Bats Power Alabama Softball to Second Doubleheader Sweep in as Many Days
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Saturday at the Easton Bama Bash, Alabama Softball powered their way to 8-0 and 3-2 victories over St. Thomas and Virginia, securing an impressive 9-0 start to the season.
In Game 1, the Crimson Tide run-ruled the Tommies 8-0, as big games from Larissa Preuitt and Riley Valentine lifted Patrick Murphy’s team to their eighth victory of the season.
Preuitt, a sophomore from Hartselle, Ala., tallied two hits and two RBIs versus St. Thomas and made several plays manning center field for the Crimson Tide.
Valentine, a sophomore catcher transfer from Texas A&M, drew two walks and drilled a fourth inning single that scored newcomer counterpart Lauren Johnson.
In the fifth inning, it was Preuitt who broke the game open with a triple that bounced off the glove of St. Thomas outfielder Morgan Klein, scoring JUCO transfer Kendal Clark, the eighth run needed to mercy rule the Tommies.
In the circle, Jaala Torrence continued her excellence — tossing five innings of two hit, two walk, six strikeout ball. As it stands, Torrence has yet to allow a run in 2024, possessing an ERA of 0.00 through three games and 11 innings pitched.
"I don't care who you're pitching against," Murphy said. "Today in Division-I softball, when you can throw a shutout, it's a great feat. So kudos to her. Because I'm sure they went back, talked about what she threw to them yesterday, and then Lance [McMahon] and her had made to make adjustments today, and still, she was terrific."
In Game 2, second baseman Kali Heivilin got things started for Alabama with a single through the left side that scored Lauren Johnson.
In the following inning, senior Bailey Dowling drilled a line-drive home run over the left field wall, giving the Crimson Tide a 2-0 advantage. Moments later, Lauren Johnson singled on a ground ball to first base that led to some confusion and an error for the Cavaliers, pushing the lead to three through two innings.
In the top of the third, Virginia got things going, as a single, walk and fielder’s choice put them in scoring position. M.C. Eaton then delivered a single up the middle, scoring Bella Cabral and Kelly Ayer to cut into the Alabama lead.
While the Cavaliers made a late push, the Crimson Tide pitching staff held on, grabbing a pivotal 3-2 victory behind the arms of Jocelyn Briski and Kayla Beaver, who threw a combined seven innings while allowing seven hits and tossing 11 strikeouts to stymie all hopes of a comeback.
"We've worked really hard over the offseason," Heivilin said. "It wasn't just one person, it was the entire team top to bottom. So everybody's hard work is starting to pay off. And I think we're just trusting what we have, and trusting the work in the offseason, and just letting it fly and while we do our thing."
Now standing at 9-0 on the season, Alabama will look to cap off a perfect sweep of the Easton Bama Bash, as the Crimson Tide will face Southern Indiana tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. CT.
How it Happened...
Game 2: No. 11 Alabama vs. Virginia:
Final: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Final stats courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
Top Seventh - Virginia Batting:
- Coon strikes out swinging. Beaver gets the save, Alabama gets the 3-2 victory here at Rhoads Stadium.
- Cabral pops out to second base.
- Hylton fouls out.
E6: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Bottom Sixth - Alabama Batting:
- Cahalan and Dowling fly out to left field and short, respectively. Haney strikes out swinging. Three outs.
- Cahalan will be the batter when we return. Crimson Tide will be hoping to get some insurance runs for Beaver to push this one back open.
M6: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Top Sixth - Virginia Batting:
- Ayer strikes out looking. On a cold day, Rhoads is rocking.
- Eaton strikes out swinging. Beaver shows some passion. Rhoads erupts again. Two outs.
- Barbee singles to left-center. Weaver advances. Two on, one out for M.C. Eaton coming up.
- Beaver gets Jones to strike out looking after a 10 pitch at-bat. Rhoads Stadium roars. One out, one on for Shelby Barbee.
- Weaver singles to third base. Cavaliers have a runner on early.
E5: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Bottom Fifth - Alabama Batting:
- Giles, Heivilin and Duchscherer all fly out with quick at-bats. Probably not the inning Patrick Murphy was hoping for from his 3-4-5 hitters.
M5: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Top Fifth - Virginia Batting:
- Eaton goes down swinging for Beaver's first strikeout of the game.
- Coon is HBP. Beaver comes in to relieve Briski.
- Cabral flies out to center. Two outs.
- Briski gets Hylton looking for the first out of the inning.
E4: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Bottom Fourth - Alabama Batting
- Johnson skies out to right field. Nothing brewing for the Crimson Tide.
- Clark strikes out swinging. Two outs, nobody on for Lauren Johnson.
- Preuitt flies out to right field.
M4: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Top Fourth - Virginia Batting:
- Ayer strikes out swinging. Nothing brewing for the Cavaliers.
