| BSB/SB 🥎 Saturday Shutout Secures Series Sweep for Alabama over Mississippi State

Softball Hosts Mississippi State Starting Thursday at Rhoads Stadium - University of Alabama Athletics

Alabama returns home for a three-game SEC series against Mississippi State beginning Thursday, April 14

rolltide.com

This Week: #3/2 Alabama vs. Mississippi State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)​

• Thursday, April 14 – 5 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Friday, April 15 – 6 p.m. CT
• Saturday, April 16 – 4 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Radio: 97.5 FM | Varsity App | nick975.com

Scouting Alabama​

• Alabama returns home for a three-game SEC series against Mississippi State beginning Thursday, April 14
• Games one and three of the series with the Bulldogs will be nationally televised on the SEC Network
• The Tide is 33-6 overall and 10-5 in conference play after taking two of three games on the road last week at Florida
• Alabama is ranked No. 2 in the latest RPI and is ranked as high as No. 2 in the latest national polls
• The Tide leads the league in SEC play with 119 hits, with Kaylee Tow (17) and Ashley Prange (16) both inside the top five individual rankings
• Montana Fouts (82) and Lexi Kilfoyl (44) have two of the four highest strikeout totals of anyone in conference play, with Fouts' total at the top of the list 32 ahead of the next-highest mark
• Head Coach Patrick Murphy is in his 24th season as head coach at Alabama with a 1,182-326 (.784) record
• Alabama returns 11 players from last year's team that made the Women's College World Series semifinals, including a pair of All-Americans in Montana Fouts and Kaylee Tow
• The Tide welcomes nine newcomers, including three transfers and six freshmen

Last Time Out: at Florida​

• Alabama took two of three games last weekend in Gainesville to secure the series against Florida
• The Crimson Tide has won each of the last four regular season road series at Florida (2022, 2019, 2016, 2014)
• Bailey Dowling slugged three home runs over the weekend, including the go-ahead solo shot in extra innings in game two to push Alabama to the 2-1 victory
• Kaylee Tow led the team with seven hits over the weekend, while Ashley Prange finished 6-for-13 (.462) with three extra-base hits and Jenna Lord went 5-for-11 (.455) with four RBIs

Starting Early​

• Alabama is outscoring its opponents 45-5 in the first inning, the largest scoring margin of any inning
• The Tide is 26-4 when scoring first this season and 14-2 when scoring in the first inning
• Alabama batters are 55-for-167 (.329) in the first inning, which only trails the 61 hits and .367 average earned in the fifth inning

Two Outs, So What?​

• Alabama is batting 102-for-334 (.305) with two outs this season and is even better in conference play at 49-for-149 (.329)
• In SEC play, 36 of the team's 76 RBIs have come with two out
• Ally Shipman has seen the most at-bats with two out this season, going 16-for-45 (.356) with 11 RBIs
• Bailey Dowling leads the team with 12 two-out RBIs, hitting 15-for-32 (.469) with three doubles, a triple and three home runs

Alabama in the SEC Rankings (Top Five)​

Games played through April 6

Team - Overall

• 1st - Earned Run Avg. - 2.22
• 1st - Runs Allowed - 95
• 1st - Earned Runs Allowed - 81
• 1st - Home Runs Allowed - 18
• 2nd - Batters Struck Out - 312
• 2nd - Opposing Batting Avg. - .206
• 2nd - Hits Allowed - 193
• 2nd - Fielding Pct. - .981
• 3rd - On Base Pct. - .411
• 3rd - Walks - 149
• 3rd - Walks Allowed - 89
• 5th - Batting Average - .310

Individual - Overall

• 1st - Batters Struck Out - Montana Fouts - 180
• 4th - Runs Batted In - Ally Shipman - 43

Team - SEC Only

• 1st - Hits - 119
• 1st - Batters Struck Out - 129
• 1st - Opposing Batting Avg. - .237
• 2nd - Runs Scored - 81
• 2nd - Runs Batted In - 76
• 2nd - Home Runs Allowed - 10
• 2nd - Fielding Pct. - .979
• 3rd - Doubles - 23
• 3rd - Total Bases - 197
• 3rd - Walks - 50
• 4th - Batting Avg. - .290
• 4th - On Base Pct. - .378
• 4th - Stolen Bases - 11
• 4th - Earned Run Avg. - 3.87
• 5th - Home Runs - 17

Individual - SEC Only

• 1st - Batters Struck Out - Montana Fouts - 82
• T2nd - Hits - Kaylee Tow - 17
• T2nd - Hits - Ashley Prange - 16
• 4th - Doubles - Ashley Prange - 5
• 4th - Runs Batted In - Ally Shipman - 15
• 4th - Home Runs - Bailey Dowling - 5
• 5th - Runs Scored - Ashley Prange - 12
• 5th - Total Bases - Bailey Dowling - 33
• 5th - Walks - Ashley Prange - 9

 

[bama alum]

If you're able to go to the game tonight...

