Live Blog: No. 15 Alabama Softball vs. Virginia Tech NCAA in Tuscaloosa Regional

Score updates and analysis from Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide takes on the Hokies with a spot in the regional final on the line.

Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama before the NCAA tournament matchup between No. 15 Alabama and Virginia Tech | BamaCentral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— BamaCentral is back at Rhoads Stadium for postseason softball, this time with a spot in the regional final on the line.

No. 15 Alabama will play Virginia Tech after both teams won their opening-round matchup in the Tuscaloosa Region on Friday.

Emily Winstead and Alea Johnson combined for the five-inning shutout on Friday, meaning Alabama has both Jocelyn Briski and Catelyn Riley fulled rested. Virginia Tech ace Emma Lemley threw six innings and 95 pitches against Belmont.

First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. The game is streaming only on ESPN+, but BamaCentral will be providing updates throughout.

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Starting lineups:

Virginia Tech vs. Alabama starting lineups | Statbroadcast

Live Blog

(latest updates at the top)

FINAL: Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 3

Fantastic bounceback from Jocelyn Briski after giving up two runs int he first inning. Also big that she was able to pitch a complete game so that Riley can stay fully rested heading into championship Sunday.

In-game updates

Top 7

Flyout on the first pitch ends the game. Alabama advances to the regional championship game, and VT moves to the loser's bracket.

With first base open, Alabama is intentionally walking Peck, who has 14 HRs and 53 RBIs this season. Now two on with two out.

Groundball to the right side moves the runner to second but brings Virginia Tech down to its final out.

Next batter also swings at the first pitch and hits a grounder. Alabama is able to get the lead runner. One out.

Leadoff single on the first pitch.

2-3-4 due up for the Hokies, needing at least one run to extend the game

END 6: Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 3

Bottom 6

Diving catch in right field ends the inning. Alabama can't add to its lead.

Preuitt steals second to move into scoring position.

Virginia Tech will make a pitching change. Mazzarone exits after 6.2 innings of work, and Emma Lemley will enter to face Vandagriff.

Preuitt draws a two-out walk to bring up the top of the order.

After review, it is ruled a foul ball, and Hubbard will go back to the plate with a 0-1 count. She ends up grounding out.

Patrick Murphy hasn't seemed to pleased with this umpiring crew today.

Alabama has another leadoff baserunner as Hubbard gets hit by a pitch. There is now an "umpires-initiated challenge" on the play as VT has already used its two challenges.

MID 6: Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 3

Top 6

For just the second time this game, the Virginia Tech offense goes three up, three down. More importantly, the final out of the inning was McMillan.

END 5: Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 3

Bottom 5

Alabama can't do anything with the leadoff walk. Heivilin stands at third to end the frame.

Groundball to the right side send Heivilin to third with two outs.

Heivilin moves to second on a wild pitch with one out.

Heivilin draws a leadoff walk. Would be nice for Alabama to add some insurance runs. Holding on to late leads hasn't exactly been this team's strength.

MID 5: Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 3

Top 5

Flyout ends the inning. VT gets one back in the fifth.

Two-out walk extends the inning for the Hokies.

Aldridge hits a laser beam over the wall in right/center to cut into the Alabama lead. That one got out of here in a hurry. Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 3

END 4: Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 2

Bottom 4

After review, Johnson is out. Inning over.

Johnson strikes out swinging, but it's another dropped third strike, and Johnson reaches first. VT is challenging the play.

Vandagriff singles to left, and Pate scores from second with two outs to extend the lead. Alabama 4, Virginia Tech 2

VT takes a timeout in the circle after Mazzarone falls behind 2-0 in the count to Vandagriff.

Preuitt hits one hard right at the shortstop, who can't hang onto it, and Preuitt beats out the throw. Two on, two out for the top of the lineup.

Duchscherer draws a two-out walk. Kinley Pate comes in to pinch run.

MID 4: Alabama 3, Virginia Tech 2

Top 4

Briski's third strikeout of the game strands the runners on the corners. Great response from Briski and the Alabama defense after the leadoff double.

Two-out single by McMillan puts runners on the corners.

The Hokies put in a pinch runner at second, and she gets thrown out at third on a bunt for the first out of the inning.

Abromavage cracks a double to right on the first pitch of the fourth inning.

END 3: Alabama 3, Virginia Tech 2

Bottom 3

Groundout and strikeout end the frame, but Alabama takes the lead in the third.

