No. 2 Alabama Softball Stays Hot in Doubleheader Sweep of Kent State
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 2 Alabama softball team opened play in the Easton T-town Showdown at Rhoads Stadium by sweeping a doubleheader against Kent State, 9-1 and 11-3 (both six innings).
Game 1
The Crimson Tide began the day in unfamiliar territory, falling behind 1-0 to Kent State in the third inning. Eventually, though, Alabama chipped away and took control.
Lexi Kilfoyl (7-0) pitched a two-hitter, with seven strikeouts to keep her undefeated record intact. Offensively, Alabama had its share of key moments, including three runs in the bottom third and fourth innings to pull away from the Golden Flashes.
"A lot of people contributed. Bailey [Hemphill] really hit the ball well tonight," Coach Patrick Murphy said. "[The] bottom of the order did good … Kat Grill, Taylor Clark was impressive, so it was a fun night."
There was no three-run home run or grand slam, but death by a thousand cuts with single-after-single was the recipe for Alabama. The Crimson Tide went on to score at least one run in each inning after the third, forcing the run-rule in the sixth inning. It also left eight baserunners stranded.
At one point, Kent State doubled the Crimson Tide's pitch count. Jessica LeBeau (1-2) was handed the loss.
Courtesy of Stat Broadcast
Game 2
Senior Krystal Goodman got the start, and began the night out-of-sorts, allowing atypical walks and hits during the first two innings. It culminated in the second inning, when she gave up three runs on four hits.
A mound visit allowed everyone to catch their breath before ending the frame with a much-needed ground-ball to freshman shortstop Bailey Dowling for the final out.
The Crimson Tide quickly answered, scoring its first runs in the bottom of the second. Shortstop Alexis Mack's RBI-triple to the left-center gap scored fellow graduate student Elissa Brown from second base to tie the game.
"Good hitting is contagious, and so is bad hitting," Murphy said, "That's [Mack's triple] gonna go in the scouting report, and it will say 'You better not play her shallow or she'll burn you.'"
Goodman subsequently maintained composure and pitched two final scoreless innings. She finished with seven hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts.
The Crimson Tide initiated another outburst in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs on five hits. Alabama continued its offensive showcase in the fourth, forcing a Kent State pitching change to LeBeau, who reappeared after her start in the first game.
"I think anytime a team scores on us, whether we're up or down, we have been really intentional this year about a response," Mack said.
Alabama finished the fourth with one run scored on three hits, and entered the fifth with an 8-3 advantage.
Freshman Jaala Torrence replaced Goodman, who was credited with the win (2-0), to start the fifth and retired the first three Kent State hitters in order.
Three straight doubles keyed a Crimson Tide rally in the fifth, by Mack, Kaylee Tow and Dowling, Alabama capped the scoring with another run in the sixth.
Courtesy of Stat Broadcast
The Crimson Tide faces Northern Iowa Saturday, March 6 at 11 a.m. CT and 1 p.m. CT. Times subject to change.
