Softball Dominant in 17-1 Win Over UAB Wednesday

Alabama softball was dominant in all phases Wednesday against UAB, defeating the Blazers 17-1 in five innings.

Alabama (37-2) posted its highest run total of the season in the win over UAB (14-21), its highest total since scoring 17 on Feb. 10, 2017 against Towson. The Crimson Tide scored in every inning it came to bat, posting five runs in the first, second and third innings and two in the fourth. Junior Bailey Hemphill was 3-for-3 batting cleanup, scoring four runs and driving in five off a pair of home runs. Junior Claire Jenkins also sent one over the fence, part of a 2-for-2 day with three RBIs. The pitching combination of junior Krystal Goodman (6-0) and sophomore Madison Preston was also efficient, allowing just one run on a combined four hits and no walks on 60 pitches.

After getting out of the top of the first with just eight pitches, Alabama batted around the order in the bottom half, scoring five runs on RBI singles from sophomore Kaylee Tow and senior Merris Schroder, a two-run single by senior Reagan Dykes and a sacrifice fly from freshman Skylar Wallace. With two on base and one out in the bottom of the second, Hemphill roped a three-run home run over the left field fence to increase the lead to 8-0, forcing a pitching change for UAB. Later after a two-out walk, Jenkins blasted another home run to make it a double-digit lead, 10-0.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Schroder lifted a fly ball to the warning track in center for a sacrifice fly as all three runners moved up 60 feet. Two bases-loaded walks stretched the lead to 13-0 before an RBI groundout and fielding error gave the Tide yet another five-run inning, leading 15-0 heading to the fourth.

UAB erased the shutout in the top of the fourth with an RBI single, but Alabama added two more in the bottom half off Hemphill’s second home run of the day to lead 17-1, which ultimately proved final.

Next up, Alabama closes out its five-game home stand Wednesday, April 3 against UAB at 6 p.m. CT.

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