Alabama
Iowa
Softball Splits Saturday Games at Spring Break Showdown
3/8/2025 7:25:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide defeats Iowa, 5-1, before a late comeback falls short vs. Louisiana in 4-3 loss
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball split its two games Saturday at the Spring Break Showdown, defeating Iowa, 5-1, before a seventh-inning rally fell just short in a 4-3 loss to Louisiana.
Alabama (19-7) and Iowa (15-7) were scoreless through three innings until an RBI single in the top of the fourth gave the Hawkeyes the first lead of the game. The Crimson Tide loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom half of the inning and some chaos on the basepaths following a pair of Iowa errors plated two runs for the Crimson Tide, with an RBI groundout later in the inning making it 3-1. Alabama added two more in the fifth to make it 5-1 and the pitching and defense held the Hawkeyes the rest of the way, with Jocelyn Briski (7-5) getting the win while Braya Hodges and Alea Johnson retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
The Tide jumped ahead to an early 2-0 lead over Louisiana (13-9) in game two on a pair of RBI singles from Alexis Pupillo and Kennedy Marceaux. The Ragin' Cajuns tied it in the third with a two-run single and then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on a squeeze bunt. Another Alabama fielding error in the sixth brought in an unearned run to make it 4-2. Trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, Alabama loaded the bases with two out and a fielding error brought in a run and extended the game, putting the potential winning run in scoring position. The Ragin' Cajuns stopped the comeback attempt as a grounder back to the pitcher ended the game and gave the visitors the 4-3 win.
FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK MURPHY
"I want to thank Iowa and Louisiana for coming to the tournament. They were really good competition all weekend. Once they leave Tuscaloosa, we will wish them good luck for the rest of the season. In the second game, we did not do enough offensively to combat our bad defense. We were up 2-0 and then went through the motions for five innings and then had the winning run at second with two outs in the seventh. It was a great rally. Nobody gave up and I really thought we were going to win, but we came up just a bit short."
HIGHLIGHTS
- With two stolen bases today, Audrey Vandagriff now has 31 this season, putting her nine away from cracking the UA single season top 10
- Vandagriff has reached base safely in 14 straight games
- Jocelyn Briski earned her sixth straight win in the opener vs. Iowa, allowing just one run over 5.0 innings pitched
- Alexis Pupillo was 2-for-3 against Louisiana, her seventh multi-hit game of the season
SCORING SUMMARY: ALABAMA 5, IOWA 1
- T4 | Allyssa Ramos dropped an RBI single into center field (0-1, 1 Out)
- B4 | A fielder's choice RBI and two errors allowed two Tide runners to score (2-1, 0 Out)
- B4 | An RBI groundout brought home another for Alabama (3-1, 1 Out)
- B5 | A failed putout at third allowed Tide run to score (4-1, 2 Out)
- B5 | Marlie Giles drew a bases-loaded walk (5-1, 2 Out)
SCORING SUMMARY: LOUISIANA 4, ALABAMA 3
- B1 | Alexis Pupillo hit an RBI single to left (1-0, 2 Out)
- B1 | Kennedy Marceaux dropped an RBI single into right center (2-0, 2 Out)
- T3 | Cecilia Vasquez hit a two-run single up the middle (2-2, 2 Out)
- T4 | Louisiana took the lead on an RBI bunt single (2-3, 1 Out)
- T6 | A fielding error brought in an unearned run (2-4, 1 Out)
- B7 | Mari Hubbard scored from third on a two-out fielding error (3-4, 2 Out)
UP NEXT: AT SOUTH ALABAMA (MOBILE, ALA.)
- Tuesday, March 10 – 5 p.m. CT
