On Saturday, Alabama and Southeastern Louisiana matched each other for eight innings before the Crimson Tide offense finally broke out to get one step closer to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals.
UA followed up on its five-run outburst with nine more to start Sunday’s game, completing an undefeated weekend with a beatdown of Southeastern. The No. 14 Crimson Tide (36-17, 10-14 SEC) advanced to face either three-seeded Tennessee (in Knoxville) or Virginia (which UA would host).
Sophmore Kenleigh Cahalan drove in four RBI. After nearly tossing a no-hitter on Friday, freshman Jocelyn Briski was again strong in the circle. She pitched four innings allowing two runs before Jaala Torrence capped the 12-2 final in five innings.
It is the 18th time Alabama has advanced to the Super Regional under head coach Patrick Murphy. Here’s how it happened.
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Lineups
Alabama: Kristen White CF | Larissa Preuitt RF | Kenleigh Cahalan SS | Jenna Johnson LF | Marlie Giles C | Bailey Dowling 3B | Kali Heivilin 2B | Riley Valentine DP | Emma Broadfoot RF
Pitcher: Jocelyn Briski
Southeastern Louisiana: Ka’Lyn Watson LF | Chloe Magee SS | Maria Detillier 3B | Bailey Krolczyk C | Lexi Johnson 1B | Maddie Watson 2B | Audrey Greely DP | Colleen Kulivan RF | Cam Goodman CF
Pitcher: Ellie DuBois
1st Inning
Top: Watson reached on a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a bunt. Early trouble for Briski. Detillier punched a single through the right side and SLE took an early 1-0 lead. Briski stemmed the rally, though, and recorded her first strikeout to strand a runner on second base.
Early pressure on the Tide offense.
Bottom: White dropped a perfect bunt between the circle and catcher and reached first base with ease. Some more small ball by Preuitt as a dribble gets passed the third baseman and is an infield single. SLE challenged if White left her base early; she did not. (The Lady Lions have one challenge remaining.) DuBois spiked one to the plate and both runners advanced. Like on Friday, bad defense has provided Alabama an opportunity.
Cahalan ripped a single into right field and UA tied it, 1-1. Johnson followed up with a blooper in nearly the same spot. Alabama took a 2-1 lead and there are still no outs. Giles forced DuBois out of the game with a bunt single. Cera Blanchard replaced her.
Dowling produced the big hit, just barely missing a home run and driving two more in. Rhoads House is loud and Alabama took a 4-1 lead without making an out. Heivilin followed up with an infield single. 5-1, runners on the corners. Valentine added the sixth run with a single. The first out of the inning came after Broadfoot skied a bunt back to the pitcher. Cahalan walked to score Heivilin, 7-1 Tide.
Johnson whacked her second hit of the inning, driving in another pair. After an 11-pitch at-bat against a re-entered DuBois, Giles popped out to center. UA has its best inning of the season, an offensive explosion that can trigger a run to Oklahoma City and leads SLE, 9-1.
2nd Inning
Top: After allowing the first two runners to reach, Briski got Kulivan to stare at strike three. Two on and one out for the Lady Lions. SLU scratched one across due to a Goodman single. 9-2, UA.
3rd Inning
Bottom: Cahalan added two more runs with a triple, driving in Preuitt and White. Giles then produced her first RBI of the day with a single. 12-2, Alabama leads Southeastern Louisiana.
5th Inning
Top: A postseason hero a year ago, Jaala Torrence entered the game for Briski. The senior has a 2.45 ERA in 18 appearances. She struck out the first batter she faced. Magee grounded out to short. Detillier then popped out to deep center and Alabama started celebrating.
FINAL: Alabama beats Southeastern Louisiana, 12-2, in five innings to advance to the NCAA Super Regional. An offensive explosion matched by clutch pitching sparked a run for UA. Freshman Jocelyn Briski wins her first two NCAA Tournament starts and the offensive scores 14 runs across two innings.
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