Comeback Complete: Alabama Softball Walks Off Mississippi State 7-6
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Trailing by five runs with just six outs to go, things were not looking good for Alabama softball. The team had managed just five hits through the first five innings, and left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth.
To make matters worse, Mississippi State tacked on another run in the top of the sixth to build the five-run lead. That's when the Rhoads magic started to kick in.
Alabama hit two home runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull the game within two. Ally Shipman hit a home run in the seventh to make it a one-run game, and a few batters later freshman Megan Bloodworth delivered a two-RBI double to walk off the Bulldogs for the second night in a row.
"I thought we were just really resilient," said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. "We could have folded when we had the bases loaded and one out and hit into the double play— it was a hell of a play a hell of a shot, just unlucky. And then the hitters did the rest. It doesn't matter if you do it in the sixth inning or the seventh inning. When you have time, you have time. So just a key hit by Bloodworth."
The No. 2 Crimson Tide took the game and the series over Mississippi State with the 7-6 comeback win Friday night. After going nearly three years without a walk-off, Alabama has done it twice in as many days against the Bulldogs.
"The whole time we knew, from the first inning on," Alabama freshman Jenna Lord said. "You know, they scored a couple runs, punched us in the mouth first, and we said, ‘we got this.’ There’s no chance that we don't have this in the bag because we know what we're capable of, and there just wasn't a moment where we doubted ourselves. Pitching, hitting, defense, it all came together.”
Bloodworth had hit a home run off Mississippi State pitcher Aspen Wesley Thursday night, and the familiarity came into play in the final inning in game two.
"I've seen her before, we saw her yesterday," Bloodworth said. "I was basically just making sure the pitch I got, I could rip."
Jaala Torrence got off to a rough start in the circle, and Alabama trailed 5-0 in the second inning thanks to a home run from SEC leader Mia Davidson in the first and a combination of hits and walks in the second.. Alex Salter came in to relieve her and kept Alabama in the game allowing zero earned runs and five hits in 5.1 innings pitch. Montana Fouts got the final out of the seventh in relief and earned the win.
Lexi Kilfoyl is Alabama's usual game two starter, but she wasn't feeling well and was unavailable for Friday night's game.
"Credit Salter for keeping us in the game," Murphy said. "That was huge. I always tell the reliever to keep the score the same because we're gonna score runs."
She did allow one unearned run in the sixth, but the biggest moment of the night for Salter came in the fourth. After giving up two walks and a hit, she stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout looking.
Shipman, Lord, Kaylee Tow and Bailey Dowling all had home runs in the game for the Crimson Tide as part of the comeback effort. Dowling and Shipman are now tied for the team lead with eight home runs, and it was Lord's first home run of her Alabama career.
Lord said she's been struggling to get one over the wall, but when she heard the roar of the crowd, she knew it was gone. A walk to Tow, set up Lord's two-run home run in the sixth, and her walk in the seventh proved to be the game-winning run.
“I think that tonight it was an absolute team win," Lord said. "I just went in with the mindset of do what I was supposed to do. Kaylee Tow with two huge walks. I think we overlook those, and those were big moments. Those are two less runs. If she doesn’t walk, that’s one less run on my hit, and she wants to get it done so bad, but she’s so mature and realizes a walk is what we need in that moment
The Crimson Tide has now hit nine home runs over its last four SEC games going back to the Florida series with four from Dowling alone.
"I think just like the pitchers, when one does well, the other one wants to do well," Murphy said. "I think it's the same with hitters, and you need to know who's hot in the lineup. So if someone behind you is hot, you need to get your butt on base for them.”
No. 2 Alabama (35-6, 12-5 SEC) and Mississippi State (26-16, 7-7 SEC) will meet a final time Saturday at 4 p.m. on SEC Network as Alabama goes for the sweep.
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