Alabama Softball Crushes the Crimson Cupcake Classic

It was another successful weekend for Bama as they look ahead to SEC play.

GAME 1: ALABAMA 2, ST THOMAS 0

Two stories breached the surface in this game: 1) Jocelyn Briski was masterful; 2) the Tide offense had a real letdown. The Crimson Tide pitcher threw 7.0 brilliant innings of shutout, 2-hit ball while striking out a career high 14 batters. It almost went to waste if not for Alexis Pupillo’s opposite field two-run jack as the third batter of the game for Alabama.

After that, it was a whole bunch of ground outs for Bama. The Tide collected only three more hits after the big bang by Pup.

NOTES:

It was the second game of the day for St Thomas. The Tommies run ruled Kent State in that game 8-0.
Briski’s only flaws on the day were two walks, which were her first two of the season. She also topped 100 pitches in a game at 105. She was not on a pitch cont for the first time this season.
Audrey Vandagriff led off the 3rd inning with a bunt single, in which she was confirmed safe after a really long review. However on the next pitch, she was called out for leaving the base too early on a steal attempt.
Abby Duchscherer continues to struggle. She started at third base and went 0 for 3 that included a strike out with one out and a runner at second and later made the third out on a line out with a runner at third. Mari Hubbard entered the game in the 6th and hit a lead off single.
Pup was back as starting catcher and again called a nice game. Marlie Giles was the DH.
Ana Roman did not start, though she did have a pinch-hitting appearance in the 5th. Kristen White (0-1, BB) started at center on her Senior Day with Vandagriff in left and Lauren Johnson in right.
Kristen White’s dad threw out the first pitch in this game.

GAME 2: ALABAMA 8, SOUTH FLORIDA 0 (5 innings, run rule)

After underestimating the Tommies in Game 1, the Tide was back to some normalcy in the starting lineup that included Ana Roman in right and Mari Hubbard at the hot corner.

The Tide and USF were scoreless until the 4th when Ana Roman crushed an opposite field one out triple off the left fielder’s glove. Salen Hawkins singled up the middle for an RBI. A single and a walk loaded the bases for Audrey Vandagriff who singled in a pair of Bama runners for a 3-0 advantage.

In the bottom of 5th, the Bama bats came alive with four straight one-baggers to begin the frame. The big one came from Roman who knocked in a pair. A fielder’s choice scored a sixth run and then Hubbard walked. Lauren Johnson ended the game with a walk-off double.

In the circle, Vic Moten (8-0) just keeps rolling along. The fab freshman went all five innings, striking out seven and allowing only one single and one base on balls.

NOTES:

Hawkins committed a two-out error on a chopper in the 1st. The runner did not advance any further.
USF put runners at second and third in the top of 3rd of a scoreless game but Moten got a huge strike out to end the threat.
In the pivotal 5th inning, Pupillo went first to third on a single by Marlie Giles – a move that coach Patrick Murphy said was made by Pup. With the throw going to third, Giles was able to move up to second base.
It seems like it is Brooke Wells turn to slump. She went 0 for 3 with a strikeout after going 0-2 with a K in Game 1

GAME 3: ALABAMA 8, KENT STATE 1

Alea Johnson got the start in the circle on her Senior Day and things did not get off to a greatest of starts. The first Golden Flash batter singled and stole second base. A SAC bunt moved her to third and a fielder’s choice scored the day’s first run.

Alabama quickly struck back as Ana Roman knocked in two runs with a single in the bottom of the frame.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Gerritt Griggs had an infield single and Alexis Pupillo singled her in. Brooke Wells broke out of her mini-slump with a towering 2-run dinger for a 5-1 lead.

Alea ran into trouble in the 4th when two walks, a wild pitch, and an error by Jena Young at second loaded the bases for KSU. It was Kaitlyn Pallozzi to the rescue as the freshman hurler struck out the next two Flashes to slam the door.

In the 6th, the Kent State pitchers could not find the strike zone. Two different Hot Flashes walked in a run each and Roman hit by pitch for a painful RBI to go up 8-1. Of the four walks in the frame, all were of the 0-4 variety (ie no strikes).

Pallozzi (4-0) ended the game with a 1-2-3 7th inning.

