No. 10 Alabama Softball Defeats UAB and Western Carolina in Day 1 of Green & Gold Classic
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide softball team defeated the UAB Blazers 8-0 and the Western Carolina Catamounts 4-1 in Day 1 of the Green & Gold Classic on Friday night.
In Game 1 against UAB, Team 28 came out hot and tacked on all eight runs in the first inning. The scoring started with a sacrifice fly by Kali Heivilin and was followed up with an RBI single by Emma Broadfoot. Other scoring plays included a 2-RBI single by Riley Valentine, an RBI single by Larissa Preuitt, and a three-run home run by Jenna Johnson.
Kayla Beaver started in the circle for the Crimson Tide, pitching four innings and recorded one hit, four walks, four strikeouts, and was credited the win. Alex Salter came in to close the game, recording one hit and one strikeout.
The bats weren’t as explosive in Game 2 against Western Carolina, but were enough for the Crimson Tide to roll past the Catamounts and keep the team’s undefeated campaign alive.
The base traffic got going in the second inning with a leadoff drawn walk by Larissa Preuitt. After she stole second, Bailey Dowling hit an RBI single to bring Preuitt home. Two at-bats later, Kat Grill drew a walk and after a Kristen White groundout to advance the runners, Lauren Johnson hit a 2-RBI single to give the Crimson Tide its first three runs of the evening.
Sydney Dirks put the Catamounts on the board in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to center field, but that was the only run that Western Carolina could come by.
The Crimson Tide added one more run to the board in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Marlie Giles, bringing in Kenleigh Cahalan from third.
Jaala Torrence started in the circle for the Crimson Tide. Torrence pitched five innings and recorded three hits, one run (earned), and five strikeouts. Alea Johnson came in to complete the game and recorded three strikeouts and one walk.
| Alabama's Starting Lineup | Western Carolina's Starting Lineup: |
|---|---|
CF Kristen White | 2B Lily Bell |
RF Lauren Johnson | LF Savannah Baldwin |
1B Abby Duchscherer | 3B Maya McPherson |
SS Kenleigh Cahalan | SS Sydney Dirks |
2B Kali Heivilin | CF Jeralynn Wells |
DH Larissa Preuitt | C Mattie Mentel |
3B Bailey Dowling | DH KJ Ammons |
C Marlie Giles | RF Tessa Juett |
LF Kat Grill | 1B Kennedy Stewman |
P Jaala Torrence | P Makenzie Martin |
How to Watch: No. 10 Alabama at Green & Gold Classic
Who: No. 10 Alabama (11-0), UAB (4-6), Western Carolina (2-1), North Alabama (7-4), Bradley (1-4)
When:
- Friday, Feb. 23 at UAB – 3:45 p.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 23 vs. Western Carolina – 6 p.m. CT
- Saturday Feb. 24 vs. Bradley – 3:45 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. UNA – 6 p.m. CT
- Sunday, Feb. 25 at UAB – 11 a.m. CT
Where: Mary Bowers Field, Birmingham, Alabama
TV: ESPN+ for UAB games (Friday at 3:45 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m.) No streaming for the other games
Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa. Tom Canterbury and Gray Robertson on the call
Series history:
Overall vs. UAB: 30-0
Overall vs. Western Carolina: 0-0 (First Meeting)
Overall vs. Bradley: 1-0
Overall vs. UNA: 4-0
Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide run-ruled North Alabama, 9-1 in a midweek matchup on Wednesday at Rhoads Stadium. Emma Broadfoot and Abby Duchsherer both hit home runs, and Larissa Preuitt had a 2-RBI hit. Jaala Torrence pitched six innings of two-hit ball for her fourth win of the season in the circle.
Live Updates:
- Alabama wins Game 2 of its doubleheader 4-1 to remain undefeated on the season.
- Marlie Giles hits an RBI single to add to Alabama's lead 4-1. Alea Johnson is coming into the game in relief of Jaala Torrence.
- Western Carolina scores on a sacrifice fly to put its first run on the board in the top of the fourth inning.
- Alabama gets on the board in the second inning with an RBI single by Bailey Dowling and a 2-RBI single by Lauren Johnson to take the 3-0 lead.
- Kali Heivilin hits a hard ball to left field, but it barely stays in the park and is caught to end the first inning.
- Western Carolina's Lily Bell hits a leadoff single and steals second but is stranded there.
- Jaala Torrence is starting in the circle in Game 2 for the Crimson Tide.
Game 1:
- A double play ends Game 1 and the Crimson Tide wins 8-0.
- Alex Salter is coming in to the game in relief of Kayla Beaver for the bottom of the fifth inning.
- Kayla Beaver walks three straight batters to load up the bases, but a strikeout and a double at home and first ends the inning with no damage. The Crimson Tide still leads 8-0.
- Riley Valentine flies out to center field to end the top of the fourth inning. Bailey Dowling was stranded on first after reaching on an error by UAB's third baseman.
- UAB goes down in order to end the third inning.
- The Crimson Tide strands two runners in scoring position in the top of the third inning.
- The game has resumed after a short rain delay.
- The game is currently in a rain delay in the top of the third inning. The Crimson Tide leads 8-0.
- Both Alabama and UAB go down in order in the second inning.
- The first inning ends as UAB's Lauren Brock is thrown out trying to come home. Alabama still leads 8-0.
- Kenleigh Cahalan is called out at home to end the top of the first inning.
- Jenna Johnson continues the hot start with a 3-run home run to extend Alabama's lead 8-0 in the first inning. UAB is making a pitching change with two outs. AJ Kramer is coming in from the bullpen.
- The Crimson Tide gets on the board early in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly by Kali Heivilin, an RBI single by Emma Broadfoot, a 2-RBI single by Riley Valentine, and an RBI single by Larissa Preuitt. Alabama leads 5-0.
- Kayla Beaver is starting in the circle for the Crimson Tide. The Central Arkansas transfer is 3-0 on the season so far with a 0.29 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
