Timely Hitting, Perfect Relief Effort Guide No. 15 Alabama Softball in 4-3 Victory Over UAB
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On a beautiful evening at Rhoads Stadium, Alabama Softball secured a big in-state victory, defeating UAB 4-3 on Wednesday.
UAB's Olivia Valbak kicked off the scoring in the second inning, driving in the game's first run after a throwing error by Alabama starter Jaala Torrence. On the play, Alyssa Aguilar would reach and later score on a single from Hannah Miles to right field, putting the Blazers in front 2-0.
Alabama answered back in the bottom of the third inning, with Jenna Johnson's powerful solo home run igniting things for the Crimson Tide. Moments later, after a Kali Heivilin hit-by-pitch and Abby Duchscherer walk, Patrick Murphy’s squad found themselves back in the driver's seat after Kenleigh Cahalan’s two-RBI single, giving Alabama their first lead of the game at 3-2.
"That's the first home run she's hit opposite field since I've been here," Murphy said of Johnson's blast. "Five years. And that was one of our goals - to hit an oppo bomb, and against a really tough pitcher who throws nothing but drop balls. You gotta let the ball travel, and then square it up. It was a great swing."
However, UAB maintained their composure, delivering a resilient performance that saw them tie the game in the fifth inning at 3-3 thanks to key hits from Auburn Dupree and Miles.
After the RBI-single from Miles, Torrence exited the game, finishing the night tossing four innings of five-hit, three-run (one earned run), two-strikeout ball in the circle.
In the bottom of the sixth, it was Johnson who delivered the dagger – ripping a single into center that scored Kristen White, giving the Crimson Tide a 4-3 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, the Blazers couldn’t touch Crimson Tide freshman Jocelyn Briski, who posted three innings of perfect relief work – striking out five UAB batters to close the game out for Alabama.
"Well she pitched last night, you know it was probably going to be a committee tonight, but she just kept rolling," Murphy said. "So we just stuck with her. And you know, last night, I don't know if she thought she had her best game, but much better tonight. Control was really good. She hit her spots. Ball was moving. She's tough to hit when she does that."
After the victory, the Crimson Tide, now standing at 24-5 on the season, will shift their focus to a home matchup against No. 16 Virginia Tech on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.
"Kudos to them for coming down," Murphy said of the Hokies. "Because this is their bye weekend and obviously ours too in the SEC, and they've been a really, really good program under Pete [D'Armour]. I'm going to tell them when I see them that I'm going to go up there sometime in the next few years. I owe him a trip. Very good, well coached, couple of really good pitchers, it's going to be like an SEC weekend."
How it Happened...
FINAL: No. 15 Alabama 4, UAB 3.
Final Stats courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
Top Seventh - UAB Batting:
- Tucker strikes out looking. Alabama wins.
- Collett fouls out to first. One out now for Tucker.
- Jocelyn Briski will be looking to close things out for Alabama here in the seventh.
Bottom Sixth - Alabama Batting:
- Duchscherer grounds out to third. Inning concludes, but the Crimson Tide get the lead back.
- Heivilin reaches on a fielder's choice. After a review, Lauren Johnson is out at home for the second out of the inning.
- Jenna Johnson delivers once more. She rips a single to center that's just over the head of the second baseman. Kristen White scores. Lauren Johnson advances to third. Alabama 4, UAB 3.
- Lauren Johnson walks. Two on with one out for Jenna Johnson
- White advances to second on a wild pitch.
- Broadfoot singles to short. Kristen White will pinch run.
- Clark grounds out to third to start the inning.
Top Sixth - UAB Batting:
- Crowe strikes out swinging. Great frame by Briski who looked sharp.
- Valbak strikes out swinging. Two down for Crowe, who pinch hits for Aguilar.
- Smith strikes out swinging to start things for the Blazers.
Bottom Fifth - Alabama Batting:
- Dowling grounds out to third to end the inning.
- Cahalan grounds out to first. Both runners advance.
- Giles walks. Duchscherer advances.
- Duchscherer reaches on a fielder's choice. Heivilin out at second.
- Heivilin singles to start the inning for the Crimson Tide.
Top Fifth - UAB Batting:
- Dorsett grounds out to short. Inning concludes.
