re: Bama Softball 39-20 (10-14) (2023-24)

quote:

---

Alabama softball earned its fourth ranked victory of the season Wednesday night, a 4-1 road win over Florida State.

No. 14 Alabama (21-3) jumped ahead early over 16th-ranked Florida State (17-6) with two runs in the top of the first inning on a solo home run from Abby Duchscherer and RBI single from Bailey Dowling. The Crimson Tide failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the third and fourth innings, stranding the bases loaded and a runner on second, respectively. The Seminoles led off their half of the fourth with the first hit of the game before a walk put two on base. After a strikeout and groundout to move the runners up 60 feet with two out, a wild pitch brought in a run before a fly ball ended the inning with the score now 2-1. With two out and a runner on first in the top of the sixth, Kali Heivilin lifted a two-run homer to center field to add some cushion, pushing the score to its eventual final tally of 4-1.

Duchscherer, Dowling and Kristen White each had two hits in the win with Duchscherer's home run as her team-leading sixth of the season. Heivilin's home run was her third of the year and her first since Feb. 16 against St. Thomas. Alea Johnson (3-0) took home the win in relief, allowing just two hits over 3.1 shutout innings.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"I thought tonight was a win-win for college softball. Both teams played really well in front of a packed house on national television. It was a great atmosphere. I thought [Kayla] Beaver gave us a great start and then Alea [Johnson] came in and pitched in a game for the first time in two weeks and did awesome. That shows the depth of our pitching staff. All our runs tonight came with two outs, so we passed the baton down and got the key hits when we needed them."

---