Alabama
6-6
Virginia Tech
10-2
Softball Splits Friday Games at Easton Bama Bash
2/21/2025 9:37:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide falls to Virginia Tech in a pitcher’s duel, run-rules Southern Utah
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball split its two Friday games at the Easton Bama Bash, falling to No. 15 Virginia Tech in a 2-1 pitcher's duel before earning the 9-1 run-rule win over Southern Utah in six innings.
Alabama (7-6) and Virginia Tech (10-2) were in a scoreless pitcher's duel until the top of the fourth, when what was originally ruled an inning-ending double play was reviewed and overturned to a fielder's choice at first, allowing a Hokie runner from third to score. Virginia Tech moved ahead 2-0 with an RBI double in the top of the sixth but a Larissa Preuitt RBI single in the home half of the inning drew the Crimson Tide back within a run. Some quick glove work from Abby Duchscherer with one out in the top of the seventh ended in an unassisted double play, sending Alabama to the bottom half with the score still 2-1. Back-to-back singles from Kali Heivilin and Duchscherer put the potential winning run on base with one out, but a flyout and a diving catch in the outfield ended the rally as the Hokies held on for the one-run win.
In game two against Southern Utah (3-8), Kali Heivilin got the scoring started with a second-inning solo home run, but the Thunderbirds tied it up in the top of the fourth with their own solo shot. The score wasn't tied long as Kennedy Marceaux smacked a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 4-1 ballgame. The Tide put it away in the sixth with a pair of two-run singles from Kendal Clark and Preuitt before Abby Duchscherer capped the 9-1 run-rule victory with an RBI single.
FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK MURPHY
"If we started the first game like we ended the second game, it would have been a different story. [Emma Lemley] is a great pitcher and a great young lady. We needed to have better at-bats at the beginning of the Virginia Tech game. She hits different locations and spins, her drop ball is really good, and we had the winning run on base."
HIGHLIGHTS
- With a hit in each game Friday, Kali Heivilin extended her hitting streak to 10 games
- Heivilin's home run vs. Southern Utah marked her fourth in the last six games
- Larissa Preuitt extended her hitting streak to seven games, breaking her previous record of five from her 2023 freshman season
- Abby Duchscherer was 2-for-3 vs. the Hokies, her first multi-hit game of season and the 10th of career
- Kendal Clark hit a two-run single in her first at-bat of the season vs. the Thunderbirds
SCORING SUMMARY VS. VIRGINIA TECH
- T4 | Initially ruled an out, review overturned the call as a run scored on the fielder's choice (0-1, 1 Out)
- T6 | Cori McMillan hit an RBI double into left field (0-2, 0 Out)
- B6 | Larissa Preuitt drove in Kristen White with an RBI single through the right side (1-2, 0 Out)
SCORING SUMMARY VS. SOUTHERN UTAH
- B2 | Kali Heivilin led off the half-inning with a solo home run to left (1-0, 0 Out)
- T4 | The Thunderbirds tied the game with a solo home run (1-1, 0 Out)
- B4 | Kennedy Marceux crushed a three-run home run to left (4-1, 2 Out)
- B6 | Kendal Clark's first at-bat of the season was a two-run single (6-1, 0 Out)
- B6 | Larisa Preuitt drove in two with a bases-loaded single (8-1, 0 Out)
- B6 | Abby Duchscherer singled down the line for the game-ending RBI (9-1, 1 Out)
UP NEXT: EASTON BAMA BASH (TUSCALOOSA, ALA.)
- Saturday, Feb. 22 vs. Drake (DH) – 11 a.m. CT
- Sunday, Feb. 23 vs. Virginia Tech – 12:30 p.m. CT
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Emma Lemley (4-1)
L: Briski, Jocelyn (1-5)
Batting:
2B: Cori McMillan 1
RBI: Cori McMillan 1 ; Kylie Aldridge 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zoe Yaeger 1 ; Cori McMillan 1
SB: Cori McMillan 1
Batting:
2B: Duchscherer, Abby 1
RBI: Preuitt, Larissa 1
SH: White, Kristen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: White, Kristen 1