- Wiggins grounds out to short.
- Dupree caught stealing.
- Jocelyn Briski in to pitch for Jaala Torrence.
- Dupree singles up the middle. Miles scores after advancing on a wild pitch earlier. Alabama 3, UAB 3.
- Miles singles through the right side to start the inning for the Blazers.
- Taco just won the Taco vs. Hot Sauce race. That's five straight for Taco, for anyone keeping track.
Bottom Fourth - Alabama Batting:
- Jenna Johnson flies out to center. Inning concludes.
- Johnson grounds out to short. Two down for Jenna Johnson.
- Broadfoot lines out to short. One out for Lauren Johnson.
Top Fourth - UAB Batting:
- Droddy flies out to right field. Inning concludes.
- Collett pops out to second base. Two down for Droddy.
- Aguilar grounds out to third. One out.
Bottom Third - Alabama Batting:
- Clark grounds out to second. Inning concludes, but not before Alabama takes their first lead of the game.
- Dowling singles. Cahalan advances.
- Cahalan singles up the middle. Heivilin Socres. Pate scores. Crimson Tide is back in front. Alabama 3, UAB 2.
- Giles strikes out swinging, but Pate advances to second.
- Duchscherer walks. Pate will pinch run.
- Heivilin advances to third once more on a wild pitch. Rhoads is getting rowdy.
- Heivilin HBP and advances to second on a wild pitch.
- Jenna Johnson homers to right field. Solo shot cuts the lead to one. UAB 2, Alabama 1.
- Lauren Johnson singles, but is immediately caught stealing. One out for Jenna Johnson.
Top Third - UAB Batting:
- Valbak flies out to right. Inning concludes.
- Smith flies out to third. Two down for Valbak.
- Dorsett grounds out to third. One out now for Smith.
Bottom Second - Alabama Batting:
- Broadfoot grounds out to third. Inning concludes.
- Clark follows suit and grounds out to short as well. Two down Broadfoot.
- Dowling grounds out to short. One out.
Top Second - UAB Batting:
- Wiggins grounds out. Inning concludes.
- Dupree singles to Torrence on a bunt. Miles advances to second.
- Miles singles to right field. Aguilar scores. UAB 2, No. 15 Alabama 0.
- Droddy strikes out swinging. Two down with one on for Miles.
- Collett out at first on the sacrifice. Aguilar advances to third.
- Aguilar reached on a throwing error by Torrence. SAC, and advanced to second on the throw. Valbak scores. UAB strikes first. UAB 1, No. 15 Alabama 0.
- Valbak singles to get things started for UAB here in the second.
Bottom First - Alabama Batting:
- Cahalan flies out to center. Plugge gets out of the jam. Inning concludes.
- Giles strikes out swinging. Two on with two outs now for Kenleigh Cahalan.
- Duchscherer walks. Two on with one out for Marlie Giles coming.
- Kali Heivilin doubles to right field. One on with one out for Abby Duchscherer.
- Jenna Johnson grounds out to short to start things out for Alabama.
Top First - UAB Batting:
- Smith strikes out swinging. Inning concludes. Clean first inning for Torrence.
- Dorsett flies out to left. Two down for Smith.
- Wiggins grounds out to first base. One down for Dorsett.
- First pitch from Torrence misses, and we're underway at Rhoads Stadium.
Pregame:
- Starters for No. 15 Alabama vs. UAB:
Lineup courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
- First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.
How to Watch:
- TV: SECN+
- Radio: 97.5 FM
- Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Rhoads Stadium.
Last time out, Alabama:
- Alabama improved to 27-2 all-time vs. Samford, including a 20-0 in Tuscaloosa
- The Crimson Tide is 20-2 this season when scoring first
- The game is the fourth this season in which Alabama has scored 10+ runs
- The three runs scored was a new season high for Kendal Clark, while the two hits and two RBIs tie her previous season best
- The multi-hit game was Bailey Dowlings fourth of the season, two of which have come in the last five games
- Riley Valentine now has four multi-RBI games this season, tied for second on the team
- With a double last night, each of Kenleigh Cahalan's last four hits have gone for extra bases with three doubles and a home run
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