By: Adam Baranovsky
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –Alabama softball (25-9, 1-3 SEC) defeated Tennessee on Saturday, 4-2, in Knoxville, snapping Tennessee’s (25-2, 7-1 SEC) 20-game win streak on the season, and handing the Lady Vols their first conference loss of the season.
The Crimson Tide struck early with a solo home run by Kali Heivilin in the top of the first inning, shortly before Tennessee responded right away with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning. Alabama put seven batters to the box in the top of the third inning, and scored a pair of runs to take a 3-2 lead. A two-out RBI-single for Jenna Johnson put the Crimson Tide up 4-2 in the sixth.
It was a historic day for Alex Salter on the mound, picking up her first career SEC win and pitching a complete game. It was an all around spectacular defensive performance for Alabama, including holding the league-leading Lady Vols to just two runs on five hits. Salter improves to 5-1 as a starter this season.
This win was Alabama’s first win against a top-five ranked team since June 2021, when the Crimson Tide beat UCLA in the 2021 Women’s College World Series, and their first in the SEC play since April 2021, against then-No. 1 Florida. The eight hits by Alabama is also the most that the Lady Vols have surrendered all season, en route to the Crimson Tide’s first SEC road win of the season.
Alabama will look to conclude the series against Tennessee on a high-note on Sunday, beginning with the first at 12:30 p.m. C.T. on the SEC Network+.
