Alabama Advances in Women’s College World Series with 2-1 Win Friday over Duke

Friday, May 31

Oklahoma City

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

39-19

Duke

52-9

Alabama

Duke

Alabama Advances in Women’s College World Series with 2-1 Win Friday over Duke

5/31/2024 10:58:00 PM | Softball

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The Crimson Tide resumes action on Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. CT on ABC vs. Florida or Texas

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an elimination game Friday night at the Women's College World Series, a late home run from Marlie Giles gave Alabama the 2-1 edge over Duke to keep the Crimson Tide alive in Oklahoma City.

Alabama (39-19) gets a day off on Saturday before resuming play Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. CT on ABC against the loser of Saturday's Florida vs. Texas game.

Alabama got on the board in the first inning after a throwing error set up Giles for a two-out RBI double, driving in Kenleigh Cahalan to make it 1-0. Duke (52-9) responded in the bottom of the second with a solo home run from Ana Gold to tie it up at 1-1. With the score the same in the top of the sixth, Giles' second RBI of the day came on a solo homer to right center, giving the Tide a 2-1 lead. The Blue Devils went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings, as Kayla Beaver (19-10) and the defense shut the door.

Friday was the sixth multi-hit game of the season for Giles, two of which have come in the postseason. Her home run was already the second of her young career at the Women's College World Series, hitting a pinch-hit home run last season in Oklahoma City against Tennessee. Kali Heivilin's triple was her second of the season but the first for any player at the WCWS since Alabama's Haylie McCleney in 2014. Jocelyn Briski allowed just one run over 3.1 innings in the start while Beaver got the win in relief, retiring all 11 batters she faced including three strikeouts.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"First, I want to say [Duke head coach] Marissa [Young] and her team are terrific. It's the seventh year of the program and they're here at the World Series. We played them last year in Clearwater and I was very impressed. They have great athletes all over the field and I'm confident they'll be back. The first inning was big for us, getting a run. Marlie Giles saw the ball as big as a basketball tonight. It was perfect timing, we had a runner on and she gets the double and the next time she hit a home run. That was all Kayla Beaver needed but Jocelyn Briski also gave us a good start."

Highlights

This is the seventh time Alabama has rallied from a game one loss to win the next elimination game at the WCWS (2024, 2019, 2015, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2000)
The Crimson Tide is 33-4 this season when scoring first and 18-2 when scoring in the first inning
Marlie Giles was 2-for-3 at the plate, her sixth multi-hit game of the season and second of the NCAA Tournament
The sixth-inning home run was already her second career homer at the WCWS, hitting a pinch-hit home run as a freshman last year against Tennessee in Oklahoma City
Kali Heivilin's fifth-inning triple is the first for any player at the Women's College World Series since Alabama's Haylie McCleney against Florida on June 3, 2014
Giles day extended her team-leading reached base streak to 12 games
Kayla Beaver retired all 11 batter she faced in relief to earn the win

Scoring Summary

T1 | Marlie Giles drove in Kenleigh Cahalan with a double in the gap (1-0, 2 Out)
B2 | Duke's Ana Gold hit a solo home run (1-1, 1 Out)
T6 | Giles slugged a solo home run to right center (2-1, 1 Out)

Up Next: Women's College World Series (Oklahoma City)

Sunday, June 2 vs. Texas or Florida – 2 p.m. CT – ABC

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