Seventh-Inning Comeback Falls Short as Alabama Drops Game One to Kentucky, 6-3

Thursday, March 28

Lexington, KY

5:30 p.m. CT

Alabama

25-7, 2-5

Kentucky

22-11, 1-6

Alabama

Kentucky

Seventh-Inning Comeback Falls Short as Alabama Drops Game One to Kentucky, 6-3

3/28/2024 8:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Crimson Tide brought the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Down three runs in the top of the seventh inning, Alabama brought the potential tying run to the plate but the late comeback attempt ultimately fell short as Kentucky held on for the 6-3 win Thursday night to start the weekend series.

Both teams stranded the bases loaded in the first inning before Alabama (25-7, 2-5 SEC) got on the board in the top of the second courtesy of a passed ball. Another passed ball and a pair of bases-loaded walks in the bottom half of the inning gave Kentucky (22-11, 1-6 SEC) a 3-1 lead and the Wildcats added three more in the fifth to swell the advantage to 6-1.

In the top of the sixth, Marlie Giles and Emma Broadfoot led off the inning with back-to-back home runs to draw back within three. Kentucky went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, keeping the deficit at three runs for Alabama in the top of the seventh. Kenleigh Cahalan reached on an error to start the frame, advanced to second on a groundout and third on a wild pitch. A groundout went for out number two and kept Cahalan at third before Giles drew a walk, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. A 12-pitch at bat ended in a strikeout as the comeback effort fell short.

Giles and Broadfoot's home runs are their fourth and second of the season, respectively, and Lauren Johnson reached base in all three plate appearances with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Kayla Beaver (10-3) took the loss in the circle, exiting after 1.2 innings, while Jocelyn Briski threw 4.1 relief innings behind her with three runs, one earned, allowed on two hits.

Highlights

Alabama falls to 54-13 all-time vs. Kentucky, 24-7 in Lexington
Marlie Giles and Emma Broadfoot's home runs were the first back-to-back homers in a game for Alabama since KB Sides and Bailey Hemphill vs. Texas on May 25, 2019
The game was the Tide's eighth multi-homer game of the season
The six walks drawn is tied for Alabama's second-highest total of the season

Scoring Summary

T2 | Lauren Johnson scored from third on a wild pitch (1-0, 2 Out)
B2 | Kentucky tied it on a bases-loaded walk (1-1, 2 Out)
B2 | A passed ball scored a run from third (1-2, 2 Out)
B2 | Another bases-loaded walk put the Wildcats up by two (1-3, 2 Out)
B5 | A bases-loaded single from Taylor Ebbs drove in two (1-5, 0 Out)
B5 | An error on the back end of a double play attempt brought in an unearned run (1-6, 2 Out)
T6 | Marlie Giles led off the inning with a home run to center (2-6, 0 Out)
T6 | Emma Broadfoot followed with another solo run (3-6, 0 Out)

Up Next: at Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.)

Friday, March 29 – 5:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 30 – 1 p.m. CT

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