Freshmen Lead Alabama Softball in Doubleheader Sweep

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — There wasn’t a ton of offense on show from Alabama softball in  Tuesday’s doubleheader, however there wasn’t a lot required in opposition to North Alabama and Alcorn State. 

Because of robust performances within the circle from Jaala Torrence, Lexi Kilfoyl and Alex Salter, the No. 2 Crimson Tide beat North Alabama 6-1 in recreation one and Alcorn State 4-0 in recreation two at Rhoads Stadium.

With the break in convention motion, Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy was capable of experiment with totally different lineups within the doubleheader. Most of Alabama’s common starters got one or each video games to relaxation with a street sequence in opposition to Texas A&M looming this weekend. 

“This late within the 12 months if you get to play all people, and all people will get at-bats, it is superior, as a result of I will want loads of these individuals down the stretch,” Murphy mentioned. “And if I do not play them now, I will by no means know what they will do.”

All six of Alabama’s true freshmen bought not less than one begin between the 2 video games. Infielder Megan Bloodworth is a daily starter for the Crimson Tide, however she as soon as once more flashed her energy in recreation one with a three-run dwelling run within the first inning in opposition to North Alabama, her seventh of the 12 months. She additionally tacked on one other RBI with a sac fly within the second. Bloodworth is now second on the workforce with 27 RBIs. 

Kail Heivin knocked the primary dwelling run of her Crimson Tide profession with a shot to deep middle to steer off the second inning and gave Alabama a 4-0 lead. Murphy mentioned she had over 70 dwelling runs in her highschool profession, and he or she does it for the Tide in follow every single day. 

“That was a very good feeling for certain,” Heivilin mentioned. “I’ve type of struggled loads recently with entering into there with confidence realizing I can do it out of highschool,  and truthfully I could not let you know why I did, however I have been working actually exhausting. So having the ability to get that first dwelling run was undoubtedly a very good feeling.”

General, Alabama struggled on the plate within the doubleheader. Whereas they solely struck out six occasions and have been making contact with the ball, it solely resulted in 10 hits. In recreation two in opposition to Alcorn State, solely one in all Alabama’s 4 runs got here on an RBI, and it was a bases loaded stroll to Jordan Stephens. 

“We have been swinging on the proper pitch, we simply did not hit it, or we flew out or no matter,” Murphy mentioned. “We did have some good photographs, however I do not care who’s on the market, I anticipate just a little bit extra offensively from whoever it’s.”

Within the circle, Alabama dealt with enterprise. Torrence responded from a tough outing in opposition to Mississippi State her final trip, the place she gave up 5 runs in simply 1.1 innings pitching, with 4 shutout innings of one-hit ball in opposition to the Lions earlier than Kilfoyl got here in from the bullpen to alleviate her. 

Kilfoyl, who didn’t pitch in any respect this half weekend in opposition to Mississippi State, bought the beginning in recreation two in opposition to Alcorn State. She threw 5 shutout innings, permitting only one hit with 9 strikeouts. Salter relieved Kilfoyl within the sixth and didn’t permit a run with three strikeouts in two innings pitched. 

“All people who bought in did nice,” Stephens mentioned. “Salty had a giant weekend final weekend, so it was good to see her come out once more and pitch very well. Jaala pitched very well within the first recreation, did not hand over any runs. And Lexi as at all times, is on level.”

With the 2 wins, Alabama improves to 38-6 on the season and can journey to Texas A&M for a three-game sequence starting Friday. 

“This can be a enormous weekend for us,” Murphy mentioned. “We have loads left to play for nonetheless.  I feel our workforce is aware of that, and it is enormous for us. So we’ll take it on at a time and do our greatest.”

This story can be up to date with video