Alabama Softball Run Rules Samford, 11-2
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —In the midst of a tough stretch, Alabama softball got just what it needed in Tuesday’s midweek matchup against Samford.
Behind a four-double, five-run fourth inning, the No. 15 Crimson Tide run ruled Samford, 11-2 in five innings at Rhoads Stadium on Tuesday night.
"I was really happy with up and down the lineup, people putting the ball in play," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said after the game.
The Crimson Tide offense was quiet in the first inning, but Bailey Dowling got the offense going with a leadoff single in the second and things never slowed down. Alabama scored three runs in the second, three more in the third and five in the fourth.
Abby Duchscherer, Kenleigh Cahalan, Kendal Clark and Larissa Preuitt all had doubles for the Crimson Tide in the fourth inning. Clark finished the game 2-2 with two RBIs and a walk, reaching base each time she came to the plate. Murphy said the coaching staff decided two weeks ago that Clark needed to start getting more at-bats.
"She's just got pop in her bat," Murphy said. "Maybe she's like a middle-of-the-lineup Yankee guy that might strikeout twice, but hit a bomb or triple or something. I know she's going to swing hard every single time."
Because the offense was able to put up so many runs, Murphy was able to empty his bench and give 13 players an at-bat and 18 total players entering the game.
Samford’s lone runs came on a two-run home run from Katie Campbell in the top of the fourth inning off of Alabama starter Jocelyn Briski. Alex Salter came in to get the final three outs of the game in relief.
Alabama improves to 23-5 on the season and will be back at Rhoads on Wednesday night against UAB at 6 p.m.
How it happened...
FINAL: Alabama 11, Samford 2 (Five Innings)
Top 5- Samford
- Looking strikeout ends the game. Alabama wins.
- Strikeout. Two outs.
- Ground ball to second goes for the first out.
- Alex Salter enters to pitch for the Crimson Tide.
- With a nine-run lead, Alabama needs just three outs to end this game early.
END 4: Alabama 11, Samford 2
Bottom 4- Alabama
- Kinley Pate comes in to pinch hit, her first plate appearance of the season comes against her former team. And Pate strikes out swinging.
- Ball bounces off the right fielder's glove, and it's ruled a double for Preuitt. Two runs come in to score for the Tide. Alabama 11, Samford 2
- Valentine walks to load the bases.
- Samford makes another change in the circle. Karley Fuller (1-3, 4.42 ERA) enters for the Bulldogs.
- Clark reaches third on a passed ball. Haney walks on four pitches, and Esman re-enters. Runners on first and third with two outs for Valentine.
- KJ Haney comes in to pinch hit for Esman, looking for her first hit of the season.
- The doubles are contagious this inning. This time it's Clark hard off the centerfield wall. Alabama extends its lead to 9-2 with two outs
- Sac fly to centerfield from Broadfoot. Alabama 8, Samford 2
- Miscommunication in shallow left field leads to an RBI-double for Cahalan. Alabama 7, Samford 2
- Duchscherer doubles off the left field wall. Heivilin moves to third. First XBH of the day for Alabama. Giles comes in to pinch run for Duchscherer.
- Heivilin walks on four pitches.
- Grill is called out of the box.
- Grill, Heivilin, Duchscherer due up for Alabama.
MID 4: Alabama 6, Samford 2
Top 4- Samford
- Briski's seventh strikeout of the game ends the frame.
- Two-out walk extends the inning.
- Ground ball back to Briski goes for the first out.
- Katie Campbell makes Briski pay for the leadoff walk with a two-run home run crushed over the left field wall. Alabama 6, Samford 2
- Leadoff walk for the Bulldogs.
- Alabama makes some defensive changes for the top of the fourth. Kat Grill enters in left field, and Emma Brodfoot comes in at third base. (Grill actually entered defensively in the third.
END 3: Alabama 6, Samford 0
Bottom 3- Alabama
- Preuitt puts a charge in one, but it's caught up against the fence in right field.
- Sac fly to center for Valentine. Alabama 6, Samford 0
- Esman hits a ground ball back to the pitcher, who tries to get the lead runner. Everyone is safe. Runners on the corners with one out for Valentine.
- Clark singles out to center field. Cahalan scores from third. White is thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. Clark moves to second on the throw to home. Alabama 5, Samford 0
- Alabama is challenging the out call at home. After review, White is still out.
