimson Tide defense shut down Georgia State to clinch the four-run victory.

GAME TWO: ALABAMA 3, FLORIDA STATE 0
Brown led off the bottom of the first with a single up to middle, stole second in the next at-bat and then advanced to third on a groundout before sophomore Bailey Hemphill was able to bring the speedy leadoff hitter home on an RBI groundout as Alabama took the early 1-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth. Grantham knocked a one-out single to left field and, with freshman KB Sides pinch running, she advanced to second on a groundout and came home on a hard-hit RBI single from Dykes to double the lead to 2-0.

Turner, making her first start of the season, brought Rhoads Stadium to its feet with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the fifth. A walk to Brown, stolen base and intentional walk to Hemphill loaded the bases with one away. Callaway lifted a fly ball to center field, allowing Turner to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly before a groundout ended the inning with Alabama now leading 3-0.

The score remained the same heading into the top of the seventh, as Osorio and the Tide defense retired Florida State in order to secure the shutout.

Alabama continues play at the Easton Bama Bash Saturday, facing Northern Iowa (9-4) at 1:30 p.m. CT and Florida State (10-4) at 4 p.m. CT.

Alabama Softball Defeats Georgia State, Shuts Out Ninth-Ranked Florida State Friday in Tuscaloosa - Alabama Athletics

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Softball Splits Saturday Games at Easton Bama Bash

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball split its two Saturday games at the Easton Bama Bash, posting a convincing 11-3 win over Northern Iowa before taking a hard-fought 3-1 loss to ninth-ranked Florida State in the nightcap.

Alabama (9-2) found an offensive rhythm against Northern Iowa (9-6), scoring in five of the six innings Tide batters came to the plate. Runs were at a premium in game two however, as Florida State (10-4) scored three unanswered runs before the Crimson Tide scratched one across in the fifth inning and loaded the bases in the seventh. Alabama could not complete the rally however, as the Seminoles held on for the two-run win.

Freshman Madison Preston (3-1) took her first loss of the season in the game against Florida State while junior Courtney Gettins (3-0) pitched all 6.0 innings in the run-rule win over the Panthers, holding the lineup to three runs on six hits.

"I want to say thanks to the fans for the great turnout," UA head coach Patrick Murphy said. They have been incredible the past two days. I thought Courtney settled down after the first inning against Northern Iowa. I think the key was that she pitched three-straight shutout innings that gave our offense a chance to come back.

"In the second game, I was really proud of Madison for what she did. This was her first shot against a ranked opponent. I thought she gave us a chance to win and that's what I always ask from a starting pitcher. She's out there for a reason, we believe she has the ability to beat a top-10 team."

Offensively, senior Demi Turner posted a three-hit effort against Northern Iowa, driving in a run, while sophomore Bailey Hemphill tallied a career-best four RBIs on a three-run double and RBI single. Against the Seminoles, senior Sydney Booker drove in the Tide's lone run of the day on a RBI single.

GAME ONE: ALABAMA 11, NORTHERN IOWA 3 (6 INN.)
The Northern Iowa bats were hot to start the game, leading off the inning with a double and back-to-back singles to plate the first run of the day. The Panthers would eventually load the bases with nobody out. A force out at home on a fielder's choice would go for out number one and a fly ball to left would go for out number two, but the runner at third was able to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly and make it 2-0. A fly ball ended the inning with UNI up by two early.

In the bottom of the second, freshman Kaylee Tow led off the inning with a hard-hit double to the wall in center field. She advanced to third on a fly ball and came home on an RBI single from junior Caroline Hardy. Later in the inning with a pair in scoring position and two out, sophomore Elissa Brown dropped a single into left field, plating both runners to put Alabama on top 3-2. Turner added another with an RBI single in the next at-bat before a groundout ended the inning with Alabama now on top, 4-2.

With two on base in the bottom of the third following a walk and fielding error, Hemphill blasted a single to left field, scoring senior Peyton Grantham from second base to make it 5-2. A three-run double from Hemphill in the bottom of the fourth swelled the lead to 8-2.

UNI brought its third run of the day home on an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning before heavy rainfall forced a brief weather delay. Upon resumption, Gettins got the Tide out of the top-half stranding two in scoring position as the Tide now led 8-3. In the bottom half with sophomore Claire Jenkins at second base, Turner legged out an infield single and an overthrow to first base allowed her to move up to second while Jenkins rounded third and came home on the error to make it 9-3.

With two out and runners at the corners in the bottom of the sixth, Jenkins doubled to the wall in left field, driving one run home and putting two in scoring position to set up pinch-hitter freshman Kyra Lockhart for the game-ending hit, an RBI single that capped the run-rule victory, 11-3.

GAME TWO: FLORIDA STATE 3, ALABAMA 1
Florida State's Carsyn Gordon scored the first run of the day, pulling a solo home run down the left field line in the top of the second, the first earned run allowed by Preston this season. Jessie Warren doubled the Seminole's lead in the top of the third, sending another solo home run out to right field that just cleared the glove of a jumping Tow at the fence as the score stretched to 2-0.

An RBI single by Warren in the top of the fifth gave Florida State a three-run lead and Alabama scored its first of the day in the bottom half on a two-out RBI single from to cut the Seminoles lead to 3-1.

Facing the same two-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh, Tow drew a leadoff walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate. Jenkins nearly beat out a bunt single in the next at-bat, but was called out at first as it went down as a sacrifice bunt to advance Tow into scoring position. A fly out went for out number two before senior Carrigan Fainwas hit by a pitch to put two on base and Booker knocked a hard-hit single at the pitcher that she couldn't locate, ending as an infield single to load the bases. The rally ended there however, as a popup in foul territory ended the game.

Alabama concludes its weekend with a game against Georgia State (7-7) on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. CT.

Alabama Softball Splits Saturday Games at Easton Bama Bash - Alabama Athletics