Alabama Athletics
Alabama Softball Crushes No. 1 Washington 8-0
The Alabama softball team knocked off No. 1 Washington in decisive fashion, 8-0, at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational on Thursday evening.
Florida native Lexi Kilfoyl threw a one-hit shutout to close out the game. The only hit Washington was able to manage off the freshman was shut down during the fourth inning.
Senior Bailey Hemphill crushed a two-run home run during the bottom of the third which marked her first home run of the season. Junior Kaylee Tow scored three runs.
“What a great day for Crimson Tide softball on the biggest stage of the year thus far," Crimson Tide coach Patrick Murphy said in a statement. "Sometimes, a team needs a little more time to gel and come together.
"We still have a lot to work on. I’m really proud of both Krystal and Lexi for giving us great starts today. It starts in the circle, and they both shined."
Earlier in the day, Alabama defeated Liberty to open the new special event, 7-1.
Kilfoyl (2-2) gave up just one hit over five innings, with six strikeouts while walking two batters. She threw just 77 pitches.
Sophomore infielder Sklyar Wallace put the Crimson Tide ahead during the first inning with an RBI single that advanced to second on the throw.
Tow grabbed her second hit of the day with a one-out single during the third before Hemphill soared her two-run home run over the fence that put Alabama ahead 3-0.
Washington pulled ace Gabbie Plain (4-1) after junior outfielder KB Slides was called safe on an infield single. Junior infielder Maddie Morgan drove a single up the middle and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Kilfoyl extended Alabama’s lead to 4-0.
Washington was able to load the bases against Kilfoyl before Alabama cleared the jam, maintaining the 4-0 lead. Slides knocked a two-run double that advanced Alabama to a 6-0 lead at the bottom of the inning.
Kilfoyl drove a RBI triple into right field that pushed the Crimson Tide to a 7-0 lead during the top of the sixth. Senior infielder Taylor Clark scored off a wild pitch that gave Alabama an eight run lead, ending the game on a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide moves to play USF on Friday in Clearwater, Fla. at 9:30 a.m. CT., and subsequently faces No. 3 UCLA at 3 p.m.
