Audrey Vandagriff Blasts Walk-Off Home Run to Win Series over Oklahoma

Alabama softball's star freshman Audrey Vandagriff cranked a home run on the first pitch of bottom of the eighth inning for the series victory over the Sooners.

Katie Windham | Apr 14, 2025

Alabama softball celebrates Audrey Vandagriff's walk-off home run against Oklahoma / Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— There's nothing like a little Rhoads magic.

In front of another crowd of over 4,000 people, Alabama softball's star freshman crushed a home run over the left field wall on the first pitch of the home half of the eighth inning to give the No. 22 Crimson Tide the 2-1 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma.

WALK IT OFF AUDREY VANDAGRIFF!!!!!!@avandagriff12

📺SEC Network | https://t.co/Z1p2EO2Doa #Team29 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/EVnTZQ0koX
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) April 15, 2025

Vandagriff didn't even realize it was a home run off the bat.

"I was telling myself, 'line drive up the middle, line drive up the middle,' and it was a line drive, sure enough, right off the bat," Vandagriff said. "I didn't even see it go over, but I saw everybody cheering."

It was Alabama's first walk-off home run since the 2019 SEC Tournament.

"You hear it all the time at Alabama–– where legends are made," Vandagriff said. "I finally got a dose of that tonight, and I will never forget this moment."

The score had been knotted up at 1-1 since the fourth inning, and Vandagriff's home run broke the tie and secured the series for the Crimson Tide. The freshman had four hits on the weekend, all off of Oklahoma ace Sam Landry.

In the Sooners' (36-5, 10-5 SEC) first year in the SEC, Alabama (30-16, 7-8 SEC) gets the series win at home over the four-time defending national champions. It is just the Crimson Tide's second series win this season.

"Hell of a series," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said after the game. "I'm so happy that all three were on TV. We had almost 13,000 people for a three-game series. Great facility, great teams, and it just showcased what a great sport softball is.

Catelyn Riley gave Alabama another brilliant start in the circle, and deserved the hard-earned victory after eight innings of one-run ball against one of the best offenses in the country. For the third straight game in the series, the Sooner offense was limited to score in just one inning of the game.

The Sooners threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Oklahoma had bases loaded with one out, but Abby Duchscherer made a great play at first base to get the lead runner at home, and Riley got the final out on a ground ball back to her. Murphy called it the key moment of the game defensively.

"It was just one of those made-for-TV moments," Murphy said.

Oklahoma's lone run came on a solo home run from Nelly McEnroe-Marinas in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Alabama had the first lead after an RBI-double from Kali Heivilin in the bottom of the third.

Heivilin had a hit in all three games of the series and has been a key piece at the top of Alabama's lineup this season in her final year.

Alabama has been so close in multiple series this season, but has struggled to close out games and series. The victories over the No. 2 team in the nation and four-time defending national champions gives the Crimson Tide a lot of confidence moving forward with three SEC series left in the regular season.

"It gives us the confidence that we can do it," Vandagriff said. "There's so many times that we've been just right there, and it was just one play, one pitch, one throw, one strike, and we finally got over that hump. For a while it felt like we wouldn't, but I feel like this just gives us the mentality that we can do anything.

"Like Murph always says, the best is yet to come, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for us."

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