
Softball Falls Twice Friday in Clearwater
2/14/2025 6:52:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide continues its weekend facing Ohio State and No. 4 UCLA Saturday
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Alabama softball fell in a pair of contests Friday to open play at the 2025 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, dropping a 4-1 decision to San Diego State before a late rally gave Liberty a 7-6 win over the Crimson Tide.
Alabama (4-3) scored in the first inning against San Diego State (4-2) but a pair of Aztecs runs in the fourth gave them the 2-1 lead and an error led to two more unearned runs in the seventh, with SDSU ultimately taking home the 4-1 win. In game two, Liberty (8-0) jumped ahead to an early 3-0 lead before an Alexis Pupillo RBI single and an error drew the Tide within one in the third. Salen Hawkins tied the game in the fourth with an RBI single and later with the bases loaded, Larissa Preuitt came through with a single to drive in a pair and give Alabama its first lead of the game, 5-3. The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth, when Liberty tied it on a pair of RBI singles and a late fielding error again led to a pair of runs. Facing a 7-5 deficit in the top of the seventh, Marlie Giles legged out a one-run triple and scored on a groundout on the next play to make it 7-6 with two out, but the rally fell just short as the Flames held on to earn the one-run victory.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Alabama has had at least one baserunner on in 38 of its 46 innings so far this season
- Alexis Pupillo was 3-for-7 between Friday's two games, extending her hitting streak to seven games to start the season
- The Tide's 12 hits vs. Liberty ties its season high, marking the third time the team has finished in double figures
SCORING SUMMARY VS. SAN DIEGO STATE
- B1 | Brooke Ellestad drove in Audrey Vandagriff with an RBI single (1-0, 1 Out)
- T4 | SDSU tied it up with an RBI single up the middle (1-1, 2 Out)
- T4 | An RBI double gave the Aztecs the lead (1-2, 2 Out)
- T7 | A run scored after a fielding error on a forceout attempt (1-3, 1 Out)
- T7 | An Aztec runner came home on a sac fly RBI (1-4, 1 Out)
SCORING SUMMARY VS. LIBERTY
- B2 | Savanah Whatley drove in two runs with a triple (0-2, 2 Out)
- B2 | Savannah Woodard hit an RBI single to left (0-3, 2 Out)
- T3 | An RBI single from Alexis Pupillo and a fielding error plated two runs for the Tide (2-3, 2 Out)
- T4 | Salen Hawkins tied the game with an RBI single to left (3-3, 1 Out)
- T4 | A bases-loaded single from Larissa Preuitt plated two runs (5-3, 1 Out)
- B6 | Alyssa Henault hit an RBI single up the middle (5-4, 1 Out)
- B6 | An RBI single to left tied the game (5-5, 1 Out)
- B6 | A single and a fielding error allowed two more Liberty runs to score (5-7, 2 Out)
- T7 | Following a triple, Marlie Giles scored from third on a groundout (6-7, 1 Out)
UP NEXT: CLEARWATER INVITATIONAL (CLEARWATER, FLA.)
- Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. Ohio State – 9 a.m. CT – ESPN+
- Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. #4/4 UCLA – 3 p.m. CT - ESPNU