Jordan Stephens Home Run Caps 9-1 Win for Alabama Softball over Middle Tennessee

Sunday, February 20

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1:30 p.m. CT

Alabama

9-0

Middle Tennessee

2-9

Middle Tennessee

Alabama

Jordan Stephens Home Run Caps 9-1 Win for Alabama Softball over Middle Tennessee

2/20/2022 4:59:00 PM | Softball

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The freshman’s first career home run secured the run-rule victory for the Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Freshman Jordan Stephens capped a 9-1 Alabama softball victory over Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon with a three-run home run to end the game in run-rule fashion.

Alabama (9-0) scored three runs in both the first and second innings against Middle Tennessee (2-9) to jump ahead to a six-run lead but failed to put away in the Blue Raiders in the subsequent three frames, allowing the visitors to scrape a run across in the top of the sixth and break up Montana Fouts' (3-0) no-hit bid, though the senior hurler finished with 13 strikeouts. With two on and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Stephens came to the plate and turned on the second pitch, sending it over the left field fence to end the game.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"First, I have to give a shout out again to the crowd. It's unbelievable. I wish I could thank everybody individually for coming out this weekend. Yesterday was a sellout and we were really close again today. It was the best weather day of the spring so far, and we just couldn't have asked for anything more from the fans. Montana [Fouts] battled through a little bit but ended up with 13 Ks and you have to give credit to Middle Tennessee's players for battling. When you're up 6-0, you want to continue that and we had a little lull in there. [Jordan] Stephens' big hit in the bottom of the sixth was incredible. When a big moment like that happens to a freshman, especially Jordan who has worked her butt off from day one, it is just unbelievable. It was a great feeling all the way around and I guarantee you there was a lot of Mudita in that dugout. I'm just so happy for Jordan and for our team."

Highlights

The Crimson Tide won all five of its games at the Easton Bama Bash, outscoring its opponents 30-3
Sunday's win was Alabama's fifth run-rule and its sixth game scoring eight or more runs
The Tide has hit at least one home run in six of its nine games, with today marking its third multi-HR game
Alabama has scored in the first inning in five of its nine games
Freshman Jordan Stephens has hit a three-run home run and two-run double in each of her last two plate appearances
Montana Fouts finished with 13 strikeouts, her 31st career game with double-digit Ks
Freshman Kali Heivilin made her first career start

Scoring Summary

B1 | Ashley Prange bounced a two-run home run off the wall in left field (2-0, 0 Out)
B1 | A dropped pop fly with two out extended the inning as a run came home (3-0, 2 Out)
B2 | Ally Shipman pulled a bases-loaded single through the left side, driving in two (5-0, 0 Out)
B2 | Kaylee Tow drew a bases-loaded walk (6-0, 0 Out)
T6 | Middle Tennessee erased the shutout with an RBI double (6-1, 2 Out)
B6 | Jordan Stephens ended the game with a three-run home run to left (9-1, 1 Out)

Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team

Ally Shipman (MVP) - Alabama
Montana Fouts - Alabama
Lexi Kilfoyl - Alabama
Keely Rochard – Virginia Tech
Emma Lemley – Virginia Tech
Alexa Davis – Evansville
Jessica Fehr – Evansville
Gretchen Mead – Middle Tennessee
Laura Mealer – Middle Tennessee

Up Next

Thursday, Feb. 24 at #20/20 Louisiana – 6 p.m. CT

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.