Crimson Tide Softball Takes Two to Open Play at Easton Bama Bash

Friday, February 16

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

4 p.m. CT

Alabama

6-0

St. Thomas

1-6

St. Thomas

Alabama

Crimson Tide Softball Takes Two to Open Play at Easton Bama Bash

2/16/2024 10:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score vs. St. Thomas (PDF)Box Score vs. Virginia (PDF)

The Crimson Tide defeat St. Thomas, 7-3, and Virginia, 3-1, Friday at Rhoads Stadium

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball made its 2024 Rhoads Stadium debut Friday evening at the Easton Bama Bash with a pair of wins, defeating St. Thomas, 7-3, before downing Virginia, 3-1, in the nightcap.

Alabama (7-0) opened the day against St. Thomas (1-6), taking a 3-0 lead after an inside-the-park home run from Kali Heivilin before the Tommies tied it up at 3-3 in the third with a three-run home run. The Tide broke the tie with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, bringing the game to its eventual final tally of 7-3. In game two against Virginia (4-3), a two-run home run from Lauren Esman put Alabama in front in the first inning and remained ahead the entirety of the game, eventually winning 3-1.

After leading the team in hits last weekend, Abby Duchscherer stayed hot on Friday with a team-leading four hits across both games, including an RBI in each. Esman was a combined 3-for-7 with four of the team's nine RBIs, two of which came on a two-run home run against Virginia, her first homer as a member of the Crimson Tide. Sophomore transfer Riley Valentine also launched her first Alabama home run, a solo shot that bounced off the scoreboard against St. Thomas. Kali Heivilin joined the home run party with an inside-the-park homer against the Tommies, the 12th inside-the-park home run in program history.

In the circle, Jaala Torrence (2-0) pitched 3.2 shutout relief innings to earn the win over St. Thomas while Kayla Beaver (3-0) took home her third complete-game win of the young season in game two over Virginia.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"Today was awesome. We had really good energy from the crowd. I thought we had a great attendance tonight. The weather cooperated, so it couldn't have been better. Plus, we came away with two wins."

Highlights

Alabama has scored first every game so far this year, doing so three times in the first inning
Abby Duchscherer has earned a hit in every game this season, stretching her career-best hitting streak to seven games
Kali Heivilin's inside-the-park home run was the 12th in program history and the first of her career
Over her last three games, Lauren Esman is 5-for-11 (.455) with four RBIs, two doubles and a home run
After one multi-RBI game last season, Esman already has four this season
Jenna Johnson had two doubles against Virginia, tying her career high and doing so for the first time since Feb. 11, 2022 vs. Southern Utah

Scoring Summary: Alabama 7, St. Thomas 3

B2 | Riley Valentine bounced a solo home run off the scoreboard (1-0, 0 Out)
B2 | Kali Heivilin bounced one off the wall in right center, legging out an inside-the-park home run (3-0, 0 Out)
T3 | St. Thomas tied the game on a three-run home run, all of which were unearned (3-3, 2 Out)
B4 | Lauren Esman broke the tie with a two-run double (5-3, 1 Out)
B4 | Abby Duchscherer bounced an RBI double into the left field corner (6-3, 1 Out)
B4 | A throwing error allowed Duchscherer to score from second (7-3, 1 Out)

Scoring Summary: Alabama 3, Virginia 1

B1 | Lauren Esman crushed a two-run homer to center (2-0, 2 Out)
B5 | Abby Duchscherer dropped an RBI single into shallow right (3-0, 1 Out)
T7 | A muffed catch on the infield allowed a UVA runner to score from second (3-1, 1 Out)

Up Next: Easton Bama Bash (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. St. Thomas – 11 a.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Virginia – 1:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Southern Indiana – 1 p.m. CT

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on X/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.