Live Updates: No. 3 Alabama Softball Looks to Lock Up Series Against No. 8 Kentucky

After rallying for a 4-2 win on Friday, the Crimson Tide will look to carry its success over to Saturday.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After gaining back some much-needed momentum Friday night, No. 3 Alabama softball will look to secure its first SEC series win of the season against No. 8 Kentucky.

The Crimson Tide rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Wildcats on Friday as Ally Shipman knocked in three runs and Montana Fouts struck out 10 batters in a complete-game effort. Alabama (23-3, 2-2 in the SEC) can now clinch the weekend series with another win Saturday as it squares off against Kentucky (19-4, 0-1) at 2 p.m. CT inside Rhoads Stadium. The two teams will conclude the series Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Alabama will send Lexi Kilfoyl (3-2) to the circle for Saturday’s game. The junior has is coming off of back-to-back defeats to LSU and Florida State but sports a respectable 1.53 earned run average over 32 innings pitched. Kentucky is starting with junior Miranda Stoddard (5-1), who has a 2.58 earned run average over 38 innings pitched.

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

(Latest updates at the top)

Top 7 

• Kilfoyl works her way around a walk to retire the Wildcats in the seventh. Alabama wins 3-2. 

Bottom 6 

• Kat Grill reaches on a two-out hit by pitch but is caught stealing. Alabama will head to the seventh with a 3-2 lead. 

Top 6

• Miranda Stoddard rips a one-out double past Ahsley Prange at third. That's followed by a bloop single from Taylor Ebbs, and the Wildcats have runners on the corners.
• Emmy Blane brings in a run with an RBI ground out to third to cut Alabama's lead to 3-2. 
• Kilfoyl strikes out Erica Thulen to get out of the jam with the lead. 

Bottom 5

• Bama begins the inning with back-to-back singles from Bailey Dowling and Abby Doerr before Dallis Goodnight reaches on an error. The Crimson Tide has the bases loaded with no outs for Jenna Johnson. 
• Johnson lifts a sacrifice fly to left field to give Alabama another run. The Crimson Tide leads 3-1.
• Ashley Prange lines out to left field before Ally Shipman ends the inning with a ground out to shortstop. Alabama heads into the sixth up 3-1. 

Top 5

• Tatum Spangler leads off the inning with a single.

• Dallis Goodnight makes a spectacular diving catch in center for the first out.
• Lauren Johnson grounds into a force out at second. The play was reviewed as Spangler nearly beat out the throw, but the call stands. 
• Alabama second baseman Jenna Lord makes a nice diving play to record a force out at second and end the inning. It's still 2-1, Alabama.

Bottom 4 

• Alabama goes down in order as Kentucky second baseman snares a line drive from Savannah Woodward to end the inning. Alabama hasn't reached base on its last 10 trips to the plate. 

Top 4 

• Erin Coffel reached on an error by shortstop Bailey Dowling before Miranda Stoddard laid down a bunt single to put runners on first and second with no outs. 

• Kilfoyl strikes out Taylor Ebbs looking. 
• Kilfoyl strikes out pinch-hitter Renee Abernathy looking, two outs.
• Killfoyl strikes out Alexia Lacatena swinging to get out of the jam. It's still 2-1, Alabama. 

 Bottom 3 

• Alabama goes down in order in the bottom of the third. It's still 2-1, Alabama.

Top 3 

• Kentucky puts runners on first and second with one out after singles from Jaci Babbs and Kayla Kowalik.
• Kilfoyl gets Lauren Johnson to pop out, two down. 
• Kilfoyl strikes out Rylea Smith looking to get out of the jam. It's still 2-1, Alabama. 

Bottom 2

• Abby Doerr gets a two-out single, but Dallis Goodnight ends the inning with a groundout to shortstop. It's still 2-1, Alabama. 

Top 2 

• Kilfoyl retired the side for Alabama. The Crimson Tide still leads, 2-1.

Bottom 1

• Following a leadoff single from Jenna Johnson, Ashley Prange blasted a two-run home run to center to give Alabama a 2-1 lead.
• That's all Alabama gets, but the Crimson Tide grabs the lead heading to the top of the second. 

Top 1

• After leadoff batter Kayla Kowalik began the game with a flyout, Lauren Johnson put Kentucky on the board first with a line-drive home run to right-center field. 1-0, Kentucky.
• Erin Coffel draws a two-out walk, but Kentucky can't capitalize as she was called out for leaving the base early during the next at bat. 1-0, Kentucky. 

Alabama starting lineup

Jenna Johnson, LF

Alabama Athletics

Ashley Prange, 3B

Alabama Athletics

Ally Shipman, C

Alabama Athletics

Kaylee Tow, 1B

Alabama Athletics

Jenna Lord, 2B

Alabama Athletics

Savannah Woodard, RF

Alabama Athletics

Bailey Dowling, SS

Alabama Athletics

Abby Doerr, DP

Alabama Athletics

Dallis Goodnight, CF

Alabama Athletics

Lexi Kilfoyl, SP

Photo | Gary Cosby via Imagn Content Services, LLC