Despite going 3 for 3 in the previous game, Patrick Murphy’s Gut sat Salen Hawkins in favor of Gerritt Griggs at shortstop. Yeah, that’s what you want: sit a hot hitter. Griggs took full advantage of the opportunity, going 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.
Roman was the DH and LoJo rode the pine so that Larissa Preuitt could play right field and Kristen White could operate in center.
Duchscherer (2 for 3) was back at third and then switched over to first.
Both pitchers whiffed a quartet of batters. Alea gave up two hits and three walk in 3.1 innings. Pallozzi no-hit KSU over her 3.2 innings of work with 1 walk.
Alea’s dad threw out the game’s first pitch.

GAME 4: ALABAMA 8, USF 0 (5 Inn.)

Brooke Wells continued her hot day with a first inning solo no-doubter for an early 1-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the third, Audrey Vandagriff ripped a ball to right center and sped around the bases ending up with a sliding triple.

Wells came up big again, singling ‘Griff in to make it 2-0 Tide. Still in the 3rd, Bama loaded the bases. Abby Duchscherer and Gerritt Griggs then took back-to-back walks for RBIs, but Alabama could get no more runs in that frame.

In the 4th, Vandagriff again got things going at the top of the order with a single. After a pitching change Wells and Alexis Pupillo both singled to jam the bases with Tide runners. That is when Marlie Giles took the new pitcher downtown for a grand slam.

Jocelyn Briski (6-0) had another excellent game, striking out seven and allowing only one single over 4.0 innings. Though she threw only 49 pitches, the junior was lifted in favor of Kaitlyn Pallozzi. She gave up a leadoff double, but was able to shut down the next three USF batters.

NOTES:

Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo both went 4-for-5 on the day.
Pupillo had a stolen base.
Salen Hawkins had an 11-pitch walk in the 4th inning
The win over USF is the 11th shutout of the season and its eighth run-rule victory for Alabama.

GAME 5: ALABAMA 7 ST THOMAS 0

Back against St Thomas, it was more like a post-season starting lineup. After the Tide’s first four batters made out, Ana Roman broke up the no-hitter with a big blast over the center field wall.

Brooke Wells continued her two day tear with her third home run of the weekend to make it 2-0 Bama.

Following the Wells dinger, Marlie Giles singled, stole a base, and would score on a Salen Hawkins ground out.

In the 5th, consecutive singles by Jena Young, Lauren Johnson, and Audrey Vandagriff made it 4-0. Following that score, Vandagriff showed why she is an All-American. Wells lofted a ball into deep center field and both Lo-Jo, who was on third, and ‘Griff, who was on second base, scored on the sac fly. With the bases empty, Alexis Pupillo hit her eighth round-tripper of the season.

Unfortunately, Bama could not get that invaluable eighth run that would trigger the run rule and the game ended two innings later.

Vic Moten (9-0) went 5.0 innings and gave up only one hit, but had three walks. She had four strike outs but had nine fly outs as opposed to only one ground out. The final two frames were thrown by Kaitlyn Pallozzi. The frosh gave up one single and one walk with one K.

NOTES:

Giles and Vandagriff both stole a base.
Giles had the game’s only error, a throwing error on a passed ball thrown down to second base.
Alabama turned two double plays, including a throw ‘em out strike ‘em out.

GAME 6: ALABAMA 8 OAKLAND 1

The final game of the weekend was Senior Day for pinch-running specialist Kinley Pate. The Northport native got the first start of her career and God bless her, she picked up the first RBI of her Alabama career.

Alabama got the scoring going in the second when Brooke Wells walked, Ambrey Taylor doubled, and Jena Young knocked in a run with a sac fly.

With Kaitlyn Pallozzi in the circle, Oakland got a run back on a double and a single in the top of 3rd. She beaned the next batter but still got the final batter of the inning out on a ground out. Even so, coach Patrick Murphy had seen enough and brought in Alea Johnson for the 4th inning.

After a sweet double play ended the top of the 4th, the Bama bats woke up with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Following two Alabama singles, Taylor stroked her first collegiate home run to make it 4-1 Bama.

A few batters later, Ana Roman made it 6-1 with a 2 RBI dinger.

