Live Updates: No. 2 Alabama Softball vs Evansville, Virginia Tech in Easton Bama Bash

The Crimson Tide opens the home schedule at Rhoads Stadium with two games Friday afternoon.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It may not feel like softball weather inside Rhoads Stadium, but that doesn't lower the excitement for the home crowd to get its first look at Team 26. 

Alabama softball opens its weekend of five games at the Easton Bama Bash with a doubleheader on Friday afternoon against Evansville at 1:30 and No. 8 Virginia Tech approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

BamaCentral will be providing coverage all weekend long. Stay tuned here for live updates throughout Friday's matchups.

(Latest updates at the top.)

Game 2 vs No. 8 Virginia Tech- Alabama wins 1-0

Top 7

FINAL: No. 2 Alabama 1, No. 8 Virginia Tech 0

• Another three up, three down inning for Fouts, and Alabama will win 1-0.

Bottom 6

• Three up, three down for the Crimson Tide as Rochard has really started to find her groove.

• Alabama heads to the bottom of the sixth hoping to add a little insurance for Fouts. Ally Shipman will be leading things off. 

Top 6

MID 6: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• Fouts picks up her ninth and tenth strikeouts of the game, and a groundout ends any threat for Virginia Tech. 

• Cameron Fagan sends a one-out chopper up the middle for the third Hokies hit of the day. 

Bottom 5

END 5: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• Rochard strikes out the side in the bottom of the 5th. First inning without a baserunner for the Crimson Tide. 

Top 5

MID 5: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• A popout and two more swinging strikeouts end the inning for Virginia Tech. 

• Bailey Dowling makes a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield, but Kelsey Bennet begins the fifth with a single for the Hokies. 

Bottom 4

END 4: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• Prange is left stranded at first after two strikeouts and a flyout. 

• Ashley Prange leads off with a single through the left side. It's just the second hit of the day for Alabama. 

Top 4

MID 4: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• A lineout to right ends the half inning for Virginia Tech. 

• Another Hokie falls victim to the rise for Fouts' sixth strikeout. 

• Montana gets another girl swinging on the rise. Five strikeouts for Fouts. 

Bottom 3

END 3: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• Dowling strikes out looking to strand the runners in scoring position. Alabama can't tack on to its lead. 

• Both runners move up 60 feet on a ball in the dirt. 

• Shipman also reaches on a walk. That's Rochard's fourth walk of the day. Two on with two outs for Dowling. 

• Kaylee Tow draws a two-out walk. Alabama has had at least one baserunner in each inning so far. 

Top 3

MID 3: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• A lineout two pitches later ends the inning for Virginia Tech. 

• An infield chopper to shortstop gives the Hokies their first base runner of the day with two outs. 

Bottom 2

END 2: Alabama 1, Virginia Tech 0

• Two pop outs ends the inning for Alabama.

• Doerr singles out to left field, and Bailey Dowling scores from second to put the first run of the game on the board. Alabama leads 1-0

Abby Doerr puts the Tide on the board‼️

📺: https://t.co/9UNzWOjd2u#Team26 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/VqGyPpgaQp

— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) February 18, 2022

• Ashley Prange reaches on an error, and the Tide has two on with one out for the DP Abby Doerr. 

• For the second straight inning, Alabama gets a leadoff walk, this time from Shipman. We'll see if they can take advantage this time. 

Top 2

MID 2: Alabama 0, Virginia Tech 0

• Fouts strikes out the side in the top of the 2nd with all three batters going down swinging.

Bottom 1

END 1: Alabama 0, Virginia Tech 0

• Tow flies out to the edge of the warning track in center, and there's nothing doing for the Crimson Tide in the 1st. 

• Johnson is thrown out trying to steal second, and Goodnight strikes out swinging.

• Jenna Johnson walks on four straight pitches to lead off the game for Alabama. 

Top 1

MID 1: Alabama 0, Virginia Tech 0

• Another solid play from Dowling at shortstop and Fout's first strikeout of the day end the inning for the Hokies.

• A nice play by Dowling at short to get the first out of the game. 

• It's "Boot Scootin' Boogie" time at Rhoads Stadium as Montana Fouts gets her first home start of the year. 

Starting lineup:

• The pitching duel is set between two of the best pitchers in the country: Alabama's Montana Fouts and Virginia Tech's Keely Rochard.

Game 1 vs Evansville- Alabama wins 10-2

Bottom 6

FINAL: No. 2 Alabama 10, Evansville 2

And the pitcher walks three straight to bring in the winning run. FreshmanKali Heivilin was at the plate for the walk-off walk. 10-2 Alabama

• After Dowling reaches on an error, Evansville make a pitching change. The new pitcher walks the first two batters she faces to load the bases.

