Live Updates: No. 12 Alabama Softball vs. No. 19 Duke in Clearwater Invitational

Score updates, stats and analysis as the Crimson Tide opens play at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational.

Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy and fifth-year catcher Ally Shipman both talked about how a tournament like the Clearwater Invitational will be a challenge, but prepare the team for upcoming play in the SEC and the postseason down the line. 

The Crimson Tide will play five games in four days opening on Thursday. No. 12 Alabama (2-1) opens play against No. 19 Duke (3-2). Alabama will be the designated home team, which means the defense and Montana Fouts will hit the field in the top of the first inning. 

First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. on SEC Network. 

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Live Updates

(latest updates at the top)

FINAL SCORE: Alabama 5, Duke 4

Top 7

• Watson grounds out to shortstop, and Alabama hangs on for the win. 

• The runner reaches third on a wild pitch.

• Davis with a two-out double to put the tying runner into scoring position.

• Fouts' eighth strikeout brings the Blue Devils down to their final out. 

• A sac fly brings in the runner from third. The Alabama lead is down to one run with one out. Alabama 5, Duke 4

• Leadoff double for Duke, and the runner moves to third on a wild pitch. 

Bottom 6

END 6: Alabama 5, Duke 3

• Prange flies out on the first pitch, and the Crimson Tide can't add any insurance runs.

• Cahalan reaches with two outs on an error. 

• Preuitt re-enters to run and gets caught stealing second. One out. 

• Marlee Giles pinch hits for Preuitt to lead off the inning and gets hit by a pitch to give Alabama a leadoff baserunner. 

Top 6

MID 6: Alabama 5, Duke 3

• Back-to-back strikeouts from Fouts end the frame. She's up to seven in the game. 

• Torres with her second home run of the day for the Blue Devils. Alabama 5, Duke 3

Bottom 5

END 5: Alabama 5, Duke 2

• Johnson strikes out and Heivilin pops out, stranding both runners. Alabama hasn't scored since the second inning. 

• Broadfoot reaches on an error to put runners on first and second with one out. 

• Grill gets to second on a wild pitch to give Alabama a runner in scoring position.

• A good sign for Alabama-- Dowling singles through the left side with one out. Kat Grill comes in to pinch run for Dowling. 

Top 5

MID 5: Alabama 5, Duke 2

• One runner reaches via error, but that's all the Blue Devils get going in the fifth.

Bottom 4

END 4: Alabama 5, Duke 2

• Three up, three down for the Crimson Tide in the fourth. 

Top 4

MID 4: Alabama 5, Duke 2

• Fouts limits the damage after the home run. 

• Duke's cleanup hitter, Kelly Torres comes up big with the two-run home run to cut into the Alabama lead. Alabama 5, Duke 2

• Tapia reaches on an infield single with one out.

• Heivilin makes an over-the-shoulder, diving catch for the first out of the inning. 

Bottom 3

END 3: Alabama 5, Duke 0

• Alabama can't take advantage of the leadoff walk, stranding the runner at third. 

• White reaches third base with two outs on a wild pitch.

• Leadoff walk for Broadfoot. Kristen White comes in to pinch run for Broadfoot and steals second. 

Top 3

MID 3: Alabama 5, Duke 0

• Nothing doing after the single. Duke still scoreless.

• A two-out single in shallow center field goes for Duke's first hit and baserunner. 

Bottom 2

END 2: Alabama 5, Duke 0

• Dowling flies out to center to end the inning. Alabama adds two more in the second on the Prange home run. 

• Shipman walks on four pitches and steals second to get into scoring position with two outs. 

• Duke will make a change in the circle after starter Jala Wright gave up five runs in just 1.2 innings. Cassidy Curd (1-0, 1.00 ERA) enters for the Blue Devils. 

• Prange blasts one over the centerfield wall for her second home run of the year. Alabama increases the lead to 5-0

Two-run shot for Ashley Prange! 5-0 Alabama@a_prange

📺SEC Network | https://t.co/Lvj4IRDkBA#Team27 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/zC5CR5imxx

— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) February 16, 2023

• Hensley reaches with one out on an error from the Duke shortstop. Top of the lineup coming up for the Crimson Tide.

Top 2

MID 2: Alabama 3, Duke 0

• Back-to-back strikeouts to open the frame. Gold puts a charge in one out to the warning track in left field, but Johnson catches it to retire the side.

Bottom 1- Alabama batting

END 1: Alabama 3, Duke 0

• The inning ends with a strikeout, but strong start to the game for the Crimson Tide.

• Johnson with a two-out single up the middle to score Shipman. Alabama 3, Duke 0

• A grounder from Dowling moves Shipman to third with one out. 

• Shipman doubles off the base of the left field wall, and Prange comes in to score from first. Crimson Tide up 2-0

• Prange singles up the middle on the first pitch she sees, and just like that, Alabama is up 1-0.

• Leadoff double for Cahalan with a liner just over the right fielder's head. 

Top 1- Duke batting

END 1: Alabama 0, Duke 0

• Three up, three down for Alabama on defense. 

• One batter, one strikeout for Fouts.

• The first pitch from Fouts is fouled away, and this game is underway. 

Alabama starting lineup

1. Kenleigh Cahalan- 2B

2. Ashley Prange- 3B

3. Ally Shipman- C

4. Bailey Dowling- DP

5. Emma Broadfoot- 1B

6. Jenna Johnson- LF

7. Kali Heivilin- SS

8. Larissa Preuitt- RF

9. Faith Hensley- CF

Starting pitcher: Montana Fouts (1-0, 2.33 ERA)

Duke starting lineup:

1. Deja Davis- DP

2. D'auna Jennings- CF

3. Gisele Tapia

4. Kelly Torres- C

5. Aminah Vega- 2B

6. Ana Gold- 3B

7. Claire Davidson- LF

8. Sarah Goddard- RF

9. Jada Baker- SS

Starting pitcher: Jala Wright (2-1, 2.14 ERA)