Alabama Softball Drops First Game of Season at Crimson Classic

Offense struggles for third straight game, South Alabama pitcher superb in complete game win.

Fifteen pop ups.

That kind of day at the plate won’t win games.

It was another brutal day for the Alabama softball team’s offense at the Crimson Classic. This time, the pitching couldn’t save them as South Alabama got the 2-0 shutout to hand Alabama its first loss of the season.

Alabama defeated UNI 1-0 and Arizona 2-1 in its other two Classic games. Just like those games, Alabama struggled at the plate against South Alabama.

The pop ups were a cause for concern, but the five runners left on base didn’t help.

Jaala Torrence took the loss on her senior day. She allowed just two hits, but two Alabama fielding errors were the difference.

Pitching was the difference for South Alabama. Olivia Lackie improved to 8-3 and allowed three hits with six strikeouts in the complete game win.

Bailey Dowling, Kali Heivilin and Riley Valentine had the three Alabama hits.

South Alabama struck first in the second inning with two outs. Stephanie Gonzalez reached on a fielding error and Odalys Cordova followed with a double to right field to make it a 1-0 lead.

The Jaguars did more two-out damage in the third. Torrence walked Gabby Stagner, who scored on another double to right field, this time from Sasha Willems. The 2-0 lead was all Lackie and the Jags needed to put Alabama away.

The Crimson Tide (18-1) takes on No. 19 Arizona in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

GAME RECAP

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Final Score: South Alabama 2, Alabama 0

Bottom 7 Alabama

• Alabama goes down 1-2-3 and falls for the first time this season.

Top 7 South Alabama

• 1-2-3 inning for the Jags.

End 6: South Alabama 2, Alabama 0

Bottom 6 Alabama

• Another runner stranded for Alabama. Also, 14 fly outs for Alabama through six innings.

Top 6 South Alabama

• Three up, three down for the Jags.

End 5: South Alabama 2, Alabama 0

Bottom 5 Alabama

• Another wasted shot for Alabama. Two runners stranded

• Alabama has something going with two runners on base with one out. A leadoff bunt single from Kali Heivilin and a walk to Lauren Johnson puts runners on first and second.

Top 5 South Alabama

• Johnson gets out of trouble and the Jags go down 1-2-3 with a nice play from Riley Valentine to throw out a runner on a steal attempt.

• Alabama brings in Alea Johnson to pitch. Jaala Torrence exits after allowing two runs on two hits.

End 4: South Alabama 2, Alabama 0

Bottom 4 Alabama

• Jags pitcher Olivia Lackle is having her way with Alabama hitters. Just two baserunners allowed through four innings.

• Abby Duchscherer hit by a pitch to put a runner on base for Alabama. The Crimson Tide will take a runner any way they can get it.

Top 4 South Alabama

• A much-needed 1-2-3 inning for Torrence in the circle for Alabama.

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End 3: South Alabama 2, Alabama 0

Bottom 3 Alabama

• Wasted opportunity for Bama as Valentine is left stranded on third. 

• Riley Valentine gets Alabama's first hit to lead off the inning.

Top 3 South Alabama

• Trouble for Torrence after allowing a two-out walk. Sasha Willems smacks a double to right field to bring in another Jaguar run. 2-0 South Alabama

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End of 2nd: South Alabama 1, Alabama 0

Bottom 2 Alabama

• Two more fly outs and a beautiful grab by South Alabama shortshop Marly Sims makes it another 1-2-3 inning. 

Top 2 South Alabama

• After an error by Kenleigh Cahalan at shortstop, South Alabama's Odalys Cordova knocks in a run with a double to right field. A fielding error sends Cordova to third. Sloppy defense by Alabama. 1-0 South Alabama

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End 1: Scoreless

Bottom 1 Alabama

• Three fly balls for Bama and a 1-2-3 inning for the Jaguars.

Top 1 South Alabama

• A 1-2-3 inning for Torrence in the circle

Starting lineups