Alabama
11-0
UNA
7-4
Long Ball, Lockdown Pitching Lead Crimson Tide Softball to 9-1 Run-Rule over UNA
2/21/2024 5:56:00 PM | Softball
Alabama earns its third run-rule victory of the season, posting its second-highest run total
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A pair of home runs and a solid outing in the circle led Alabama softball to a 9-1 run-rule win in six innings over North Alabama Wednesday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
Alabama (11-0) scored in each of the first three innings, leading 6-0 before North Alabama (7-4) erased the shutout with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth. With the score still 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth, a bases-loaded single from Larissa Preuitt drove in a pair before Kali Heivilin ended it two batters later with an RBI single, securing the run-rule victory.
Abby Duchscherer got the scoring started with a first inning home run, her second long ball of the season, to drive in two runs. Emma Broadfoot launched a three-run homer in the third inning, part of a 2-for-3 day at the plate for the senior infielder. In total, the offense scored its nine runs on 10 hits, marking the Tide's fifth double-digit hit performance of the season and its second-highest run total. Jaala Torrence (4-0) threw a complete-game gem in the circle, allowing just one run on two hits with a season-best six strikeouts with no walks. Of her 88 pitches thrown, 69 went for strikes.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"We were so excited by Abby Duchscherer's home run in the first inning. I felt like she was going to do something big. After the team's lackluster performance on offense Sunday, she got us started off with a bang. The defense was awesome too. Jaala Torrence was really good in the circle and didn't give up a single walk. I thought she was in complete control the whole game. UNA is a very good team. They made it to the championship of their conference tournament last year and I bet they will be a regional team this year. It was a big win for us."
Highlights
- Alabama has scored first every game so far this year, doing so seven times in the first inning including today
- The game was the Tide's third this season with multiple home runs
- Alabama now has five games this season with double-digit hits
- The nine runs are the Tide's second-highest run total of the season, helping the team earn its third run-rule
- For the defense, Wednesday was their eighth error-free game of the season
- Emma Broadfoot went 2-for-3 at the plate, her first multi-hit game of the season
- Broadfoot's third-inning home run was her first of the season, third with the Crimson Tide and 19th of her collegiate career
- Abby Duchscherer's home run was the second of her sophomore season
- Jenna Johnson and Lauren Johnson each extended their current reached-base streaks to eight games, while Riley Valentine now sits at seven games
Scoring Summary
- B1 | Abby Duchscherer hit a two-run home run off the light pole in left field (2-0, 1 Out)
- B2 | Kinely Pate scored from third on a sac fly RBI from Kendal Clark (3-0, 1 Out)
- B3 | Emma Broadfoot bounced a three-run home run off the scoreboard (6-0, 2 Out)
- T4 | A UNA run came home on an RBI groundout (6-1, 0 Out)
- B6 | With the bases loaded, Larissa Preuitt drove in two with a single in the gap (8-1, 1 Out)
- B6 | Kali Heivilin ended the game early with an RBI single (9-1, 1 Out)
Up Next: Green & Gold Classic (Birmingham, Ala.)
- Friday, Feb. 23 at UAB – 3:45 p.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 23 vs. Western Carolina – 6 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. Bradley – 3:45 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. UNA – 6 p.m. CT
- Sunday, Feb. 25 at UAB – 11 a.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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Torrence, Jaala (4-0)
L: Alivia Wilken (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Hailey Jones 1
RBI: Haven Kirby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hailey Jones 1
HBP: Raegan Clem 1
Batting:
HR: Duchscherer, Abby 1 ; Broadfoot, Emma 1
RBI: Preuitt, Larissa 2 ; Duchscherer, Abby 2 ; Heivilin, Kali 1 ; Broadfoot, Emma 3 ; Clark, Kendal 1
SF: Clark, Kendal 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Jenna 1 ; Johnson, Lauren 1 ; Duchscherer, Abby 2 ; Dowling, Bailey 1 ; Broadfoot, Emma 1 ; Pate, Kinley 1 ; Cahalan, Kenleigh 1 ; Valentine, Riley 1
SB: Pate, Kinley 1 ; Cahalan, Kenleigh 1
HBP: Johnson, Jenna 1
