Alabama
36-17
Southeastern
47-15
Big Bats Blast Alabama to Super Regionals with 12-2 Win over Southeastern
5/19/2024 4:05:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide advances to its NCAA-record 18th Super Regional round
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball secured its spot in its NCAA-record 18th Super Regional round after a dominant five-inning 12-2 win in Sunday's NCAA Regional final over Southeastern at Rhoads Stadium.
Alabama (36-17) responded immediately after Southeastern (47-15) scored a run in the top of the first, answering with nine runs in the bottom half on 10 hits as 14 batters came to the plate in the frame. The Lady Lions scored a run in the top of the second but the Crimson Tide added three more in the bottom of the third to lead by double-digits, setting up the 12-2 run-rule victory.
Kristen White set the tone at the top of the order with a career-high three hits and three runs scored, with Larissa Preuitt, Kenleigh Cahalan, Jenna Johnson and Marlie Giles tallying two hits each in the order behind her, combining for eight of the team's 12 RBIs. The nine runs scored in the first inning was the most for Alabama since February of 2023 and the 12 runs are its highest total in a postseason game since scoring 15 vs. Florida at the 2021 Women's College World Series. Jocelyn Briski (9-5) got the win with 4.0 innings in the start before senior Jaala Torrence closed it out with a 1-2-3 fifth.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"First I want to congratulate Southeastern on a hell of a season. They're a great team and they'll be back. It was a great job by them. Not once did they look scared or nervous to be here. I think I said last year that our Super Regional win was the most gratifying win of my career and I think today may be the most gratifying Regional win of my career. To go through what we've been through with all the ups and downs, a lot of downs, they never once quit. I always said the best is yet to come and you have to believe that. They bought into that and today might have been our best game of the year."
Highlights
- Alabama has advanced to Super Regionals 18 times since current format was adopted in 2005 – the most of any team
- This year was the Crimson Tide's 16th undefeated Regional round under the current postseason format
- The 12 runs are Alabama's highest run total in postseason play since scoring 15 against Florida at the 2021 Women's College World Series (June 1, 2021)
- The nine-run first inning was the highest-scoring inning for the Tide since matching that total in the second inning vs. UAB on Feb. 22, 2023
- Kristen White's three hits and three runs scored are both career bests for the sophomore
- Kenleigh Cahalan drove in a career-best four RBIs
- Cahalan hit her fifth triple of the season, making her just the seventh player in program history with five or more triples in a season and the first since Haylie McCleney in 2016
The final out that sent us to Super Regionals??#Team28 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/7H3FmE7jtJ
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) May 19, 2024
Scoring Summary
- T1 | Maria Detellier hit an RBI single through the right side (0-1, 1 Out)
- B1 | Kenleigh Cahalan hit an RBI single to right (1-1, 0 Out)
- B1 | Jenna Johnson flared a single to right, driving in Larissa Preuitt (2-1, 0 Out)
- B1 | Bailey Dowling drove in a pair with a double to left (4-1, 0 Out)
- B1 | Kali Heivilin tacked on a run with an RBI single up the middle (5-1, 0 Out)
- B1 | Dowling scored on an RBI single to left from Riley Valentine (6-1, 0 Out)
- B1 | Cahalan drew a bases-loaded walk (7-1, 2 Out)
- B1 | With the bases loaded, Jenna Johnson scored two with a single to center (9-1, 2 Out)
- T2 | Cam Goodman drove in a run for the Lady Lions (9-2, 1 Out)
- B3 | Two scored on a triple from Cahalan (11-2, 1 Out)
- B3 | Marlie Giles hit an RBI singe to right (12-2, 2 Out)
Up Next: NCAA Super Regionals (TBD)
- vs. Knoxville Regional Winner – Dates and Times TBD
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: Briski, Jocelyn (9-5)
L: DuBois, Ellie (16-6)
Batting:
2B: Greely, Audrey 1
RBI: Detillier, Maria 1 ; Goodman, Cam 1
SH: Magee, Chloe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Watson, Ka'Lyn 1 ; Broussard, Brilee 1
Batting:
2B: Dowling, Bailey 1
3B: Cahalan, Kenleigh 1
RBI: Cahalan, Kenleigh 4 ; Johnson, Jenna 3 ; Giles, Marlie 1 ; Dowling, Bailey 2 ; Heivilin, Kali 1 ; Valentine, Riley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: White, Kristen 3 ; Preuitt, Larissa 2 ; Cahalan, Kenleigh 2 ; Johnson, Jenna 1 ; Giles, Marlie 1 ; Dowling, Bailey 1 ; Heivilin, Kali 1 ; Valentine, Riley 1