In the 6th, Kristen White walked and stole second. This is the point in which Pate came up with an RBI single to make it 7-1 Tide. Alexis Pupillo would later knock her in with an RBI single.

Alea Johnson (1-0) was pretty dang solid throwing 4.0 shutout, one-hit innings with three strikeouts to earn her first win of the season.

NOTES:

Pate, Larissa Preuitt, and Kristen White each stole a base.
Freshman Taylor picked up her fifth, sixth, and seventh RBI of the season.
Gerritt Griggs (1 for 3) again started at short for Hawkins with Mari Hubbard (1-3 1 run) at third base. Ambrey Taylor was at first base. Vandagriff also took the game off.

[SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: The section below is not all rainbows, lollipops, and unicorns. If we see an issue that we deem worth discussing, RBR is not going to shy away from it. That is the MO that this whole website is based on. If you want sunshine pumped up your nether regions, there are PLENTY of those people more than willing to provide that service. If you are easily triggered, stop reading now and play the above video on repeat. If you live in the real world, carry on my wayward son.]

SERIES NOTES

With the silly season over, it is time for the Bama staff to put their heads together and compile a consistent starting line up and rotation. The biggest decision is what to do with Duchscherer/Hubbard at third base. Duke was 3 for 10 but only produced one RBI and no runs. The senior walked once but whiffed three times. She is hitting .231 with one multi-base hit. Hubbard was 2 for 7 on the weekend with 2 runs scored and a walk. Gerritt Griggs (3-7, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 0 K, 0 errors) also gave the staff something to think about.
Vandagriff looked a smidge better than last weekend (4 for 12, 3 RBI, 3 runs). She was much more successful when she swung the bat with authority rather than trying to slap/bunt. [Are you paying attention, Gut®?]
Jena Young had a rough weekend, going 2 for 12.
Pup, Roman and Wells were the only Tide players to participate in all six games.
The presence of Moten and Pallozzi in the rotation seems to have taken the pressure off of Briski. Last season, it felt like so much was piled on her back. My Gut™ tells me it should Moten as the No. 1 and Briski as No.2. But the Original Gut® has a mind of his own.
I could be completely off on this point, but Briski seems a little more svelte this year. Could it be that she has spent more time in the gym working out in the off-season and it is paying off in her performance?
Sunday’s win over St. Thomas was Alabama’s 12th shutout of the season. The Tide also has 8 run-rule wins.
Pupillo’s hit streak now sits at 12 games along with a 16 game reached-base streak. Now-graduated Brooke Ellestad hit the second most homers for the Tide last season at 8. Pup already has that total. Brooke Wells and Ana Roman are close behind with seven home runs each.
Alabama now has 39 round-trippers on the season.
The Crimson Tide has outscored opponents 155-14.
The green safety base was back at first. Bama does not return home for SEC play until March 13 versus Arkansas. We should see then if this will be a permanent feature.
St. Thomas ace pitcher Ella Cook looked really sharp at times this weekend. Originally being from Iowa, you would have thunk Murphy would have tried to convince her to come play for the Tide during the off-season. Alas, she is a redshirt senior.
For her career, Pate is hitting a robust .400 (2 for 5) with 1 RBI and 47 runs scored.

MVPs

PUPILLO: 8-17 (.471 BA), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 RUNS, SB
ROMAN: 6-15 (.400), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 RUNS, 3B
MOTEN: 10.0 IP, 2 WINS, 0.00 ERA, 2 HITS – SINGLES, 0 RUNS, 4 BB, 11 K, 9-0 overall
BRISKI: 11.0 IP, 2 WINS, 0.00 ERA, 3 HITS – SINGLES, 0 RUNS, 2 BB, 21 K, 6-0 overall

[Would have included Wells, but she pulled an 0-fer in the first two games.]

OTHER STUFF

Florida lost one of their captains in Ava Brown who was injured on a stretch, taking a throw at first base. As she stretched, she caught the ball but immediately went down in pain and had to be taken off the field on a cart wearing an air cast. The two-way player was hitting .325 with 5 round-trippers and 18 RBI. As a pitcher, Brown was 5-0 on the season with a 0.49 ERA.
Oklahoma third baseman Nelly McEnroe-Marinas collided with her catcher on Sunday and remained on the turf for a long time, grabbing at her knee.