No. 10 Alabama Softball Comes Back From Behind in Doubleheader to Remain Undefeated
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- For the first time this year, the No. 10 Alabama softball team had to play from behind when both Bradley and North Alabama went up 1-0 in the Crimson Tide’s doubleheader on Saturday at Mary Bowers Field.
However, thanks to ten unanswered runs in Game 1 and a back-and-forth battle in Game 2, Team 28 beat the Bradley Braves 10-1 and the North Alabama Lions 8-3, putting the Crimson Tide at a perfect 15-0 on the season.
In Game 1, Bradley’s Kierston McCoy hit a solo home run in the second inning to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
After that, it was all Crimson Tide. In the third inning, Bailey Dowling put Alabama on the board with a two-RBI double. In the fifth, the team tacked on five additional runs from a sacrifice fly from Dowling and a grand slam by Riley Valentine. In the sixth, another run was scored when KJ Haney came in to pinch hit and hit a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, two final runs were scored, the first on a Kali Heivilin single from a throwing error by Bradley’s first baseman and the second on a Kristen White fielder’s choice.
Alea Johnson started in the circle for the Crimson Tide. Johnson pitched 3.1 innings, allowed four hits, earned one run, and struck out four batters. Jaala Torrence and Alex Salter pitched in relief. The duo allowed one hit and struck out six in the remainder of Game 1.
Game 2 was more of a challenge. North Alabama took the lead when McKenzie Patterson scored in the third after a throwing error by Marlie Giles. The Crimson Tide responded and tied up the game when Emma Broadfoot hit an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning.
North Alabama answered back in the fourth on a two-RBI triple by Lillyanna Cartee to put the Lions ahead, then in two consecutive at-bats in the bottom of the inning, the Crimson Tide took the lead. Jenna Johnson tied up the game on a 2-RBI double, then Kenleigh Cahalan put Alabama on top with an RBI single.
Two home runs in the sixth inning capped off the scoring and sealed the Alabama win. The first was a 3-RBI homer to left field by Abby Duchscherer and the second was a solo homer to left field by Giles.
Kayla Beaver started in the circle for Game 2. Beaver pitched six innings, allowing three hits, three runs including two earned, one walk, and ten strikeouts. Torrence came in to close out the night.
How it Happened:
Game 2.
- Torrence comes in in relief of Kayla Beaver in the seventh inning. Two strikeouts and a fly out end the game and Alabama wins 8-3.
- Two home runs in the sixth inning gives the Crimson Tide run support. The first was a 3-run shot to left field by Abby Duchscherer and the second was a solo shot by Marlie Giles.
- Kali Heivilin makes her second SCTop10-esque play of the day, catching a line drive to prevent a Lions base runner and end the top of the sixth.
- The Crimson Tide takes the lead in the fourth, first with a 2-RBI double by Jenna Johnson, then an RBI single by Kenleigh Cahalan.
- North Alabama retakes the lead on a 2-RBI triple by Lillyanna Cartee to put the Lions up 3-1 over Alabama.
- Emma Broadfoot ties up the game at 1 with an RBI double in the third.
- North Alabama puts the first run on the board after McKenzie Patterson scored on a throwing error by Marlie Giles. UNA leads 1-0.
- North Alabama draws a leadoff walk, but a ground out and two strikeouts end the top half of the second. Alabama gets a leadoff double from Marlie Giles, but she gets stranded on base.
- Jenna Johnson and Abby Duchscherer hit singles in the first, but get stranded on first and second.
- Kayla Beaver is starting in the circle for the Crimson Tide.
Game 1:
- The Crimson Tide adds two more runs in the seventh inning. The first was on a Kali Heivilin single, the run came home on a throwing error by Bradley and the second was on a Kristen White fielder's choice. Alabama leads 10-1.
- Kat Grill and KJ Haney have both come in to pinch hit in the sixth inning. Haney hits a sacrifice fly, bringing Kristen White in from third. Alabama leads 8-1.
- Alabama loads the bases in the top of the fifth inning and Bailey Dowling brings a runner in with a sacrifice fly. Two at-bats later, Riley Valentine hits a grand slam to extend the Crimson Tide's lead 7-1. Bradley makes a pitching change.
- Torrence strikes out her two batters faced to end the fourth inning, stranding a Bradley runner on second.
- Larissa Preuitt hits a two-out single in the fourth but is caught stealing second to end the top half of the inning. Jaala Torrence is coming in in relief of Alea Johnson in the bottom half of the inning.
- The Crimson Tide responds in the third inning, scoring two runs on a 2-RBI double by Bailey Dowling. The inning should've ended the at-bat prior, but an error by Bradley's third baseman kept it alive. Alabama leads 2-1. Bradley has a chance to tie the game but the runner is thrown out at home to end the inning.
- Alabama goes down in order in the second. Bradley gets on the board first with a solo shot to left field by Kierston McCoy.
- The Crimson Tide strands two on base in the top of the first. Alabama has hit some hard balls but Bradley is on top of every one. Bradley strikes out, grounds out and flies out to end the inning.
- North Alabama defeated UAB 4-0 in eight innings. The Crimson Tide's game against Bradley is set to start at 3:45 p.m. CT.
