By: Jennaya Lazenby
TUSCALOOSA, Ala– The Tide kicked things off against Evansville on Friday for their home opener.
In the 10-2 victory over Evansville Jaala Torrence kicked things off with two strikeouts in the first-inningto give the Tide momentum heading into the bottom of the inning. Runs were brought in, in the first by walks and hit by pitches which led to Bama being up 3-0 heading into the top of the second.
Evansville got on the board in the second making it 3-1. Ally Shipman heated things up with a hard hit to bring in Dallis Goodnight making it 4-1. Kaylee Tow had a sac fly bringing in Savannah Woodard in the bottom of the fourth, followed by a two-run home run by Shipman to center field making the score 7-1 with just two outs.
Bailey Dowling scored off a tough hop to end the inning with the Tide leading 8-1. Evansville scored another run in the top of the fifth making the score 8-2. Tow ended the game in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly bringing in the winning run 9-2. Torrence earned the complete-game win in the circle, striking out a career-high 10 batters.
In Baja’s 1-0 win over No.8 Virginia Tech, Abby Doerr drove in the only run in the bottom of the second with a RBI single to right field, driving in Dowling from second. The win was Montana Fouts’ 21st career shutout and her 30th with double-digit strikeouts. The Crimson Tide is back in action Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. #8/8 Virginia Tech – 1:30 p.m. CT and Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. Middle Tennessee – 4 p.m. CT at Rhodes Stadium.
