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Photo: Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball closed out the opening weekend of the Leadoff Classic in dominant fashion, riding a nine-run fourth inning to a 13-1 five-inning win over Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
Alabama (2-1) took a 4-1 lead over Georgia Southern (0-4) through 3.0 innings before the break opened with nine runs in the fourth, as 14 batters came to the plate, scoring nine runs on five hits including a three-run double from Jenna Johnson and an inside-the-park home run from Kenleigh Cahalan. With Cahalan at the top of the order followed by Ashley Prange and Ally Shipman, the trio went a combined 4-for-6 with five runs scored and six RBIs. Three pitchers saw time in the game, with Alex Salter (1-0) taking home the win with 3.0 innings pitched and just one run allowed on two hits.
Saturday’s second game against Lehigh was canceled due to inclement weather and will not be rescheduled.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
“The fourth inning was great with the starting lineup, but also the pinch hitters kept going. The only thing we couldn’t do yesterday was pass the baton, so we did a better job. inning today. We handled the weather pretty well, [Alex] Salter is from Fort Myers, Florida, so he played in this kind of weather during high school and summer ball. I’m proud of our three pitchers who went out today to acclimate to the weather.
“After the first loss this weekend, the two wins certainly build momentum especially finishing this one in five innings. It was a good way to end it. Our pitch crew did a great job all weekend trying to keep the pitch dry. our players.”
Glare
- Seven different Alabama players had a hit in the win, including multi-hit games from Ashley Prange and Kali Heivilin
- Kenleigh Cahalan and Jenna Johnson led the team with three RBI
- Cahalan is now the fifth player in Alabama history whose first career home run is an inside-the-park home run, joining Leah White (February 13, 2004 vs. Lipscomb), Ryan Iamurri (March 2, 2012 vs. Maryland). Haylie McCleney (Feb. 19, 2013 vs. Drake) and Skylar Wallace (Feb. 23, 2019 vs. Missouri State)
Score Summary
B1 | Bailey Dowling drove in a run on an RBI sac fly (1-0, 1 Out)
B2 | Wind-assisted single by Ashley Prange drives in two runs (3-0, 2 Out)
B2 | Ally Shipman drove in Prange from second with an RBI single up the middle (4-0, 2 Out)
T3 | Eagles get on board with RBI single (4-1, 1 Out)
B4 An error at home with a forceout attempt allowed Alabama to score two runs (6-1, 1 Out)
B4 With the bases loaded, Jenna Johnson drove in all three with a double down the left field line (9-1, 1 Out)
B4 Faith Hensley hit a fly ball to right as Johnson scored from third on an RBI sac fly (10-1, 1 Out)
B4 With two runners on base, Kenleigh Cahalan put the ball in the right field gap and sprinted the full 240 feet to round the bases with an inside-the-park home run (13-1, 2 Out)
Next: TaxAct Clearwater Invitational (Clearwater, Fla.)
- Friday, February 16 vs. Duke – 12 pm CT – SEC Network
- Friday, February 17 vs. UCLA – 3 pm CT – ESPN2
- Friday, February 18 vs. UCF – 1:30 PM CT
- Friday, February 18 vs. Indiana – 5 pm CT
- Sunday, February 19 vs. Florida State – 4 pm CT
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