Alabama
14-0
Bradley
2-7
Big Bats Shine in Saturday Softball Sweep at Green & Gold Classic
2/24/2024 10:07:00 PM | Softball
Alabama defeats Bradley, 10-1, and North Alabama, 8-3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama softball's offense helped power the Crimson Tide to a pair of wins Saturday at the Green & Gold Classic, defeating Bradley, 10-1, and UNA, 8-3.
For the first time this season, Alabama (15-0) found itself trailing after Bradley (2-7) got on the board first with a second-inning solo home run. The Crimson Tide quickly answered back, taking the lead in the top of the third on a two-run single from Bailey Dowling. The Braves put at least one runner in scoring position in the third and fourth innings but were unable to plate a run. Alabama finally started to add some distance in the top of the fifth, with a sac fly RBI from Dowling and a grand slam from Riley Valentine swelling the lead to 7-1 and three more down the stretch bringing the game to its eventual final score of 10-1.
Alabama found itself trading the lead back and forth early in game two against North Alabama (10-5), down 3-1 in the fourth before a two-run double from Jenna Johnson and RBI single from Kenleigh Cahalan put the Tide back in front, 4-3. In the sixth inning, a pair of home runs from Abby Duchscherer and Marlie Giles tacked on four more, leading Alabama to the 8-3 victory.
Jenna Johnson had a career-best four hits against the Lions, part of a 5-for-6 day at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs. Valentine's grand slam gave her a team-leading four RBIs on the day while Dowling and Duchscherer had three each. Alea Johnson (2-0) got the win in the circle in the day's opener against Bradley, fanning four across 3.1 innings pitched, while Kayla Beaver (5-0) struck out 10 across 6.0 innings pitched against UNA.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"I thought it was a really good offensive day today. Yesterday was dominated by pitching and defense and today the hitters took over. I thought we swung at some really good pitches. We had a little adversity today when we were behind in both games. We came back with some key hits from a lot of people. Emma Broadfoot, Jenna Johnson, Kenleigh Cahalan and then obviously later with the home runs from [Abby] Duchscherer and Marlie [Giles] hitting the ball hard."
Highlights
- The two games marked the first time Alabama had trailed in a game this season
- The 10 runs scored vs. Bradley is the Tide's second-highest total of the season
- Alabama's 13 hits vs. UNA are its most in a game this year, its most since earning 14 on March 22, 2023 vs. UAB
- The game vs. the Lions is Alabama's fourth multi-homer game of the year, which also includes the two teams' earlier matchup last Wednesday in Tuscaloosa
- Riley Valentine's grand slam was the Tide's first since Larissa Preuitt last season at Missouri on March 31, 2023
- The grand slam also gave Valentine a season-high four RBIs
- Bailey Dowling went 2-for-3 with a season-high three RBIs vs. Bradley, her second multi-hit game of the year
- Jenna Johnson's four hits vs. UNA are a new career-high for the fifth-year senior
- Abby Duchscherer's home run gives her the team lead in homers (3) and RBIs (15)
Scoring Summary: Alabama 10, Bradley 1
- B2 | Kierston McCoy got Bradley on the board first with a solo home run (0-1, 0 Out)
- T3 | Bailey Dowling drove in two with a single through the left side (2-1, 2 Out)
- T5 | Dowling drove in another run on a sac fly RBI (3-1, 1 Out)
- T5 | Riley Valentine crushed a grand slam to center field (7-1, 2 Out)
- T6 | Kristen White scored on a sac fly RBI from KJ Haney (8-1, 1 Out)
- T7 | Valentine came home on an errant throw (9-1, 0 Out)
- T7 | Kali Heivilin scored on an RBI groundout (10-1, 1 Out)
Scoring Summary: Alabama 8, UNA 3
- T3 | A fielding error allowed UNA to score the first run of the game (0-1, 2 Out)
- B3 | Emma Broadfoot pulled an RBI double down the left field line (1-1, 2 Out)
- T4 | UNA drove in a pair with a triple into the right field corner (1-3, 2 Out)
- B4 | Jenna Johnson tied the game with a two-run double in the right field gap (3-3, 1 Out)
- B4 | Kenleigh Cahalan hit an RBI single back up the middle (4-3, 1 Out)
- B5 | Abby Duchscherer blasted a three-run home run to left (7-3, 0 Out)
- B5 | Marlie Giles sent a solo homer to left (8-3, 2 Out)
Up Next: Green & Gold Classic (Birmingham, Ala.)
- 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: Johnson, Alea (2-0)
L: Camryn Schaller (0-3)
Batting:
HR: Valentine, Riley 1
RBI: Haney, KJ 1 ; Dowling, Bailey 3 ; Valentine, Riley 4 ; White, Kristen 1
SH: Johnson, Jenna 1 ; Preuitt, Larissa 1
SF: Haney, KJ 1 ; Dowling, Bailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Jenna 1 ; Cahalan, Kenleigh 1 ; Duchscherer, Abby 1 ; Pate, Kinley 1 ; Clark, Kendal 1 ; Valentine, Riley 2 ; Heivilin, Kali 1 ; White, Kristen 2
SB: Pate, Kinley 1 ; Giles, Marlie 1 ; White, Kristen 1
CS: Preuitt, Larissa 1
HBP: Duchscherer, Abby 2 ; Clark, Kendal 1
Batting:
HR: Kierston McCoy 1
RBI: Kierston McCoy 1
SH: Ashley Breeding 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kierston McCoy 1
SB: Addie Welsh 1