 

[TerryP]

If you're able to go to the game tonight...

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[tider79]

Bats are dead silent tonite

 

[bamanc50]

Bats better come alive. Down 1-0 in bottom of 6th.

 

[bamanc50]

There we go!!!! BOOM. Bloodworth. HR

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Softball Takes Game One over Mississippi State with Walk-Off Wild Pitch - University of Alabama Athletics

Alabama and Mississippi State opened their weekend softball series with a pitcher's duel Thursday night at Rhoads Stadium, as a walk-off wild pitch gave the Crimson

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama and Mississippi State opened their weekend softball series with a pitcher's duel Thursday night at Rhoads Stadium, as a walk-off wild pitch gave the Crimson Tide a 2-1 win over the Bulldogs.

Alabama (34-6, 11-5 SEC) and Mississippi State (26-15, 7-6 SEC) combined for just seven hits, five of which came in the sixth and seventh innings. Megan Bloodworth tied up the game in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run, her sixth long ball of the year and second in conference play. Kat Grill also had a hit, giving her at least one in five of her last six games, while Ashley Prange extended her reached-base streak to 16 games and Bailey Dowling to 13 games. Montana Fouts (17-3) was lights-out in the circle, striking out 11 while holding the Bulldogs to just one run on three hits.

Each team tallied just one hit through 5.0 scoreless innings until Mississippi State threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with one out. A fly ball to right allowed the runner at third to tag up on the sac fly RBI and put the Bulldogs on the board before a strikeout ended the half-inning, limiting the damage to just one run. Bloodworth wasted no time tying it up in the bottom half, leading off the frame with a solo home run to make it a 1-1 game. After a pitching change with two out, Prange drew a walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but a strikeout ended the inning with the score still tied.

Fouts retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to set up the heart of the Tide's order for the potential walk-off. Dowling led off the inning with a single through the right side and Savannah Woodard entered to pinch run. Kaylee Tow then scorched a one-hopper through the right side to push Woodard to third and a wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed Woodard to slide into home as the game-winning run.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy​

"It was a nail-biter. We know they are a really good team. They already have more wins in conference play then they did last year, and it's only been 13 games. They're doing a great job as a team and a coaching staff, so we knew it was going to be a tough game. Their starting pitcher was very good and thankfully Montana basically matched her. We had the key hits in the bottom of the seventh. Bailey Dowling had a great at-bat, poking a single through the right side. Kaylee Tow came up and hit another one hard to the right side, but the key to that was Savannah Woodard's baserunning. She's kind of an unsung hero on this team because she is the best baserunner that we have, and she never hesitated going around second base. After that, we had first and third with no outs, and we walked it off with a wild pitch. It was just a really good game to start the series."

Highlights​

• Alabama improves to 63-11 all-time vs. Mississippi State, including a 32-3 mark in Tuscaloosa
• The win was the Tide's first walk-off win since Caroline Hardy's RBI single against Oklahoma at the 2019 Women's College World Series (June 2, 2019)
• Montana Fouts now has 11 games this season with double-digit strikeouts and 39 for her career
• Kat Grill has at least one hit in five of her last six games, going 7-for-16 (.438) over that stretch
• Ashley Prange and Bailey Dowling extended their reached-base streaks to 16 and 13 games, respectively

 

[tider79]

Nice recovery girls

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Got last 4 innings....Montana mowing em down
Throwing strikes

Ump a little inconsistent

Hard way to lose for state
Wild pitch

 

[bama alum]

So far, game 2 is going...miserably. Torrance has already been pulled; Salter came in with the bases loaded and walked in a run. 5 - 1, State.

 

[tider79]

Pitching is really erratic lately

 

[tider79]

They cant buy a hit against an average MSU team.

 

[bamanc50]

Cold bats….terrible pitching….BAD COMBINATION!!!!

 

[tider79]

Its like watching Bama BB,,,game to game you never know how their gonna play. OU is the model of playing consistent ball.

 

[bama alum]

A double play is always a pitcher's good friend. Salter's settled in pretty well.

Murphy needs to channel Jobu to wake up the bats!

 

[tider79]

Wow,,,I need to shut my mouth, this team is proving to be really resilient!

 

[bamanc50]

Great comeback by the Tide. Just seemed like since the 2nd inning they were not going to be able to get anything going. Then the bats got hot. RTR!!!

 

[UA Press Release]

Softball Scores Six Unanswered Runs to Complete 7-6 Comeback Win over Mississippi State - University of Alabama Athletics

Trailing 6-1 in the sixth inning, Alabama softball went on to score six unanswered runs over the next two innings, with a two-run double from Megan Bloodw...

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Trailing 6-1 in the sixth inning, Alabama softball went on to score six unanswered runs over the next two innings, with a two-run double from Megan Bloodworth giving the Crimson Tide the 7-6 walk-off victory over Mississippi State to clinch the weekend series.

