1 week Ago
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— It seemed like it was going to be another one of those late blown-lead losses for Alabama softball as the Crimson Tide pitching staff gave up five runs over the final two innings to give up the five-run lead. Sometimes all you need is a little chaos.
With runners on first and second, senior Kendal Clark put the ball in play to the third base side, and the Missouri infielder's throw took the first baseman off the bag as pinch runner Kinley Pate came around to score to give No. 15 Alabama the 7-6, walk-off win over Mizzou at Rhoads Stadium on Saturday night. Alabama starter Catelyn Riley gave up a leadoff home run to Julia Crenshaw to start the game, but then Riley seemed to get in a groove until the sixth inning when things started to fall apart.
Riley had five runs to work with, but after giving up a two-run home run to Madison Walker and a two-out double to cut the lead to 6-3, she was lifted for Alea Johnson. The Alabama reliever had the Tigers down to their final out in the top of the seventh, but then Crenshaw came through with her second home run of the night to tie the game at 6-6. That's when a little Rhoads magic came into play, and Alabama rallied in the seventh inning starting with Brooke Ellestad's third hit of the day.
Abby Duchscher moved the winning run to second base on a single through the left side, and Pate scored on the Missouri error to win the game. After Mizzou's leadoff home run, Alabama quickly reclaimed the lead as Ellestad had a bases-clearing double for the second game in a row, this time down the left field line to give Alabama the 3-1 lead. The Tide added two more in the third on Kali Heivilin's 13th home run of the year, and tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth when Marlie Giles scored from second on an infield single to give the Tide a 6-1 lead.
Alabama has been on the losing end of so many late-game comebacks this season, and Saturday night's win secured the Crimson Tide's third straight SEC series win at home. The Tide will be going for the sweep over Missouri on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
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