NCAA Softball Live Updates from No. 1 Alabama vs. Belmont

Score updates and analysis from Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide and Bruins meet in a winners' bracket game in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama prior to the NCAA tournament game between No. 1 Alabama and Belmont | BamaCentra

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— No. 1 Alabama and Belmont both won their opening games of the NCAA tournament to set up one of the best pitching matchups in the country for Saturday's winner's bracket game.

The Crimson Tide (50-7) and Bruins (41-11) meet at Rhoads Stadium with a spot in the regional finals on the line. The game will be streaming only on ESPN+, but Ba,aCentral will be providing updates throughout. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT

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Live updates

(latest updates at the top)

FINAL: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 7- Belmont batting

• A flyball to left field ends the game and preserves the shutout. Alabama advances to the regional final. Belmont moves to the losers' bracket.

• A groundout on the first pitch brings Belmont down to its final out.

• Briski makes a throwing error on a ball hit back to her in the circle, and Belmont has two in scoring position with one out.

• A fly ball to right field goes for the first out.

• Leadoff walk for the Bruins, their first walk of the game.

MID 7: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 7- Alabama batting

• Pupillo pops up in foul territory, and Alabama cannot add on to its lead.

• Wells draws a two-out walk to put two on with two outs for Pupillo. Kinley Pate will come in to pinch run for Wells.

• Young flies out to shallow right. Two outs.

• White bloops a double into shallow centerfield for just the fifth hit of the day for the Tide.

• Hubbard fouls off a couple of pitches before striking out looking.

• Mari Hubbard will pinch hit for Hawkins to open the seventh.

END 6: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 6- Belmont batting

• The perfect game is broken up in the sixth, but Briski still keeps the Bruins off the board.

• The next batter flies out to left to strand the runner.

• Eichholz steals second to put a runner into scoring position with two outs.

• Belmont puts in a pinchhitter, and she flies out to right on the first pitch she sees. That's the sixth first-pitch out by the Bruins this game.

• Tallulah Eichholz singles up the middle for Belmont's first hit and baserunner of the game.

• Young makes a diving stop at second base to rob Belmont of its first hit of the game.

MID 6: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 6- Alabama batting

• Alabama goes down in order in the sixth inning. After the Tide scored three runs in the first inning, this has really been the pitchers duel we all expected it to be.

• 5-6-7 due up for the Tide.

END 5: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 5- Belmont batting

• Briski continues to be incredibly efficient. She needs just nine pitches to retire Belmont in order in the fifth inning with seven strikeouts now in the game.

• Larissa Preuitt enters for a defensive change for Alabama in right field to start the inning.

MID 5: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 5- Alabama batting

Alabama can't do anything with the leadoff double. The next three batters go down in order.

• Young doubles out to the wall on the first pitch of the inning.

• Top of the lineup due up for Alabama, looking for its first run since the first inning.

END 4: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 4- Belmont batting

• Another 1-2-3 inning at the plate for Belmont. Briski has only thrown 37 pitches through four innings. For comparison, Johnson threw 32 in the first inning for Belmont and has thrown 69 overall.

• Top of the lineup due up for the Bruins

MID 4: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 4- Alabama batting

• Hawkins and White both pop out to strand the runners in scoring position.

• Johnson calls timeout to talk with her defense after Alabama has two runners in scoring position with one out.

• Taylor hits a ball deep in the hole at shortstop. The first baseman can't haul in the throw, and Taylor is safe at first. Vandagriff advances to third on the play, and then Taylor is fortunate to advance to second with the Belmont defensive occupied with Vandagriff.

• Vandagriff reaches on a bunt single with one out for Alabama's first baserunner since the first inning.

• 5-6-7 due up for Alabama

END 3: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 3- Belmont batting

• Briski once again retires the Bruins in order: three up, three down.

MID 3: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 3- Alabama batting

• Three straight popups for Alabama in the third inning.

• Wells, Pupillo and Roman due up for the Tide.

END 2: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 2- Belmont batting

• The Bruins are once again retired in order. Briski only had to throw eight pitches in the second.

• Dole flies out to right on the first pitch she sees.

• Heart of the order due up for the Bruins.

MID 2: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 2- Alabama batting

• Johnson retires the Tide in order in the second.

• 8-9-1 due up for the Tide

END 1: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Bottom 1- Belmont batting

• Easy 1-2-3 inning for Alabama in the field, led by two strikeouts from Briski.

MiD 1: Alabama 3, Belmont 0

Top 1- Alabama batting

• Taylor strikes out swinging to end the frame, but Alabama scores three huge runs in the top of the first inning. The Tide couldn't have asked for a much better start as the designated visiting team to be able to strike first. Jocelyn Briski has only given up more than three runs just two times all season.

• Audrey Vandagriff hits a ground ball to first. She is retired, but the runner at third comes in to score. Alabama 3, Belmont 0

• Alabama strikes first as Giles single through a gap on the right side to score two runs. Alabama 2, Belmont 0

• Roman draws a walk, and the bases are loaded for the senior captain Marlie Giles.

• Pupillo steals second on defensive indifference, and Alabama now has two in scoring position with Roman facing a 3-0 count.

• Pupillo singles up the middle, and Alabama has runners on the corners with one out.

• Wells strikes out swinging on a 3-2 count for the first out of the inning.

• Alabama gets a leadoff baserunner as Young is hit by a pitch.

• The first pitch from Johnson is a strike, and this game is underway.

• Jena Young, Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo will get things started for Alabama at the plate.

Starting lineups

Alabama vs. Belmont starting lineups- May 16, 2026 | Statbroadcast

Pregame

• The Rhoads House is packed and rocking on this Saturday!

• Today's umpires: Brett Higgins (home plate), Chelsea Clark (first base), Robert Guest (second base), Shane Jackson (third base)

• Alabama is going with the same starting nine it has utilized since the start of the SEC tournament.

• As expected, it will be Maya Johnson (28-2, 0.64 ERA) vs. Jocelyn Briski (21-3, 1.45 ERA) in the circle.

• Even though Alabama is the host team and higher seed, the Crimson Tide will be the designated visiting team today and will bat first. Alabama is staying in its regular dugout though.

• It is another beautiful day for softball in Tuscaloosa with sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 80s. It is slightly warmer than yesterday.

• Alabama is wearing its all crimson uniform today.

• Belmont beat Southeastern Louisiana 2-0 with Maya Johnson pitching a complete game for the Bruins. The offense did just enough, scoring a run in the first and sixth innings.

• Alabama beat USC Upstate 8-0 in five innings on Friday. Both Marlie Giles and Audrey Vandagriff homered for the Crimson Tide, and freshman Kaitlyn Pallozzi pitched the complete game.

Series history vs. Belmont:Alabama leads, 4-0
In Tuscaloosa: 0-0 | In Nashville: 0-0 | At Neutral Sites: 4-0
Last meeting: April 23, 2019 - Cullman, Ala. - W, 6-4

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