The comeback is tied for the third-largest in Alabama (35-6, 12-5 SEC) softball history, its biggest since rallying from down seven against Missouri on March 8, 2019. Mississippi State (26-16, 7-7 SEC) scored five runs in the first two innings but was held to just one run on five hits for the remainder of the game, stranding nine on base over those five frames. Jenna Lord led the offense with a 3-for-4 day, including her first career home run in the sixth inning to draw Alabama within two. Ally Shipman also hit a home run as part of a 2-for-4 day while Kaylee Tow and Bailey Dowling also got in on the action with a solo shot each. Montana Fouts (18-3) earned the win, going down as the pitcher of record after securing the final out in the top of the seventh.

Mississippi State got on the board quickly in the top of the first, as Mia Davidson followed a fielding error with a two-run home run down the left field line, and then the Bulldogs tacked on three more in the top of the third on a trio of RBI singles to make it 5-0. Tow got Alabama on the board in the bottom half of the inning, leading off the frame with a solo home run.

With the score the same in the bottom of the second, the Tide loaded the bases with one out but a lineout double play at third ended the inning and the rally. Mississippi State added to its lead in the sixth with an unearned run on an error to make it 6-1 but Dowling got the run back immediately in the bottom half with a leadoff solo home run. After a walk to Tow, Lord crushed a line-drive home run to center field to cut the deficit to two at 6-4. The Bulldogs couldn't add to their lead in the top of the seventh, setting up Alabama for another walk-off opportunity.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Shipman pulled a solo home run down the left field line to make it a one-run ballgame. Dowling battled through an eight-pitch at bat to draw a walk, with Jordan Stephens entered as a pinch runner representing the tying run. Tow fought through her own eight-pitch at bat behind her to draw another walk before Lord squibbed an infield single to load the bases with one out. On the fourth pitch of her at-bat, Bloodworth cranked a double into the left field corner, driving in two to give Alabama the walk-off win.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy​

"We got great energy from the crowd all night. I can't thank them enough because this has got to be the toughest place in America to play as an opponent. About 90 percent of our games here are wins and it's mainly because of the fans. It was tremendous energy from them. Throughout the game, we never gave up. We had bases loaded and one out and then hit into a double play and we could've given up right then and there. Bloodworth gets pinch hit for the previous at-bat and when we need her the most, she comes through. She didn't pout, she didn't whine about being pinch hit for, she just got out there and ripped the ball."

From Megan Bloodworth​

"I've been playing this game since I was five or six years old. I had to approach it just like any other at-bat. I'm always trying not to make the moment bigger than it actually is and just get the job done. Knowing that our team battled back after being down six runs just helps us down the road and reminds us that we've been in moments like this and can do it."

Highlights​

• Alabama improves to 64-11 all-time vs. Mississippi State, including a 33-3 mark in Tuscaloosa
• The Tide has now won 15 of its 16 three-game series vs. Mississippi State
• Alabama has won all nine three-game series against the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa, which previously includes six sweeps (16, 11, 09, 07, 05, 01) and three 2-1 weekends (19, 13, 03)
• The comeback is tied for the third-largest in program history, the biggest since overcoming a seven-run deficit against Missouri on March 8, 2019
• The Tide is 9-2 this season when the opponent scores first
• The win was Alabama's first this season when trailing after 6.0 innings and just its second when trailing after 5.0
• The four home runs are the most since belting five against Arizona on opening weekend (Feb. 12)
• Jenna Lord tallied a season-high three hits, including her first career home run
• The 2-for-4 day marked Ally Shipman's 16th multi-hit game of the season, which leads the team
• Shipman and Bailey Dowling are tied for the team lead with eight home runs
• Kat Grill has at least one hit in six of her last seven games, going 8-for-19 (.421) over that stretch
• Kaylee Tow's solo home run extends her hitting streak to five games
• Ashley Prange and Dowling extended their reached-base streaks to 17 and 13 games, respectively

Scoring Summary​

• T1 | Mia Davidson pulled a two-run home run down the left field line (0-2, 0 Out)
• T2 | With two in scoring position, a single up the middle drove in a run (0-3, 0 Out)
• T2 | Shea Moreno drove in a run with an RBI single (0-4, 0 Out)
• T2 | A bases-loaded walk tagged on another (0-5, 1 Out)
• B2 | Kaylee Tow led off the half-inning with a solo home run (1-5, 0 Out)
• T6 | An error on a forceout attempt extended the inning and allowed a run to come home (1-6, 2 Out)
• B6 | Bailey Dowling led off the inning with a solo home run to left field (2-6, 0 Out)
• B6 | Jenna Lord hit a line-drive home run to center, scoring two (4-6, 0 Out)
• B7 | Ally Shipman pulled a solo home run down the left field line (5-6, 1 Out)
• B7 | Megan Bloodworth pulled a double down the line to drive in two and win the game (7-6, 1 Out)

 

[RTB Twitter Bot]

 

[TerryP]

Nice reference by Gray at the end of the clip. Bama hadn't had a walk-off win since the 2019 WCWS against OU: two this weekend against State.

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