Recap: Alabama Softball Secures Huge Series Win in Gainesville

In a season defining weekend in Gainesville, the Alabama Crimson Tide pulled off their biggest series win of the season taking two of three games from the top ranked Gators.

Similar to the Missouri series, Sidney Littlejohn carried the Crimson Tide to both victories against the Gators. Littlejohn pitched 6.1 innings of one run ball in a 2-1 win on Friday, but she saved her best performance in an Alabama uniform for Sunday. The junior pitcher delivered a complete game shutout in the rubber match allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out two Gators batters.

The shutout Sunday was the first time Florida failed to score a run in a home game since a 7-0 loss to Alabama in 2014.

While managing a total of seven runs over three games in Gainesville, the Crimson Tide generated enough offense to win the series. In the preseason, Patrick Murphy mentioned on the Gary Harris Show that each player would have an opportunity to make a difference in an Alabama win. This weekend, that honor belongs to Sydney Booker. The sophomore from Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama, drove in both Crimson Tide runs Friday including an RBI double with two outs that broke a 1-1 tie in the 6^th inning.

The series win over Florida is huge for a number of reasons. One, it’s a gigantic road win that will look impressive to the NCAA Selection Committee when they select regional hosts and national seeds. Two, it puts Alabama back into the SEC race. Lastly, winning a series on the road at a top ranked opponent gives the Crimson Tide legitimacy relative to being a contender for a spot in Oklahoma City.

After their biggest weekend of the season, Alabama returns home to face Mississippi Valley State from the SWAC. The Devilettes swept their most recent road series at Alabama A&M in convincing fashion as they outscored the Bulldogs 41-19 over three games.

Sophomore Ikeyia Alexander torched Alabama A&M with a 6-8 weekend along with 4 homers, 7 RBIs and 8 runs scored. For the season, Alexander leads MVSU with 8 HRs and 22 RBIs.

First pitch for Alabama vs. MVSU is set for Tuesday at 6 PM from Rhoads Stadium.

College Softball Notes Around Alabama:

-The #3 Auburn Tigers move into a 1^st place tie with #1 Florida thanks to a three-game sweep at #14/12 Kentucky.

-Samford swept two-time defending SoCon Tournament champion Chattanooga in a SoCon series for the first time in program history. Senior Mollie Hanson earned all three wins for the Bulldogs.

-Jacksonville State extended their winning streak to 11 games with a weekend sweep at Tennessee State. In Sunday’s series finale, sophomore Whitney Gillespie tossed a five-inning no-hitter in an 11-0 Gamecocks victory.

-South Alabama swept their third straight Sun Belt Conference opponent with a three-game sweep of Georgia State. Sophomore Devin Brown blanked Georgia State twice in her two weekend starts. The Jaguars travel to Starkville for a mid-week contest against Mississippi State.

-UAB won their 3^rd straight C-USA defeating Marshall in two of three games. The Blazers host Jacksonville State Tuesday and travel from two games at Lipscomb Wednesday.

-Troy dropped two games to South Carolina over the weekend. The Gamecocks won Saturday 8-0 in six innings while defeating the Trojans 10-7 Sunday.

-Alabama State swept their third straight SWAC series with a weekend sweep of Alcorn State. The Hornets are now 9-0 in SWAC play.