TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama softball team played their final fall exhibition Sunday against Chipola College and will head into the regular season off a pair of wins.

Lauren Esman started in the circle for the Tide, holding the Indians scoreless in her three innings of
work. She only allowed one hit and struck out two.

The offense got rolling in the bottom of the second with Jenna Johnson and Emma Broadfoot hitting
back-to-back singles. Kali Heivilin stepped up to the plate with first and second. She drove a ball to the
left center gap, scoring two to get the Tide on the board.

“She’s a much-improved hitter, and I think that first one that got the RBI really got us going,” said Coach
Patrick Murphy.

Kristen White would bunt for a single and Esman would walk bringing up Kenleigh Cahalan with the
bases loaded. She would rip a ball to right field scoring two more making it 4-0.

Jocelyn Briski would come in relief in the fourth inning and pitch the rest of the game. She would keep
the Indians scoreless with the help of some fantastic defense by Cahalan.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Tide worked two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases. Johnson
would wake scoring a run and KJ Haney would single to left center scoring another making it 6-0. Emma
Broadfoot would smoke a ball between the short stop and third basemen scoring two more. Alabama
would add another off a bases loaded hit by pitch to make it 9-0.

Briski would strike out two in the final inning clinching the victory in game one 9-0.

Game two:

In game two, the bats got going right away with Heivilin and Marle Giles hitting back-to-back RBI doubles
down the left field line to make it 2-0.

After a scoreless bottom of the second, the offense would add five more in the bottom of the third. Heivilin and Giles struck again with back-to-back RBI hits for the second time this game.

Broadfoot would come up with a runner on and one out. She would send a shot off the jumbo tron for a two-run home run. Lauren Johnson would follow that up with an RBI triple off the right field wall to make it 7-1.

Kayla Beaver started in the circle and pitched the first four innings. She struck out four and only allowed
one run on four hits. Alea Johnson entered in relief for the final three innings.

Giles would add another in the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle.

“Marly is one of the most improved players and we’re going to need those bats like 56789 in the
lineup,” said Murphy. “Because those people turn the lineup over and when they can do that, we’re
going to be really good.”

In the bottom of the fifth Briski would pinch hit with runners on second and third. She would line a ball
to left center scoring two to extend the lead to 10-1.

After a Kendal Clark double Haney would scorch a ball to left field scoring the 11 and final run of the
afternoon.

 

Nazario Pangallo is a contributor for WVUA-FM Sports.