Live Blog: No. 14 Alabama Softball at No. 12 South Carolina (Game 1)

It is the final week of the regular season and there are huge matchups all around the SEC including Thursday night's game between No. 14 Alabama and No. 12 South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.

Both teams sit at 11-10 in the SEC standings are trying to secure a first-round bye int he SEC Tournament.

Alabama ace Jocelyn Briski (14-10, 2.48 ERA) is coming off her best start of the season in a complete-game shutout over Missouri and will be back in the circle for the Crimson Tide on Thursday and will be going up against Gamecock pitcher Jori Heard (15.2, 2.68 ERA.)

First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the game is streaming only on SEC Network+. BamaCentral will provide updates throughout.

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Starting lineups:

Live Blog

(latest updates at the top)

FINAL: Alabama 13, South Carolina 1 (Five Innings)

Bottom 5

Groundball and flyout end the game. Alabama picks up its first SEC run-rule win since 2023.

Groundball goes for out No. 1

Alea Johnson comes in to pitch for Alabama, needing three outs for its first SEC run-rule victory of the season.

MID 5: Alabama 13, South Carolina 1

Top 5

Marceaux gets out on the first pitch. Time for Alabama to close this one out.

Freshman Kennedy Marceaux comes in to pinch hit for Duchscherer with two outs.

Clark reaches on a one-out error.

Patrick Murphy will also be making some changes in the lineup, to give some bench players the opportunity to hit this inning with Mari Hubbard and Kendal Clark coming to the plate. It's a good opportunity to get players like that some SEC at-bats in a game with a large lead.

South Carolina will make another change in the circle. Fourth pitcher Alabama has faced today will be freshman Olivia Kotowski.

MID 4: Alabama 13, South Carolina 1

Bottom 4

Nothing doing for the Gamecocks after the leadoff hit. Briski keeps rolling.

Leadoff single for Blankenship.

MID 4: Alabama 13, South Carolina 1

Top 4

Hard lineout by Heivilin ends the Alabama threat in the fourth, but the Tide adds two more.

Johnson is also hit by a pitch. Alabama 13, South Carolina 1

Vandagriff draws her team-leading 33rd walk, and it extends the Alabama lead to 12-1.

Preuitt gets hit by a pitch, and Alabama has the bases loaded with two outs for the top of the lineup.

Giles also picks up her third hit of the day, and Alabama has runners on first and second with two outs.

Hawkins reaches for the third time today with a one-out single.

END 3: Alabama 11, South Carolina 1

Bottom 3

Vandagriff walks for her team-leading 33rd time, and Alabama pushes its lead to 12-1

Another good play by Hawkins retires the side and keeps South Carolina off the board in the third. Nice bounceback by Briski and the defense after the error.

Single through the right side puts two on with two outs.

Hawkins makes up for it with a diving stop to not only rob a hi, but gets the lead runner at second. Two outs.

Miscommunication between Johnson in left and Hawkins at short allows South Carolina's leadoff batter to reach second on an error. Good opportunity for Briski to test her mental toughness and see how she responds after an error.

MID 3: Alabama 11, South Caroiina 1

Top 3

Ellestad grounds out, and Alabama is held scoreless in the third.

Two-out single for Heivilin gives Alabama its first baserunner of the inning.

END 2: Alabama 11, South Carolina 1

Bottom 2

Groundball back to Briski ends the inning. With as large of a lead as she's working with, Briski just needs to focus on throwing strikes. Alabama would definitely prefer to keep this game in run-rule territory.

Sellers singles through the right side, and South Carolina is on the board. Alabama 11, South Carolina 1

Wild pitch moves the runner to third with two outs. And a four-pitch walk has runners on the corners.

One-out double off the left-field by Winters wall gives South Carolina its first hit and baserunner of the game.

MID 2: Alabama 11, South Carolina 0

Top 2

A groundball back to the mound mercifully ends the half inning. Alabama sends 13 batters to the plate and scores 10 runs in the second inning. Couldn't have asked for a better start to the series for the Crimson Tide.