- Boggs pops out to short.
- Barbee grounds out to third.
- Jones singles to center.
E3: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Bottom Third - Alabama Batting:
- Haney strikes out swinging.
- Dowling strikes out looking. Two outs, one on for Haney.
- Cahalan walks. One out, one on for Dowling.
- Giles goes down swinging.
- Giles will be the batter for the Crimson Tide when we return. Margin for error has significantly decreased after the latest half inning.
M3: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
Top Third - Virginia Batting:
- Weaver hits a lineout to third. Cavaliers push two across in the inning.
- Eaton singles up the middle. Cabral and Ayer score. T3: Alabama 3, Virginia 2.
- Coon strikes out swinging with runners at the corners. Two on, two out for Eaton.
- Cabral reaches on a fielder's choice. Hylton out at second. Ayer advances to third.
- Hylton walks. Ayer advances to second. Trouble brewing here for Briski.
- Ayer singles to short to start the inning for the Cavaliers.
E2: Alabama 3, Virginia 0.
Bottom Second - Alabama Batting:
- Ducshcherer and Heivilin fly out to left and right, respectively. Three outs.
- Lauren Johnson singles to first base. Clark advances. Preuitt scores. B2: Alabama 3, Virginia 0.
- Clark takes a five pitch walk. Two on, one out for Lauren Johnson.
- Kendal Clark pinch hits for Jenna Johnson.
- Preuitt singles to left field and steals second.
- K.J. Haney strikes out swinging. One out and nobody on for Preuitt coming up.
- Dowling drills a solo home run over the left field fence. It squeaks just over the outstretched glove of Jones. B2: Alabama 2, Virginia 0.
- Dowling will be the batter for the Crimson Tide when we return.
M2: Alabama 1, Virginia 0.
Top Second - Virginia Batting:
- Barbee strikes out swinging. No damage done to Briski and company.
- Barbee singles to left field. Second hit of the day for the Cavaliers. Leah Boggs to the plate with one on and two outs.
- Jones goes down swinging. Two outs, nobody on for Shelby Barbee.
- Weaver grounds out to Cahalan on the left side. One out, nobody on for Kailyn Jones.
- Abby Weaver will be the batter for the Cavaliers when we return.
E1: Alabama 1, Virginia 0.
Bottom First - Alabama Batting:
- Cahalan strikes out swinging. Three outs.
- Marlie Giles walks. Two on, two outs for Kenleigh Cahalan.
- Kali Heivilin singles through the left side. She advances to second on the throw home. Jenna Johnson scores. B1: Alabama 1, Virginia 0.
- Duchscherer flies out to the shortstop. Two outs, one on for Kali Heivilin.
- Lauren Johnson grounds out on a fielder's choice. Jenna Johnson advances to second. Duchscherer at the plate with one on and one out.
- Johnson walks. Her sister, Lauren, will be hoping to drive her home here with one on and nobody out.
- Jenna Johnson looking to get something going for the Crimson Tide here as she leads off the inning.
M1: Alabama 0, Virginia 0.
Top First - Virginia Batting:
- Eaton grounds out to Briski. Three outs.
- Coon walks. Briski couldn't find the strikezone during that at-bat. Four pitches, four balls.
- Cabral grounds out to second. Hylton advances. Two outs, one on for Sarah Coon.
- Hylton singles to third base. One out, one on for Bella Cabral.
- Briski strikes out Ayer to start the game for the Crimson Tide.
Pregame:
- We're 20 minutes from the start of Game 2 here at Rhoads Stadium.
- First pitch is slated for 1:35 C.T.
Starting Lineup:
Lineup courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
Game 1: No. 11 Alabama vs. St. Thomas
Final: Alabama 8, St. Thomas 0.
Final stats courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
Bottom Fifth - Alabama Batting:
- Preuitt drills a fly ball to right. It was catchable, but the ball is dropped by Morgan Klein. Clark scores. That concludes the game here at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide run-rule the Tommies. B4: Alabama 8, St. Thomas 0.
- Heivilin strikes out swinging. One on, one out for Preuitt.
- Clark steals second. One on, nobody out for Heivilin.
- Clark hit by a pitch to start out the inning for the Crimson Tide.
M5: Alabama 7, St. Thomas 0.
Top Fifth - St. Thomas Batting:
- Raymond grounds out to second base. Torrence gets out of trouble.
- Mickett advances on a passed ball. Runner advances to third.
- Mickett rips a single through the right side of the infield.
- Weingart flies out to right field after Kendal Clark makes an impressive catch. Caruso, who pinch ran for Stierlen, is doubled up. Two outs, nobody on for Mickett.
- First hit of the game for St. Thomas as Stierlen singles to left. One on, nobody out for Weingart.
E4: Alabama 7, St. Thomas 0.
