Live Updates: No. 3 Alabama Softball Looks to Sweep No. 8 Kentucky

The Crimson Tide will send Montana Fouts to the circle again following her 10-strikeout win over the Wildcats on Friday.

Author:
Tony Tsoukalas
Publish date:
Mar 20, 2022 2:19 PM EDT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Following consecutive complete-game wins from Montana Fouts and Lexi Kilfoyl, No. 3 Alabama will look to finish off a weekend sweep of No. 8 Kentucky. The Crimson Tide held off the Wildcats 3-2 on Saturday after rallying back for a 4-2 victory Friday night.

Fouts (13-0) will get the start again for Alabama. The senior struck out 10 batters while surrendering two runs, one earned, on four hits during the win Friday. She has a 1.12 earned run average and 124 strikeouts over 75⅓ innings this season.

Kentucky will send freshman Izzy Harrison (1-0) to the circle for the second start of her career. The right-hander has a 2.33 earned run average and 15 strikeouts over 12 innings this season.

Following its weekend series against Kentucky, Alabama will travel to Birmingham for a mid-week clash against UAB on Wednesday before hitting the road again for a three-game series at South Carolina.

Follow along here for live updates throughout Sunday’s matchup.

(Latest updates at the top)

Bottom 7

Alabama gets a run but falls short in its comeback effort. Kentucky wins 9-4 to avoid the sweep.

Top 7

Kentucky strands a runner on second base. Alabama will come to the plate needing six runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Bottom 6

Alabama goes down in order in the bottom of the sixth. It's still 9-3, Kentucky.

Top 6

Following a leadoff groundout, Kilfoyl walks the next to batters.

Jaala Torrence is now in to pitch for Alabama.
After second baseman Jenna Lord is unable to hold onto what would have been a inning-ending double play, Kentucky makes her pay as Tatum Spangler hits an RBI single to right. It's 9-3, Kentucky.

Bottom 5

Ally Shipman gets on with a two-out single, but Alabama can't do anything with it. It's 8-3 headlining into the sixth inning.

Top 5

Kentucky has runners on first and second with one out following singles from Erin Coffel and Kennedy Sulivan.
Emmy Blane makes it 7-3 Kentucky with an RBI single up the middle.
An error on Ashley Prange makes it 8-3 Kentucky.
Kentucky leaves the bases loaded as Kilfoyl gets Lauren Johnson to strike out swinging. Kentucky leads 8-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Bottom 4

The fans at Rhoads Stadium aren't happy as Dallis Goodnight was a ball-four call by home-plate umpire Chris Nabors before popping out to third. Alabama has a runner on second and two outs for Jenna Johnson.
Johnson grounds out to end the inning. It's 6-3, Kentucky heading into the top of the fifth.

Top 4

Following a single from Rylea Smith, Kayla Kowalif doubles to center to make it 6-3 Kentucky.
Kilfoyl retires the next two batters to get out of the frame. Kentucky leads 6-3.

Bottom 3

Sloan Gayan is in to pitch for Kentucky.
Alabama goes down in order in the bottom of the fourth. Kentucky leads 5-3 after three innings.

Top 3

Rylea Smith leads off the inning with a single and advances to second on a throwing error from left fielder Jenna Johnson.

Kayla Kowalik follows up with an infield single, and Kentucky has runners on the corners with no outs.
After walking Lauren Johnson to load the bases, Fouts gets Taylor Ebbs to pop out.
Erin Coffel hits a ground-rule double to tie the game for Kentucky. The Wildcats now have runners on second and third with one out.
Miranda Stoddard delivers a two-run single to center. Kentucky leads Alabama, 5-3.
Fouts hands the ball over to Lexi Kilfoyl in the circle.
Kilfoyl retires the next two batters. Kentucky leads 5-3 heading to the bottom of the third.

Bottom 2

Bailey Dowling makes friends with the left-field scoreboard as she leads off the inning with a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1.
Kat Grill rips a one-out double down the left-field line, and Alabama has the go-ahead run on second base.
Grill scores on an errored throw from third baseman Miranda Stoddard. The throw pulled first baseman Taylor Ebbs off the bag, causing here to collide with Dallis Goodnight. Goodnight remained on the dirt for a while but was able to shake it off. She will stay in the game. 2-1, Alabama.
Apparently, Goodnight is fine. She just stole second.
Ashley Prange laces a two-out double to left field to make it 3-1 Alabama.
Kaylee Tow strikes out to end the threat, but not before Alabama takes the lead.

Top 2

Miranda Stoddard skies a ball off the top of the scoreboard in left to make it 1-0 Kentucky.
Kennedy Sulivan follows with a double to right.
Fouts responds by striking out the next two batters. It's 1-0, Kentucky heading to the bottom half of the inning.

Bottom 1

Alabama has runners on first and second with two outs after Ashley Prange and Ally Shipman drew walks.
Abby Doerr pops out to left field to end the threat. It's still scoreless after one inning.

Top 1

Montana Fouts retired the side in order, getting leadoff hitter Kayla Kowalik to ground out before striking out Lauren Johnson and Taylor Ebbs. It's scoreless heading to the bottom of the first.

Alabama starting lineup

Jenna Johnson, LF

Ashley Prange, 3B

Ashley Prange vs Kentucky — Alabama Athletics

Kaylee Tow, 1B

Kaylee Tow celebrates an out — Alabama Athletics

Ally Shipman, C

Abby Doerr, DP

Bailey Dowling, SS

Jenna Lord, 2B

Kat Grill, RF

Dallis Goodnight, CF

Dallis Goodnight safe at first — Alabama Athletics