TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WHNT) — The shutout is Alabama’s 31st all-time in NCAA Regional play and its 20th run-rule victory, according to the team.
Alabama softball opened NCAA Regional play Friday at Rhoads Stadium with a one-hit shutout over Jackson State, with the Crimson Tide defeating the Tigers 8-0 in five innings.
After two scoreless innings, Hartselle native Larissa Preuitt scored the first point for the Crimson Tide. Jackson State started the bottom of the third with an error that set up a four-run inning for the Tide, coming off a pair of RBI singles from Kali Heivilin and Brooke Ellestad and a two-run double from Salen Hawkins. An RBI groundout and another RBI single from Heivilin tacked on two more in the fourth, giving Alabama a 6-0 lead heading to the fifth.
“I am so pleased that Ms. [Emily] Winstead got her first postseason NCAA win. We just felt like it was the best matchup in the first round with her speed and her riseball. She did a terrific job, allowing just one hit over four innings. She did exactly what we wanted her to do. Offensively, it was a little slow start, but they came on and I’m glad we ended the game early,” Head Coach Patrick Murphy said.
A pitch hit Hawkins to start off the bottom of the fifth and advanced to third after a pair of wild pitches. She tagged up and scored on a sac fly to make it 7-0 before another flyout put two outs on the board. A hit-by-pitch, single and a walk loaded the bases for Alabama, putting the game-ending run 60 feet away before another wild pitch ended up bringing that run home, securing the 8-0 run rule win in five innings.
The win against the Tigers marked the program’s 17th straight NCAA Regional opening round win. This is also the second-longest active streak in D1.
The Tide will compete against Virginia Tech at 11 a.m. Saturday.
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