Game 1

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On a cold, cloudy morning the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the St. Thomas Tommies by a score of 8-0 in just 5 innings on a run-rule victory. The Tide offense was on fire in this one, scoring runs in all five innings.

Starting pitcher Jaala Torrence picked up right where she left off. A day after throwing 3.2 hitless innings in relief, Torrence found the same groove in this one collecting her third win on the young season. Her final line: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks.

“In her last two appearances, Jaala has been pounding the zone. Coming off her excellent day yesterday against St. Thomas, she knew this order and was able to get ahead in counts all day long,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy.

Offensively, Alabama was firing on all cylinders. In the first inning, Alabama was able to score its first run on four straight walks. Bailey Dowling was able to add on another run with a ground out.

In the second inning, a Kali Heivilin double and a Larissa Preuitt single stretched the Alabama lead to 3.

The Crimson Tide offense kept coming in the third inning with an RBI single by Kenleigh Cahalan and an RBI double by Kendal Clark after an 11-pitch at-bat.

“We didn’t put St. Thomas away when we needed to last night. The point of emphasis today was putting teams away and we did so tremendously despite the cold,” said coach Murphy.

Later in the game, Abby Duchscherer and Riley Valentine each notched run-scoring singles before Preuitt’s walk-off triple in the fifth. Alabama was able to collect 7 hits in this one off the bat of 6 different players.

 

Game 2

After a 5 inning run-rule victory earlier, Alabama barely comes away with the win over Virginia by a score of 3-2 to remain perfect on the year. Strong pitching performances from Jocelyn Briski and Kayla Beaver helped push the Tide across the finish line.

Alabama was able to start fast in the first inning with an RBI single by Kali Heivilin. With that RBI, Heivilin extended her team lead in the category to 11.

“The key to me is: getting hits when we need them. Kali has done that so far this season and she will continue to do so. She is in a big RBI spot, and she deserves it,” said coach Murphy.

In the second inning, senior Bailey Dowling hit a solo shot over the left field wall, her first home run of the year. Later in the inning, SEC Freshman of the Week Lauren Johnson collected an RBI single of her own, stretching the Alabama lead to 3.

Jocelyn Briski hung on to secure the win, but it wasn’t easy. She had to battle through tough innings all game long. In the third inning, the Cavalier offense was able to get to Briski, notching a 2-run single off the bat of Macee Eaton. Briski remained calm, like she has all year, and worked out of the inning.

Briski ran into more trouble in the fourth inning, but Patrick Muprhy answered with Kayla Beaver, and the Tide never looked back. Beaver came in, slammed the door, and collected the save. Beaver’s final line: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 Ks

NEXT: Alabama wraps up play in the Easton Bama Bash on Sunday at 1:00 pm against Southern Indiana.