Seventh-Inning Comeback Bid Falls Short as Alabama Softball Falls to Washington, 3-2

Facing a two-run deficit in the seventh inning, Alabama softball scored one and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate, but the comeback ultimately fell just short as the Crimson Tide dropped a 3-2 decision to Washington Friday night at Rhoads Stadium.

“In a game like this, Washington just got the key hit,” UA head coach Patrick Murphy said. “I think if we would have had one more person on base in the last inning, we could have won. Alexis [Osorio] threw a good game, but Washington is a good team.”

Alabama (37-10) and Washington (33-10) were nearly even statistically across the board, each tallying six hits with the Tide drawing two walks to the Huskies’ one. A late two-run home run by Washington’s Kirstyn Thomas ultimately made the difference, though an RBI single by Claire Jenkins in the bottom of the seventh did bring the Tide within one and put the potential tying run on the base paths. Jenkins was one of six Alabama batters to earn a hit in the game, with fellow freshman Gabby Callaway tallying the Tide’s other RBI in the contest. Alexis Osorio (18-6) took the loss it the complete-game effort while Taran Alvelo (20-6) persevered for the win, going the distance in the circle as well.

A leadoff single by Washington’s Sis Bates in the top of the fourth coupled with a throwing error on the play quickly put a runner in scoring position for Washington. Morganne Flores drove her in two batters later with a single up the middle as Bates slid under the tag attempt at home to put the Huskies up 1-0. In the bottom half of the inning, Reagan Dykes dropped a two-out single into left field for Alabama’s first hit of the day and Callaway backed her up with a hard-hit double to the wall in right field, scoring Dykes from first to tie it at 1-1.

With the score still tied 1-1 in the top of the seventh, Kirstyn Thomas gave the Huskies the lead on one swing with a two-run home run. With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Carrigan Fain drew a walk and after a wild pitch advanced pinch-runner Rachel Bobo to second, Jenkins drove her home with an RBI single through the left side, cutting the deficit to one. A fly ball in the next at-bat ended the comeback bid however as Alabama fell, 3-2.

The two teams face off again on Saturday, April 22 at 4 p.m. CT at Rhoads Stadium.