Alabama Softball Completes Sweeps of St. Thomas and Virginia

After a doubleheader Friday night, Alabama Softball followed that up by beating both St. Thomas and Virginia for the second time in two days.

"I think chemistry," said second basemen Kali Heivilin when asked what's been clicking for this team. "Everybody's hard work is starting to finally pay off and I think we're trusting what we have and just letting it fly and doing our thing."

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Game one:

Alabama's offense took advantage early as they calmly walked four straight times in the bottom of the first.  Catcher Riley Valentine walked in a run followed by third basemen Bailey Dowling pushing in another on a fielder's choice.

Heivilin teamed up with center fielder Larissa Preuitt in the bottom of the second as Heivilin doubled before being knocked in on a Preuitt single up the middle. That made it 3-0.

After another Valentine walk to begin the bottom of the third, shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan stepped up and poked a pitch low and outside to left-center to score Valentine. Right fielder Kendal Clark added an RBI double of her own after fouling off multiple pitches. 5-0 Alabama after three.

The Crimson Tide put the nail in the coffin in the bottom of the fourth. It all started with left fielder Jenna Johnson walking for the second time. Sophomore Abby Duchscherer extended her hitting streak to eight with an RBI single up the middle. Valentine lined a ball off the third basemen's diving glove that pushed pinch runner Lauren Johnson across to extend the lead to 7-0.

Preuitt was the hero as she finished off the Tommies with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth to give Alabama their eighth win of the season by a score of 8-0.

"Just being up there in the box and just knowing that everybody has your back like during every single pitch, it just really makes a difference," said Preuitt.

Senior Jaala Torrence found her 2023 magic in her relief appearance Friday night and that success continued on Saturday. She pitched all five innings in scoreless fashion, striking out six and limiting St. Thomas to just two hits as she is now 3-0 on the season.

"Jaala had to make adjustments today," said Coach Patrick Murphy after Torrence faced St. Thomas for the second time this weekend. "Still, she was terrific so kudos to her."

Game two: 

Jenna Johnson continued to do her duty as the leadoff hitter walking to begin the first inning. After Lauren Johnson moved her over with a sacrifice bunt, Heivilin sliced a ball through the left side of the infield scoring Jenna Johnson who dove head-first at home.

"I went up there and I was like see ball hit ball," said Heivilin. "I went in with that mentality of they ( her teammates) didn't succeed so now I'm going to have their back behind them."

Dowling added a run on her own in the second inning when she muscled one over the left field for her first home run of the season. The Crimson Tide added another in the second with Lauren Johnson popping a ball over the first basemen. Preuitt came around to score on an errant throw after she singled and stole second. 3-0 Tide.

Virginia's offensive cavalry attacked in the top of the third. Designated player Macee Eaton lined one up the middle for a two-out two-run scoring single to cut the Alabama lead to one 3-2.

Freshman Jocelyn Briski began the game in the circle for Alabama. After four and two-thirds innings, Coach Murphy decided to go to Senior Kayla Beaver for her first relief appearance of the season. Briski finished with six strikeouts and allowed two runs.

Even though Alabama couldn't add any insurance runs they were able to squeak by with a 3-2 victory as Beaver closed things out. She pitched the final two and a third innings to secure the victory. She allowed two hits but no runs and five strikeouts.

"She's just dominant. I know that she's going to get the job done," said Heivilin. "I think a big thing is she trusts her defense, so she doesn't get too tense."

Alabama will conclude the Easton Bama Bash on Sunday afternoon against the University of Southern Indiana.