Bottom Fourth - Alabama Batting:
- Valentine advances to second on a wild pitch.
- Dowling fouls out to left. Two outs for K.J. Haney, who pinch hits for Cahalan.
- Valentine singles to third base. Johnson scores. B4: Alabama 7, St. Thomas 0.
- Lauren Johnson pinch runs for Duchscherer. Pate out at home on an error.
- Kinley Pate pinch runs for Esman. Duchscherer rips a single that scores Johnson and advances Pate. Two on, nobody out for Valentine. B4: Alabama 6, St. Thomas 0.
- Esman reaches on a fielding error. Two on, nobody out for Abby Duchscherer.
- Johnson draws a walk to start the inning for the Crimson Tide.
M4: Alabama 5, St. Thomas 0.
Top Fourth - St. Thomas Batting:
- Cook flies out to center. Tommies once again can't get anything going.
- Fielder's choice for Alabama, as Klein grounds out to third and opts for a throw to second base to get the lead runner. One on, two outs for Ella Cook.
- Carby goes down swinging. One out.
- Lienhardt walks. One on, nobody out for the Tommies.
E3: Alabama 5, St. Thomas 0.
Bottom Third - Alabama Batting:
- A diving catch from Kaitlyn Raymond saves a run for the Tommies. Three outs.
- Heivilin lines out to the pitcher. One on, two outs for Larissa Preuitt.
- Impressive 11 pitch at-bat for Clark. She doubles to right-center. Cahalan scores. One on, one out for Heivilin. B3: Alabama 5, St. Thomas 0.
- Cahalan singles to left. Valentine scores with the help of an error. One on, one out for Kendal Clark. B3: Alabama 4, St. Thomas 0.
- Dowling with a sac bunt. Valentine advances. One on, one out for Cahalan.
- Riley Valentine walks. One on, nobody out for Dowling.
M3: Alabama 3, St. Thomas 0.
Top Third - St. Thomas Batting:
- Wukawitz flies out to center. Three outs.
- Raymond lines out to second. Weingart stays put.
- Micket bunts. Weingart to second. One out.
- Weingart walked. Perfect game opportunity for Torrence is in the books. Tommies get their first baserunner of the afternoon.
E2: Alabama 3, St. Thomas 0.
Bottom Second - Alabama Batting:
- Duchscherer goes down swinging. Three outs.
- Esman grounds out to second base. Johnson advances. Two outs, one on for Abby Duchscherer.
- Jenna Johnson HBP.
- Preuitt smashes a single, but is thrown out at second. Heivilin comes in to score. B2: Alabama 3, St. Thomas 0.
- Kali Heivilin rips a double over the center fielder's head. One on, nobody out for Larissa Preuitt.
- Torrence has 5 strikeouts through 2.0 innings. She's yet to allow a hit.
M2- Alabama 2, St. Thomas 0.
Top Second - St. Thomas Batting:
- Stierlen goes down swinging. Three outs.
- Cook flies out to center. Two outs.
- Torrence strikes out Klein. She's mixing her pitches well. Tommies haven't mustered much contact. One out.
E1- Alabama 2, St. Thomas 0.
Bottom First - Alabama Batting:
- Kendal Clark flies out to left. Three outs.
- Cahalan lines out to right field. Two outs.
- Fielder's choice for Dowling. Esman scores. Duchscherer out at third. B1: Alabama 2, St. Thomas 0.
- Klein walks Valentine. B1: Alabama 1, St. Thomas 0.
- New pitcher for St. Thomas as Morgan Klein enters the circle.
- Abby Duchscherer draws the third consecutive walk for Alabama. Bases loaded situation for Riley Valentine.
- Lauren Esman draws a walk of her own. Johnson to second.
- Jenna Johnson takes a walk.
M1- Alabama 0, St. Thomas 0.
Top First - St Thomas Batting:
- Torrence caps off a perfect first inning as Carby goes down swinging.
- Torrence gets Lienhardt to chase one for her second strikeout
- Torrence strikes out Wukawitz for the first out of the game.
Pregame:
- Jaala Torrence is warming up in the circle for Alabama.
- Lauren Esman honored pregame for Senior Day.
Starting Lineup:
Lineup courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
Pregame notes
(courtesy of Alabama Athletics)
Scouting Alabama
- Alabama makes its 2024 Rhoads Stadium debut this weekend, hosting the Easton Bama Bash starting Friday, Feb. 16
- The Crimson Tide will play five games over three days, facing off against Longwood and Virginia twice each before concluding on Sunday against Southern Indiana
- Alabama is coming off a 7-0 start to its season at last weekend's Buzz Classic in Atlanta
- The Tide is ranked as high as No. 11 in this week's national polls
- Lauren Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week after a stellar debut weekend at the Buzz Classic
- 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)
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