Alabama Softball Bounces Back to Blank Arizona At Crimson Classic
The Crimson Classic wasn’t exactly an ideal showcase for the No. 11 Alabama softball team.
Yes, Alabama beat No. 19 Arizona twice, including a 1-0 decision on Saturday, and yes, the Crimson Tide won three games, allowing just three total runs in four games.
All that doesn’t mean much when your offense matches that run total.
The Alabama offense mustered just 14 hits and four runs through its last 25 innings with a 3-1 record to show for it.
The lone loss came in a 2-0 decision against South Alabama in the opener on Saturday. It was Alabama’s first loss of the season.
The poor performance against South Alabama didn’t do enough to jolt the Crimson Tide offense in the second game against Arizona. Alabama had three hits with Marlie Giles providing the only run production with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
“I got a hold of one and I thought it was a line drive—I definitely didn’t think it was out,” Giles said. “The defense and our pitchers kept us in the game. One run is not a whole lot.”
Alabama had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning but failed to plate any runs.
“A double in the gap scores three runs,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “Instead, we strike out and ground out. Those things are biting us in the butt too often in close games.”
Saturday was all about Jaala Torrence. The Dothan native celebrated her senior day at Rhoads Stadium. She pitched five shutout innings and allowed three hits with three strikeouts.
“We were going to go pitch by committee, but she kept throwing up zeros,” Murphy said.
She took the loss against South Alabama, despite allowing just three hits and two runs.
“In the second game I think our team came out with so much energy and I fed off that,” Torrence said. “I think we showed that we can still compete after getting punched in the mouth. It was going to happen at some point.”
Torrence kept the Wildcats off the basepaths, allowing just four baserunners while throwing an efficient 66 pitches.
“They came in as the fourth-best hitting team in the country,” Murphy said of Arizona. “To shut them out is amazing.”
FINAL SCORE: Alabama 1, Arizona 0
Top 7 Arizona
- A groundout to Beaver ends the game
- With one out, Kayla Beaver takes over in the circle, and Arizona gets on base courtesy of an Alabama error.
End 6: Alabama 1, Arizona 0
Bottom 6 Alabama
- Through its last 27 innings, Alabama's offense has scored four runs on 14 hits
- Alabama can't bring Heivilin home and comes away empty.
- Kali Heivilin bunts her way to first and moves to second on a throwing error. One out and a runner on second.
Top 6 Arizona
- Johnson gets out of trouble and the Wildcats leave two runners stranded.
- Not a great start for Johnson. Leadoff walk and a hit by pitch puts two runners on with no outs.
- Alea Johnson takes over for Torrence in the circle. Finals for Torrence: No runs on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
End 5: Alabama 1, Arizona 0
Bottom 5 Alabama
- Nothing for Alabama in the fifth, but Abby Duchscherer came close to hitting her sixth home run of the season.
Top 5 Arizona
- Arizona gets a base hit but no damage done as Torrence gets out of the inning,
End 4: Alabama 1, Arizona 0
Bottom 4 Alabama
- Alabama finally gets on the board with a leadoff home run from Marlie Giles. It's her fourth homer of the season. Alabama 1-0
Top 4 Arizona
Torrence doing all she can in the circle. Arizona goes down 1-2-3. Torrence has given up just two hits in four innings.
End 3: Scoreless
Bottom 3 Alabama
- Super sliding catch by Arizona oufielder Jasmine Perezchica to end the inning. Hits are hard to come by for Alabama. Just one hit this game and three total against South Alabama in previous game.
Top 3 Arizona
- Kali Heivilin with two nice web gems at second base gets Alabama out of the inning unscathed.
End 2: Scoreless
Bottom 2 Alabama
- Side retired and Bama comes away with nothing. Offense fails again to come through.
- Kenleigh Cahalan draws a walk an the bases are loaded for Larissa Preuitt. We've got a pitching change for Arizona. Miranda Stoddard takes over for Brooke Mannon.
- Emma Broadfoot connects with a single to put runners on first and third with one out. Alabama trying to get out of its offensive funk.
Top 2 Arizona
- Torrence allows a two-out walk, but no damage done.
End 1: Scoreless
Bottom 1 Alabama
- Nothing for Alabama in a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 1 Arizona
- A leadoff single doesn't hurt Alabama as Torrence shuts down the Wildcats' next three batters.
Starting lineup
