Live Updates: No. 13 Alabama Softball vs. No. 21 Auburn (Game 1)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The game has been soldout for months. Fans started lining up in the morning for an 8 p.m. first pitch, and thousands have poured into Rhoads Stadium for the first regular season series between Alabama and Auburn in Tuscaloosa since 2017.

It is Montana Fouts night at Rhoads Stadium as the fifth-year senior is being recognized before the game for her legendary career at Alabama and Fouts bobbleheads for the first 450 fans through the gates. With Fouts squaring off against Auburn's Maddie Penta, it will be a matchup of two of the best pitchers in the SEC.

There is some potential rainy weather in the forecast, but first pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. on SEC Network.

Starting Lineups:

Follow along on the live blog for analysis and score updates throughout the game.

Game notes courtesy of Alabama Athletics.

This Week: No. 13 Alabama (33-13, 9-6 SEC) vs. No. 21 Auburn (33-13, 9-6 SEC)

Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Rhoads Stadium
Friday/Saturday Video: SEC Network
Sunday Video: ESPN
Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com | Varsity App
Friday, April 21 – 8 p.m. CT
Saturday, April 22 – 3 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 23 – 11:30 a.m. CT

Scouting Alabama

After five games away from home, Alabama returns to Rhoads Stadium this weekend hosting Auburn for three games
All three games will be televised, with Friday's and Saturday's games on the SEC Network and Sunday on ESPN
This will be the first Alabama vs. Auburn series in Tuscaloosa since 2017, with the scheduled 2020 meeting canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Last time out, the Crimson Tide split two games of a Tuesday road doubleheader in Huntington, W. Va., falling to Liberty, 5-3, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over host Marshall
Kenleigh Cahalan and Ally Shipman lead the team with 45 hits each, including a combined 27 doubles
Ashley Prange is tied with Bailey Dowling for third on the team with 39 hits, while Prange leads the squad with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs
The Alabama pitching staff has a 1.93 ERA with 311.1 innings pitched, led by Montana Fouts at 17-7 with a 1.50 ERA and NCAA-leading 244 strikeouts in 158.1 innings pitched
Murphy is in his 25th season as head coach at Alabama with a 1,226-346 (.780) record
Alabama returns 11 players from last year's team, including All-SEC honorees Montana Fouts, Ashley Prange, Ally Shipman and Bailey Dowling, while also welcoming five freshmen and three transfers

Inside the Series

· Overall vs. Auburn: 51-22

o In Tuscaloosa: 26-8 | In Auburn: 19-10 | At Neutral Sites: 6-4

· Current Streak: Alabama +4

· Last Meeting: March 14, 2021 - Auburn, Ala. - W, 4-2

Last Meeting in Tuscaloosa: May 7, 2017 - W, 3-2

Last Time Out: vs. Liberty/Marshall

Alabama split its two games Tuesday in Huntington, W. Va., falling to Liberty, 5-3, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over host Marshall
The Crimson Tide finishes the regular season with a 24-7 record in non-conference games
Ally Shipman and Bailey Dowling each had four hits between the two games, with Dowling going 3-for-3 against Liberty and Shipman 3-for-4 against Marshall
Dowling also had a home run in each game, improving her season total to seven and her RBI total to 34, good for second on the team
Montana Fouts earned the 15th save of her career against the Flames, putting her one shy of second-place Shelley Laird (1999-2002) and Alexis Osorio (2015-18) in the UA career record books

Alabama in the SEC Rankings (Top 10)

Overall

Batters Struck Out - Montana Fouts - 1st - 244
Wins - Montana Fouts - 2nd - 17
Doubles - Ally Shipman - 2nd - 14
Doubles - Kenleigh Cahalan - 3rd - 13
Opposing Batting Avg. - Jaala Torrence - 3rd - .133
Home Runs - Ashley Prange - 8th - 12
Opposing Batting Avg. - Montana Fouts - 8th - .159
Walks - Kenleigh Cahalan - 9th - 29
Earned Run Avg. - Montana Fouts - 9th - 1.50
Total Bases - Ashley Prange - T10th - 80

SEC Only

Batters Struck Out - Montana Fouts - 1st - 94
Caught Stealing By - Ally Shipman - T2nd - 3
Wins- Montana Fouts - T1st - 7
Opposing Batting Avg. - Jaala Torrence - 2nd - .094
ERA - Montana Fouts - 4th - 1.17
Opposing Batting Average - Montana Fouts - 6th - .159
Walks - Ashley Prange - T7th - 10
Batting Avg. - Jenna Johnson - 10th - .349