re: Bama Softball 33-17 (10-14) (2023-24)

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Alabama softball was knotted up in a close battle against in-state foe UAB Wednesday night at Rhoads Stadium, with a go-ahead sixth inning RBI single from Jenna Johnson ultimately making the difference in the 4-3 win.

An Alabama (24-5) fielding error in the top of the second plated a run for UAB (12-16) and the Blazers added another unearned run later in the inning on a two-out RBI single to take the early two-run lead. A Johnson solo homer in the bottom of the third plated the first Crimson Tide run and Kenleigh Cahalan put the home team in front later in the frame with a two-run single.

UAB tied it up at 3-3 with a fifth-inning RBI single and, with two on and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Johnson's second hit of the day drove in Kristen White from second to give the Tide the 4-3 lead. Jocelyn Briski (4-0) retired the side in order in the seventh to close out the game and earn the win in relief.

Johnson was 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot with a solo home run and RBI single, her fourth multi-hit game of the season. The home run was her third of the year, two of which have come in the last three games. Kali Heivilin was 2-for-3 batting behind her, her second two-hit performance in the last three games. Cahalan's two-run single extended her hitting streak to five games and she has at least one RBI in each of those five games. Briski earned the win in relief, not allowing a single baserunner while striking out five over 3.0 innings pitched.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"Jenna Johnson hit the ball really well off a tough pitcher. One of her career goals was to hit an opposite field home run, which she was able to accomplish tonight. She was good all night. Jocelyn Briski was rolling tonight, so we stuck with her. Her control was really good and she hit all her spots. UAB is better at this point in the season than when we saw them earlier in the season. They're a good team."

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Alabama softball rallied in the bottom of the seventh to send Saturday's game against Virginia Tech to extra innings, but the Hokies scored five runs in the eighth to ultimately split the weekend series and defeat the Crimson Tide, 8-3.

Alabama (25-6) stranded two Virginia Tech (25-5-1) batters on base in both the second and third innings before the Hokies got on the board in the fourth with a leadoff solo home run. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth, the Tide couldn't turn the front end of an attempted double play as a run came home on what ended up as an RBI groundout to make it 2-0. Alabama had two on base in both the fifth and sixth innings but could not scratch a run across. The Hokies added some insurance in the top of the seventh with a sac fly RBI to make it 3-0.

Facing a three-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh, Kendal Clark bounced a hard-hit ball into the right field corner for a leadoff triple. After a popup for out number one, Lauren Esman pulled a single through the right side to drive in Clark and erase the shutout. A close play at first on a bunt went for out number two, advancing pinch runner Kinley Pate to second, and Jenna Johnson drew a walk to bring the potential winning run to the plate. Cahalan unloaded for her second triple of the day, driving in two to tie it at 3-3 before a strikeout ended the rally and sent the game to extra innings.

The Hokies punched right back in the top of the eighth however, scoring five runs to move ahead 8-3 and Alabama went down in order in the bottom half to end the game.

Cahalan went 2-for-4 with two triples, marking the fifth time in program history a player has hit two triples and the first since Sydney Booker on March 20, 2018 vs. UAB. Jenna Johnson got a hit and scored in the seventh inning, giving her a hit in four of the last five games. Four pitchers saw time in the circle, with Alea Johnson (3-1) ultimately credited with the loss.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"I thought it was a really great series. Again, I truly appreciate Virginia Tech coming down here on their open weekend. We both had open weekends and you really don't get an opportunity often for a top 15 matchup after conference play starts, so I really appreciate them coming down. They're a really good team and their offense showed that today. I was really proud of our group in the bottom of the seventh for tying it up. When we're behind, the goal is to always bring the tying or go-ahead run at the plate and we did that. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately today was one of those days where it didn't happen, but overall it was just a really good series between these two teams with great pitching from both sides."

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