Alabama
24-13, 3-5
Georgia
25-9, 4-7
Softball Evens Weekend Series with 5-4 Saturday Win over Georgia
3/29/2025 5:28:00 PM | Softball
The series rubber match is set for an 11 a.m. CT first pitch Sunday on ESPN2
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball evened the weekend series against the Georgia Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium after a pair of home runs helped secure a 5-4 victory for the Crimson Tide.
After a scoreless first inning, Alabama (24-13, 3-5 SEC) took the lead over Georgia (24-9, 4-7 SEC) in the second thanks to a two-run home run from Riley Valentine. The Bulldogs cut the lead in half two innings later with an RBI single from Emily Digby in the fourth before Kali Heivilin made it a 4-1 game with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. The Crimson Tide added some insurance in in sixth on what ended up as an RBI fielder's choice to make it 5-1. The Bulldogs strung together a quick rally in the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles before Tyler Ellison cleared the bases with a three-run home run to make it a one-run game. Georgia put the potential tying run on base with two outs, but Heivilin fielded the game-ending groundout to secure the final out and the win.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"Today was a good win and we really needed one. Catelyn [Riley] gave us a really good start in the circle. Riley Valentine was a really good spot in the lineup, and Kali [Heivilin] and Lauren Johnson were the other two heroes on offense."
Highlights
- The Alabama defense turned its league-leading 23rd double play of the season, which beats last season's total and is now the fourth-highest single season total in program history
- The game was the Tide's 13 with multiple home runs, its second in conference play
- Audrey Vandagriff stole her 42nd base of the season, giving her sole possession of ninth place on the UA single season records and one shy of Kelly Kretschman's 43 from 2000
- With two walks today, Vandagriff's reached-base streak now sits at 24 games
- Kali Heivilin slugged her team-leading 11th home run of the season while Riley Valentine hit her second
Scoring Summary
- B2 | Riley Valentine slugged a two-run home run to center (2-0, 1 Out)
- T4 | Emily Digby hit an RBI single down the right field line (2-1, 2 Out)
- B5 | Kali Heivilin bounced a two-run home run off the scoreboard (4-1, 2 Out)
- B6 | Kinley Pate scored from third on an RBI fielder's choice (5-1, 1 Out)
- T7 | Tyler Ellison hit a three-run home run (5-4, 1 Out)
Up Next: vs. No. 15/17 Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Sunday, March 30 – 11 a.m. CT – ESPN2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Riley, Catelyn (7-1)
L: Roelling, Randi (8-5)
S: Briski, Jocelyn (2)
Batting:
2B: Davis, Lyndi Rae 1 ; Miller, Marisa 1
HR: Ellison, Tyler 1
RBI: Ellison, Tyler 3 ; Digby, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ellison, Tyler 1 ; Castorri, Emma 1 ; Williams, Mua 1 ; Allen, Paislie 1
SB: Goodnight, Dallis 1
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Lauren 1
HR: Heivilin, Kali 1 ; Valentine, Riley 1
RBI: Heivilin, Kali 2 ; Valentine, Riley 2 ; Johnson, Lauren 1
SH: Preuitt, Larissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heivilin, Kali 1 ; Pate, Kinley 1 ; Preuitt, Larissa 1 ; Valentine, Riley 1 ; Johnson, Lauren 1
SB: Vandagriff, Audrey 1 ; Ellestad, Brooke 1 ; Preuitt, Larissa 1
HBP: Hawkins, Salen 1
