Following a 3-1 weekend at the Spring Break Showdown, No. 23 Alabama traveled to Mobile on Tuesday to close out nonconference play, beating South Alabama 15-3.
The Crimson Tide got its offense going once again, entering back in the win column with a victory over the Jaguars.
Starting pitcher Jocelyn Briski was back on the mound Tuesday. Briski entered the game with an ERA of 2.09, and she continued to be in a rhythm as she pitched three innings, allowing three hits and only one run.
Relief pitchers Emily Winstead and Alea Johnson came in for Briski in the fourth inning. In the two innings of relief, the relievers gave up a combined three hits and 2 runs and struck out two batters.
“The defense was good, and both relief pitchers I thought did well behind Briski as well,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said.
The Crimson Tide offense got off to an early lead thanks to its ability to draw walks. The first five batters in the batting order were walked to start the game, which brought in 2 runs.
Left fielder Alexis Pupillo was credited with an RBI for the first run of the game, and designated hitter Catelyn Riley was credited for Alabama’s second run for the walk that she forced.
With the bases loaded, second baseman Kali Heivilin extended Alabama’s lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly out to center field that brought home right fielder Larissa Preuitt.
In the top of the third inning, Alabama put more runs on the scoreboard. After Pupillo got Alabama’s first hit of the game off a ground-rule double to center field and Heivilin and Riley were walked to load the bases, third baseman Brooke Ellestad singled to shallow center field and brought Pupillo home.
That was just the start of the offense. In the top of the fourth inning, the Crimson Tide started a home run party. The inning began with an RBI single from first baseman Abby Duchscherer.
Two pitches later, Pupillo hit a 3-run home run deep to center field. After Riley was walked for the third time in the game, Heivilin and Ellestad hit back-to-back home runs that generated 3 more points for Alabama and put the run-ahead rule into effect.
Heivilin’s home run marked her 10th of the season. She entered Tuesday’s game tied for fourth place in the SEC in home runs for a player this season.
In the top of the fifth inning, Alabama added 4 more insurance runs, including 2 runs that pinch hitter Kendal Clark helped drive in as South Alabama dropped a fly ball in left field.
In total, Alabama forced 12 walks from South Alabama and got 10 hits. Pupillo led the team in RBIs with 3 of them and Heivilin was right behind her with 3 RBIs to her name.
“Nineteen players saw time in the game, so it was a total team victory. Our hitters were very patient, laying off bad pitches and waiting for hittable ones,” Murphy said.