Virginia Tech has two pitchers up working in the bullpen. Lemley has been in there for a while.

Heivilin crushes one to deep center for her 14th home run of the year to give the Tide its first lead of the game. Alabama 3, Virginia Tech 2

Kali Heivilin gives Alabama the lead in the 3rd!💣

📺ESPN+ | https://t.co/JkpcIR21Bu#Team29 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/2QPBQXYBkC

— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) May 17, 2025

Johnson makes solid contact, but hits it right to the second baseman. One out

After review, the call is upheld. That was steal No. 50 and 51 for Vandagriff this season

Vandagriff steals second on the next pitch, and then goes ahead and steals third as the ball sails into centerfield. Virginia Tech is challenging whether or not she left first base early.

Leadoff walk for Vandagriff.

MID 3: Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 1

Top 3

Three up, three down inning for the Alabama defense.

For the first time this game, Briski retires the first batter of an inning. Strikeout goes for the first out.

END 2: Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 1

Bottom 2

Preuitt grounds out to end the frame. But Alabama gets on the board in the second inning (in quite the unconventional way.)

Duchscherer strikes out swinging at a ball in the dirt. She gets thrown out at first, but Ellestad comes all the way around from second to score. Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 1

Baserunning mistake by Ellestad at second. Hubbard flies out deep to right field. It looked like for a second the ball might've snuck over McMillan's head, but she caught it. Ellestad was too far down the line trying to score, so she was unable to tag and mvoe to third with one out.

Wild pitch allows Ellestad to move into scoring position with nobody out.

Ellestad singles up the middle to get that first hit.

Ellestad, Hubbard and Duchscherer due up for Alabama, looking for the team's first hit.

MID 2: Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 0

Top 2

Popup and groundout end the inning and strand the runners. Nice response from Briski.

Alabama will intentionally walk McMillan with an empty base at first. Two on, one out

Sac bunt moves the runner into scoring position with one out for the top of the lineup.

Error by Hawkins allows the leadoff runner to reach for Virginia Tech.

END 1: Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 0

Bottom 1- Alabama batting

Hawkins flies out to right field, and Alabama strands the runners.

Giles hits one deep in the hole to the shortstop, who makes a good throw across the field, but the first baseman can't hold on to the ball. Heivilin scoots around to third. Runners on first and third with two outs.

Heivilin draws a two-out walk as Alabama's first baserunner.

It would be big for Alabama to get at least one run back here

MID 1: Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 0

Top 1- Virginia Tech batting

After review, the call is changed. The runner is out at the plate for the final out of the inning, and a run will come off the board. Virginia Tech 2, Alabama 0

Legette singles to left field and two runs scores. Virginia Tech 3, Alabama 0. Close play at the plate with the second runner. She is called safe. Alabama is challenging the call

Groundball to Duchscherer at first, and she gets the lead runner at the plate. Bases still loaded, but now two outs.

Bloop single in no man's land between 2B and right field scores the first run of the game. Virginia Tech 1, Alabama 0

Infield single loads the bases with one out.

After the circle visit, Briski bounces back with three straight strikes to strike out Yaeger. One out.

Lance McMahon will take a circle visit after Briski falls behind the next batter, 2-0

Make that back-to-back walks to start off the game. Not a good sign for Briski at all.

McMillan draws a leadoff walk.

Pregame

Player to watch today: Alabama first baseman Abby Duchscherer was 5 for 6 against Virginia Tech in the regular season

It will be Emma Mazzarone (11-2, 3.30 ERA) for Virginia Tech against Jocelyn Briski (16-12, 2.78 ERA) in the circle.

Looks like Alabama will be wearing its pinstripe uniform today.

It rained a lot in Tuscaloosa this morning, so the field is pretty wet, but it is not supposed to rain for the rest of the day here (fingers crossed.) The rain has actually cooled down the weather from yesterday and suprisingly, the humidity isn't too bad.

Another reminder that Alabama and Virginia Tech played back in February at Rhoads, splitting the two games. Virgina Tech won the first game, 2-1, behind a complete-game gem from Emma Lemley. Then, in the rematch, the Tide run ruled the Hokies, 9-1 in five innings.

Today's umpires: Susan Eads (home plate), Joe Havenhill (1B), Don Brown (2B) and Gil Zayas (3B)