Photo by Davida Franklin from The Crimson White

By Jennaya Lazenby

The Crimson Tide went 4-1 in the Easton T-Town Showdown. They outscored their opponents 33-8 over the course of the whole weekend, run ruling three of those games. Here is a breakdown of how all 5 games played out.

Game 1: Alabama 9, Kent State 1 (6 Innings)

Alabama kicked off the weekend with two run-rule wins over Kent State. Lexi Kilfoyl started things off in the circle for the Tide.

Kent State got on the board first with an RBI single at the top of the third which only fueled the Tide heading into the bottom of the inning.

Bailey Dowling kicked things off with an RBI single scoring Elissa Brown. Followed by Bailey Hemphill laying down a bunt single to bring in another run to make it 2-1 Bama. Claire Jenkins added to the fire with another RBI single that went down the left-field line making it 3-1 ending the inning.

Kilfoyl returned to the circle for an easy three up three down at the top of the fourth. An error in the bottom of the fourth led to two runs scored by the Crimson Tide with two outs, making it 5-1 Bama. Hemphill extended the lead with another RBI single into center field, 6-1 Tide ending the inning.

No given-up runs by the Tide in the top of the fifth, Bama continued to add to the score, with Brown extending the lead with a sacrifice fly 7-1 Tide.

Kilfoyl with three straight strikeouts to head into the bottom of the sixth. Catcher Abby Doerr was hit by a pitch with bases loaded, followed by Brown being walked to end the game with the Tide winning 9-1.

Game 2: Alabama 11, Kent State 3 (6 Innings)

Krystal Goodman started off the second game in the circle game for Alabama. The Crimson Tide started things off retiring the side at the top of first.

Alexis Mack scored off of a wild pitch. Hemphill had a huge triple that bounced off the wall that led to her scoring off of a wild pitch taking the lead 2-0 heading into the second inning.

Kent State returned the favor by scoring three runs off a back-to-back-to-back RBI single, triple, and double. At the end of the top of the second, Kent State led 3-2.

Bama heated things up with Mack’s triple off the wall to score Brown to tie it up in the bottom of the second. Goodman gave up no hits or runs in the top of the third. Hemphill kicked off the inning with a double followed by Maddie Morgan’s RBI single to take the lead 4-3. Taylor Clark dropped an RBI single into center field with Kat Grill driving in a run with a single 6-3 Bama. Brown had a pop up that allowed Clark to score to wrap up the inning 7-3 Alabama.

Goodman put up another scoreless inning at the top of the fourth, helping to build momentum leading Hemphill extending the lead with another RBI to bring in Kaylee Tow, 8-3 at the end of the fourth.

Pitcher Jaala Torrence relieved Goodman and carried the Tide into the bottom of the fifth. Mack hit a double and was scored in by Tow’s double, Dowling with a RBI double scoring Tow extending the lead 10-3 at the end of the fifth. Torrence kept Kent State scoreless in the top of the inning heading into the bottom of the sixth. Jenkins hit a triple followed by Grills infield single to bring in the game-ending run 11-3 Alabama.

“I thought it was a good doubleheader for us. Our offense was really good tonight, all up and down the lineup. Bailey Hemphill hit the ball really well tonight,” Said Coach Patrick Murphy. 

Game 3: Alabama 5, UNI 3

On Saturday the Crimson Tide kicked things off, celebrating Sarah Cornell’s Senior Day and she started things off in the circle with no runs, hits, or errors.

The game was scoreless until Hemphill’s bomb in the bottom of the fourth. Dowling followed with an RBI single to score Jenkins, stole third, and scored off an errant throw giving the Crimson Tide a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, UNI shortstop Sammey Bunch hit a two-run homerun to center field that brought the Panthers to within 1 run.

However, Alabama refused to let the game stay close. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hemphill ripped the ball to the left side of the field to drive in a run. Jenkins then hit an RBI groundout plating another run furthering the lead to 5-2.

UNI scored one moe run off of a pitching error by Bama to make the score 5-3. 

Game 4: Alabama 8, UNI 0 (5 Innings)

Torrence had her first start of the season against UNI in the second game of the doubleheader. Torrence started off the first two innings only allowing one hit.

Dowling got things started in the bottom of the second leading to a Clark RBI double to take the lead 1-0 at the end of the second.

Savannah Woodard had an RBI single to bring in Dowling at the bottom of the fourth. Pinch hitter Kyra Lockhart with an RBI double to the wall to score Woodard to end the inning 3-0 Bama.  Woodard hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth to clinch a run rule for the Tide.

Torrence pitched a scoreless five innings only giving up two hits, and striking out three batters, giving the Freshman her first career win.

Game 5: South Alabama 1, Alabama 0

Alabama fell short for the first time this season on Sunday against South Alabama. Montana Fouts received her first loss of the season and Murphy had his first career loss to an Alabama team that isn’t Auburn. South Alabama scored the only run of the game early in the top of the second off of an RBI single, winning 1-0.

“We didn’t make quick enough adjustments and kept swinging at too many high pitches. I think we had 13 flyouts, which is just too easy for a defense. You have to score to win, a 1-0 game should not be insurmountable for us.” Said Patrick Murphy 

The Crimson Tide is back in action on the road against Auburn in a three-game series Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 14.