- A wild pitch moves both runners into scoring position with no outs.
- Kristen White comes in to pinch run for Dowling, which means her day is done because she has already been pinch run for once.
- RBI single for Dowling on the first pitch she sees from Bond. Alabama 4, Samford 0
- Samford will make a pitching change. Sara Bond (1-6, 4.92 ERA) enters for Partain.
- Cahalan is hit by a pitch. Alabama has two on with no outs for Dowling.
- Leadoff walk for Duchscherer, her second walk of the game.
- 3-4-5 due up for Alabama in the B3
MID 3 Alabama 3, Samford 0
Top 3- Samford
- Briski strikes out the side in the third. She's up to six in the game.
END 2: Alabama 3, Samford 0
Bottom 2- Alabama
- Ground ball ends the frame, but the Crimson Tide scores three runs in the second.
- Johnson lines a single into right field to score Valentine. Increases the Alabama lead to 3-0
- Groundout to the right side brings in another run. Two outs now. Alabama 2, Samford 0
- Valentine moves to second on defensive indifference. Two in scoring position for Preuitt.
- Infield single from Valentine scores Gidley. Alabama 1, Samford 0. Alabama has runners on the corners with one out.
- Both runners move into scoring position on a wild pitch.
- Esman pops up a bunt for the first out.
- Clark draws a walk. Alabama has runners on first and second with nobody out.
- Dowling beats out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the second. M'Kay Gidley comes in to pinch run for Dowling.
MID 2: Alabama 0, Samford 0
Top 2- Samford
- Briski's third strikeout ends the frame.
- Two-out walk for the Bulldogs after Briski had quickly retired the first two batters.
END 1: Alabama 0, Samford 0
Bottom 1- Alabama
- Cahalan hits it hard, but right at the first baseman. No hits for Alabama in the first.
- Two-out walk from Duchscherer gives Alabama its first baserunner.
- Johnson, Heivilin, Duchscherer due up for Alabama to lead off the game.
MID 1: Alabama 0, Samford 0
Top 1- Samford
- Swinging strikeout ends the frame, stranding the runner at third.
- Ground ball back to Briski moves the runner to third base with two outs.
- Runner moves into scoring position on a passed ball by Valentine with one out.
- Briski records her first out with a looking strikeout.
- Leadoff single slapped through the left side.
- First pitch from Briski is a ball, and this game is underway.
Starting lineups:
Pregame notes
Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
Scouting Alabama
- After a four-game road stretch, Alabama returns home for four this week starting with a pair of midweek games against Samford on Tuesday and UAB on Wednesday
- The Crimson Tide heads into the week at 22-5 overall after falling in two of its three games last weekend at No. 5 Georgia
- Alabama is in the midst of a 14-game stretch that includes 11 ranked matchups: two against Arizona (March 1-2), three against Florida (March 9-11), one at Florida State (March 13), three at Georgia (March 15-17) and two against Virginia Tech (March 22-23)
- Wednesday's game against UAB will already be the third time the Tide and Blazers have met this season, with Alabama winning a pair of games in Birmingham, 8-0 and 15-0, in late February
- Tide pitching is third in the SEC in ERA (1.41), runs allowed (52), earned runs allowed (35), opposing batting average (.180) and hits allowed (111)
- Alabama returns 15 letterwinners from last year's Women's College World Series squad, including 2023 All-SEC honoree Larissa Preuitt, 2023 NFCA All-Region Kenleigh Cahalan, 2023 All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team Jenna Johnson and 2022 All-SEC and All-Region Bailey Dowling
- Seven newcomers are on the Tide roster in 2024, including freshmen Lauren Johnson (Franklin, Tenn.) and Jocelyn Briski (Phoenix, Ariz.) and transfers Kayla Beaver (Central Arkansas), Kendal Clark (DMACC), Alea Johnson (LSU), Kinley Pate (Samford) and Riley Valentine (Texas A&M)
Inside the Series
· Overall vs. Samford: 26-2
o In Tuscaloosa: 19-0 | In Birmingham: 7-2 | At Neutral Sites: 0-0
· Current Streak: Alabama +26
· Last Meeting: April 11, 2023 - Birmingham, Ala. - W, 6-2
· Last Meeting in Tuscaloosa: Feb. 22, 2023 - W, 3-2
