The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team won its first matchup of the Tuscaloosa NCAA regional Friday night, outlasting the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 4-0. Senior outfielder Kayla Braud sparked a two-run third inning for Alabama, earning a base hit as that inning’s first batter to keep her current hit streak hit alive at 21 games.

Delayed more than two hours due to a weather delay, the teams appeared to let that lull affect their early games. It wasn’t until a single by catcher Molly Fichtner sent two runners home in the third inning that the Crimson Tide offense awoke, going ahead 2-0.

Head coach Patrick Murphy acknowledged Braud’s offensive play, which led to three hits from her four at-bats.

“I thought Kayla Braud was awesome at the top of the lineup,” Murphy said.

Despite the explosive third inning, the Gamecocks kept the game to only two runs before Alabama’s bats struck again. In a long fifth inning, Junior Kaila Hunt and sophomore Jadyn Spencer posted back-to-back solo home runs, busting the game wide open before the Gamecocks got out of the inning with the bases loaded.

Sophomore Leslie Jury pitched the full seven innings for the Crimson Tide, allowing zero runs and only eight hits to go along with four strikeouts.

Though Jury did keep Jacksonville State at bay throughout the game, Jacksonville State’s offense did threaten, loading the bases in the sixth inning to put runners in scoring position. A potential hit up the left-field side was thwarted by third baseman Courtney Conley, tagging the base to end what looked to be sure scoring opportunities by the Gamecocks.

Outfielder Haylie McCleney also made a spectacular play in the second inning, throwing out a runner at home. Fichtner snatched up the ball and held on as the collision occurred.

“It was a hard ground ball up the middle and I knew the runner was going to go,” McCleney said. “Molly made a great play, catching it on a short hop.”

Teammate Kaila Hunt gave note to McCleney’s athletic play.

“You have to tip her hat,” Hunt said. “She’s an athlete. This kind of effort is not just happening in this game. When she makes that play I’m like, ‘Well I’ve seen that about five times in practive.’ She plays her heart out.”

The Crimson Tide will face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, winners of their regional game against South Carolina Upstate. If Alabama wins that matchup, they’ll get a bye before the regional finals on Sunday.