Top 6

MID 6: Alabama 9, Evansville 2

• A groundout ends in the inning for the Aces. 

• Torrence gets her 10th strikeout of the game for the second out of the inning. 

Bottom 5

END 5: Alabama 9, Evansville 2

• A sac fly to left off the bat of Tow brings in one. Alabama lead is up to 9-2

• The Tide's speed pays off again as the next two runners reach base with balls on the infield. Bases loaded for Tow with one out. If Alabama can score two runs, the game will end via run rule. 

• Woodard reaches bases with her second bunt single of the day. 

Top 5

MID 5: Alabama 8, Evansville 2

• A groundout to second gets Torrence out of the jam. 

• A fielder's choice gets the second out, but a walk from Torrence loads the bases.

• A hard hit ball up the middle by Sydney Weatherford is stopped by Bloodworth, but she can't quite make the play in time, and the runner from second comes around to score to make it 8-2. 

• A one-out single and walk puts two on base for the Aces. Shipman goes out to talk to Torrence in the circle. 

Bottom 4

END 4: Alabama 8, Evansville 1

• A flyout to right from Prange ends the inning for the Crimson Tide. 

• Doerr hits one hard to the second basemen to drive in Alabama's eighth run. Alabama up 8-1

• Dowling follows Shipman's hard-hit ball with one of her own that bounces off the right field wall. She dives into third with a two-out triple.

• Ally Shipman absolutely CRUSHES a ball over the centerfield wall to push the Alabama lead to 7-1 with two outs. 

🚀🚀🚀
📺: https://t.co/wKP27MCKwW#Team26 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/M2ewio3doO

— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) February 18, 2022

• A sac bunt from Goodnight moves the runners to second and third, and a sac fly from Tow scores Woodard. Alabama leads 5-1. 

• Infield hits from Woodard and Johnson start off the inning for the Crimson Tide. 

Top 4

MID 4: Alabama 4, Evansville 1

• Torrence forces the Aces' hitters to go three up, three down in the top of the fourth. 

Bottom 3

END 3: Alabama 4, Evansville 1

• It's a quick three up, three down inning for the Crimson Tide.

Top 3

MID 3: Alabama 4, Evansville 1

• The Aces get a one-out single, but that's all as we head to the bottom of the inning. 

Bottom 2

END 2: Alabama 4, Evansville 1

• A Dowling groundout ends the inning, but the Crimson Tide gets the run back that it gave up in the top of the inning.

• Ally Shipman comes in to pinch hit for Barnhart and rips one to third baseman to drive in a run. Alabama lead is up to 4-1. 

• Goodnight showcases her speed with a one-out bunt single. She steals second easily and advances to third on an error.

Top 2

MID 2: Alabama 3, Evansville 1

• A popout to short ends the inning. 

• Alexa Davis singles through the right side, and Hink comes around to score. The Aces get a run back. Alabama still leads 3-1

• A one-out single from Jenna Nink and a stolen base gives Evansville its first runner in scoring position of the game. 

Bottom 1

END 1: Alabama 3, Evansville 0

• A Woodard strikeout ends the inning. Evansville pitcher Izzy Vetter gets three strikeouts in the inning and doesn't give up a hit, but the six free passes allow three Crimson Tide runs to score.

• Bloodworth is hit by a pitch for the sixth free pass of the inning for the Crimson Tide. It also brings in a run, and the Alabama lead is up to 3-0.

• Doerr goes down swinging for the second out, and Ashley Prange draws a walk to bring in the second run. 2-0 Alabama.

• Barnhart strikes out, and a walk to Bailey Dowling brings in the first run of the game with Alabama yet to collect a hit. 1-0 Alabama. 

• Tow is also hit by a pitch to load the bases for the freshman Aubrey Barnhart.

• A walk and hit by pitch to Jenna Johnson and Dallis Goodnight put two one with no outs for Kaylee Tow. 

Top 1

MID 1: Alabama 0, Evansville 0

• Torrence gives up a leadoff single, and then strikes out the next three batters she faced.

• Jaala Torrence gets the start in the circle, and freshman Aubrey Barnhart gets her first career start at catcher.

Alabama Starting Lineup- Game 1

Alabama Athletics

1. Jenna Johnson- LF

Alabama Athletics

2. Dallis Goodnight- CF

Alabama Athletics

3. Kaylee Tow- 1B

Alabama Athletics

4. Aubrey Barnhart-C

Alabama Athletics

5. Bailey Dowling- SS

Alabama Athletics

6. Abby Doerr- DP

Alabama Athletics

7. Ashley Prange- 3B

Alabama Athletics

8. Megan Bloodworth- 2B

Alabama Athletics

9. Savannah Woodard

Alabama Athletics

Starting Pitcher - Jaala Torrence