Game 1:

On a beautiful Friday afternoon in Birmingham, the Alabama Crimson Tide opened play in the Green & Gold Classic against the tournament host UAB Blazers and beat them by a score of 8-0 in 5 innings. This win marked Alabama’s fourth run rule of the season so far.

“There are 3 Alabama alums on the UAB staff, they have been a great host so far. We are excited to be here and we want to participate in this tournament more often,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy.

Alabama scored all 8 runs of this game in the first inning of play. Left fielder Jenna Johnson opened the game with a hit-by-pitch, her 6th of the year. Later in the inning, second baseman Kali Heivilin put the Crimson Tide on the board with a sacrifice fly.

The next batter Emma Broadfoot singled to center, driving in Abby Duchscherer. After a double by Bailey Dowling, Riley Valentine drove in two more runs with another single.

The runs kept piling on when Larissa Preuitt notched another run-scoring single for Alabama. Then, Jenna Johson put the exclamation point on the Crimson Tide rally with a three-run blast to the parking lot beyond the wall in left. The 8-run first inning was the most runs scored by Alabama in an inning all season.

Defensively, fifth-year senior Kayla Beaver was unhittable yet again. Beaver pitched 4 innings only allowing just 1 hit. She did have 4 walks, but she didn’t allow any of them to score. Beaver got the win to improve to 4-0 on the season with a 0.22 ERA.

 

Game 2:

In the second game on Friday, Alabama held on against Western Carolina to secure a 4-1 victory and improve to a perfect 13-0 on the season. Starting pitcher Jaala Torrence secured her team-leading 5th victory of the season, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits in 5 innings.

Torrence was very efficient in this one, as usual. She was able to navigate trouble well all game long despite allowing a run in the 4th. Her final line: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K.

“Jaala has been pounding the zone all year for us and that continued in this one. She gets ahead of hitters well. Our theme so far this season has been to get ahead of hitters and she has done that,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy.

Senior Bailey Dowling got the Crimson Tide offense going in the second inning with an RBI single down the left-field line. Later in the inning, standout freshman Lauren Johnson stretched Alabama’s lead to 3 with a 2-run single.

Alabama was able to tack on one more insurance run in the 5th inning when Marlie Giles notched the 3rd single of the inning for the Tide, sending home Kenleigh Cahalan.

Relief pitcher Alea Johnson was able to slam the door and collect the six-out save for Alabama. Johnson has not allowed a run yet this season with 16.2 innings pitched.

NEXT: Alabama continues play in the Green & Gold Classic with another doubleheader on Saturday. The Crimson Tide will square off against Bradley at 3:45 pm and North Alabama at 6 pm.