Patrick Murphy Gets Win No. 1,100 as No. 8 Alabama Softball Sweeps Louisville in Doubleheader
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 8 Alabama softball improved to 4-0 on Sunday afternoon, sweeping Louisville in a doubleheader at the Crimson Tide's home opener in Rhoads Stadium.
Alabama took the first game 5-0. Through four games it has yet to yield a run to opponents.
The wins marked Crimson Tide coach Patrick Murphy's wins No. 1,100 and 1,101 with the Crimson Tide.
“It has been amazing to be here this long," Murphy said. "It has been a great ride with a bunch of amazing players and an amazing staff. It doesn’t happen often that a power five head coach is able to stay in the same spot for this long, but I am very thankful and have lots of gratitude to have been here.”
The games were a result of the cancelled Texas Classic, where Alabama was supposed to play against Texas, Colorado State and Arizona. The tournament was announced as cancelled late last week as a result of poor winter weather.
Neither fans nor media were allowed at Sunday's games.
Game 1
Junior right-hander Montana Fouts threw a one-hitter, striking out 11 batters and walking just one in seven innings.
Offensively, the Crimson Tide jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The initial run came off of a single up the middle by grad-student utility Bailey Hemphill, advancing grad-student left fielder Alexis Mack to second base and driving in senior right fielder K.B. Sides. Two outs later, grad-student third baseman Claire Jenkins singled to right field, sending both Mack and Hemphill across the plate.
After a scoreless second inning, Alabama added an additional run in the bottom of the third with an RBI groundout by Jenkins. Following a double steal that saw senior first baseman Kaylee Tow advancing to second and freshman shortstop Bailey Dowling to third, Jenkins grounded out to the shortstop, scoring Dowling in for the Crimson Tide's fourth run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Alabama added its fifth and final run. After grad-student center fielder Elissa Brown stole second, Sides doubled to left-center field, scoring Brown.
Fouts improved to 2-0 on the season with the win, while Taylor Roby (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Louisville.
Game 2
An RBI-groundout by Hemphill in the bottom of the third sent Brown home for the Crimson Tide's first run.
The very next at-bat, Dowling hit a home run to left field, sending Mack and herself across the plate for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, it was Hemphill's turn for another RBI. With Sides on second and Mack on first, she singled to left field. A throwing error by the Louisville left fielder advanced the runners another base, with Sides earning Alabama's fourth run.
Sophomore pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl pitched the Crimson Tide's second complete game of the day. In seven innings, Kilfoyl allowed three hits in 27 batters faced, walked one and struck out 10.
Kilfoyl improved to 2-0 on the season while Jennifer Leonhardt (0-1) took the loss.
Overall, Alabama improved to 4-0, with Louisville 0-2.
“We were really happy that we were able to play this weekend," Murphy said. "The name of the game was pitching today. Montana was great and Kilfoyl followed up with another great performance.”
Up next, the Crimson Tide will make its way back to Rhoads Stadium for another doubleheader on Friday, this time against the Liberty Flames. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
