Tide Softball Knocks Off UNA

A pair of home runs and a solid outing in the pitching circle led No. 11 Alabama softball to a 9-1 run-rule win in six innings over North Alabama Wednesday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.

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Alabama (11-0) scored in each of the first three innings, leading 6-0 before North Alabama (7-4) erased the shutout with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth. With the score still 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth, a bases-loaded single from Larissa Preuitt drove in a pair before Kali Heivilin ended it two batters later with an RBI single, securing the run-rule victory.

Said Tide coach Patrick Murphy: “We were so excited by Abby Duchscherer’s home run in the first inning. I felt like she was going to do something big. After the team’s lackluster performance on offense Sunday, she got us started off with a bang.

"The defense was awesome too. Jaala Torrence was really good in the circle and didn’t give up a single walk. I thought she was in complete control the whole game. UNA is a very good team. They made it to the championship of their conference tournament last year and I bet they will be a regional team this year. It was a big win for us.”

As Murphy noted, Duchscherer got the scoring started with a first inning home run, her second of the season, to drive in two runs. Emma Broadfoot launched a three-run homer in the third inning, part of a 2-for-3 day at the plate for the senior infielder.

The offense scored its nine runs on 10 hits, marking the Tide’s fifth double-digit hit performance of the season and its second-highest run total. Torrence (4-0) threw a complete-game gem in the circle, allowing just one run on two hits with a season-best six strikeouts with no walks. Of her 88 pitches thrown, 69 went for strikes.