Giles busts this one even more wide open with a deep shot over the left/center wall with her fifth home run of the season. Alabama 11, South Carolina 0

Marlie Giles sends that one outta here!👋

📺SECN+ | https://t.co/xbgPAFqkDg #Team29 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/cusu8Gppiw
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) May 1, 2025

South Carolina will make another pitching change after the Duchscherer single. Gress exits after throwing 37 pitches and retiring just one batter. Kadie Becker enters the circle for the Gamecocks.

Duchscherer bloops one right over the shortstop's head, and Alabama scores two more runs. Alabama 8, South Carolina 0

Hawkins gets her second hit of the inning, and Alabama has the bases loaded with two outs.

Pupillo draws a two-out walk, and Alabama has officially batted around this inning.

The hits keep coming. Heivilin waits on the changeup and singles through the right side to make it 6-0 Alabama. Still just one out in the inning

It's a doubles party for the Alabama offense. Johnson becomes the third straight batter to hit a double, which scores another run to extend the lead. Alabama 5, South Carolina 0

Vandagriff provides a big blow with a double off the centerfield wall to drive in two runs. Alabama 4, South Carolina 0

Vandagriff doubles the Tide's lead in the 2nd!

📺SECN+ | https://t.co/xbgPAFqkDg #Team29 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/ssXe35Hsor
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) May 1, 2025

South Carolina will make a pitching change in the middle of Vandagriff's at-bat. Heard exits after throwing 38 pitches, and Sam Gress (11-8, 2.66 ERA) enters the circle for the Gamecocks with a 1-2 count on Vandagriff. Nice job by the Alabama offense to get the starter out of the game early.

Preuitt powers one over the outfielders' heads, who were drawn in for the traditional slapper. The one-out double puts runners on second and third for the Crimson Tide.

Giles lines one into left field on the first pitch she sees. The left fielder bobbles the ball, so Hawkins is able to score from second and add to the Alabama lead. Alabama 2, South Carolina 0

Duchscherer lays down a sacrifice bunt to move Hawkins in scoring position with one out.

Hawkins singles through the right side to give Alabama a leadoff runner for the second straight inning

END 1: Alabama 1, South Carolina 0

Bottom 1- South Carolina batting

Briski only needs 10 pitches to get out of the first inning. Three up, three down for the Gamecocks

MID 1: Alabama 1, South Carolina 0

Top 1- Alabama batting

Pupillo flies out, and the half inning is over, but Alabama grabs the early lead.

An excuse-me swing from Ellestad turns into a bunt and leads to a throwing error from Heard. The ball sails over the first baseman's head, allowing Heivilin to score from first. 1-0 Alabama

Heard having a little trouble finding the zone as Heivilin reaches with a two-out walk.

Vandagrriff tries to steal second on the next pitch and gets thrown out by Winters.

Leadoff walk for Vandagriff after working through a 10-pitch at-bat.

As the visiting team, Alabama will be first to the plate with Vandagriff, Johnson and Heivilin due up. Alabama scored in the first inning in the first two games against Mizzou last weekend.

How to Watch: Alabama at South Carolina

Who: No. 14 Alabama (35-18, 11-10 SEC) at No. 12 South Carolina (37-13, 11-10 SEC)

When: Thursday, May 1 – 5 p.m. CT
Friday, May 2 – 5 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 3 – 11 a.m. CT

Where: Carolina Softball Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina

TV: SEC Network+ (Friday, Saturday), SEC Network (Sunday with Roy Philpott and Erin Miller on the call)

Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network on 100.1 FM in Tuscaloosa with Tom Canterbury and Gray Robertson on the call

Series history: Alabama leads overall, 48-21

In Tuscaloosa: 25-6 | In Columbia: 23-11 | At Neutral Sites: 0-4

Alabama statistical leaders:

Batting average: Audrey Vandagriff- .412

RBIs: Brooke Ellestad- 44

Home runs: Kali Heivilin- 13

ERA: Jocelyn Briski/Catelyn Riley- 2.48

Wins: Jocelyn Briski- 14

Strikeouts: Jocelyn Briski- 97

South Carolina statistical leaders:

Batting average: Quincee Lilio- .386

RBIs: Arianna Rodi - 46

Home runs: Arianna Rodi- 14

ERA: Sam Gress- 2.66

Wins: Jori Heard- 15

Strikeouts: Jori Heard- 98