No. 7 Alabama fends off No. 19 Duke comeback attempt

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Alabama softball scored five unanswered runs through the first two innings in Saturday’s matchup against Duke at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational before the Blue Devils mounted a late comeback attempt that fell just short as the Crimson Tide went on to win, 5-4.

For the third time this season, Alabama (3-1) scored first, putting together three runs in the opening frame. Ashley Prange’s two-run homer extended the lead to 5-0 in the second before Duke (3-3) responded with a two-run blast of its own in the fourth to break into the run column and make it 5-2. The Blue Devils made it 5-3 with a solo home run in the fourth inning and the score remained tied going into the seventh inning. A leadoff double, wild pitch and sac fly scored a single for Duke to make it a 5-4 game and a two-out double put the scoring potential in scoring position before a groundout ended the rally as the Crimson Tide went on to win.

The top three in the order went a combined 4-for-10, with Prange posting his third multi-hit game of the season with a single and two RBIs. In the circle, Montana Fouts (2-0) went, striking out eight for his second complete game victory of the young season.

Glare

• Alabama has scored first in three of its four games this season, all of which have come in the first inning
• Ashley Prange now has three multi-hit games so far this season, 14 as a member of the Crimson Tide and 39 for her college career.
• Prange’s three RBIs were also a season high, and his home run was his second of the season
• The complete game was Montana Fouts’ second of the season and 67th of his career
• The win was the 78th of Fouts’ career, putting him one shy of tying Alexis Osorio (2015-18) for fifth in Alabama’s career record book.

Score Summary

• B1 | Ashley Prange drove in Kenleigh Cahalan with an RBI single (1-0, 0 Out)
• B1 | Ally Shipman hit a double to left field, driving in Prange (2-0, 0 Out)
• B1 | Jenna Johnson tacked on another run with an RBI single up the middle (3-0, 2 Outs)
• B2 | Prange smoked a line drive home to center field, scoring two (5-0, 2 Out)
• T4 Kelly Torres gets the Blue Devils on the board with a two-run home run (5-2, 1 Out)
• T6 | Torres hit his second home run of the day, a solo shot to right center (5-3, 1 Out)
• T7 | RBI sac fly serves Duke (5-4, 0 Out)

Next: TaxAct Clearwater Invitational (Clearwater, Fla.)

• Friday, February 17 vs. #2/2 UCLA – 3 pm CT – ESPN2
• Friday, February 18 vs. #20/20 UCF – 1:30pm CT
• Friday, February 18 vs. Indiana – 5 pm CT
• Sunday, February 19 vs. #6/7 Florida State – 4 pm CT