Alabama Softball Loses a Winnable Game 1 to UCLA

With the defeat, Alabama is in behind the 8-ball tumbling into the losers’ bracket.

ALABAMA 1, UCLA 4

Alabama produced singles in each of the first three innings but could not move the runners off first base.

UCLA got the scoring going in the 3rd inning when right fielder Lauren Johnson overran a ground ball knowing there would likely be a play at the plate.

UCLA would go up 1-0 but score no more that inning.

Bama coach Patrick Murphy may have not been respecting his opposition enough with some aggressive moves on the base paths. In the 4th, Marlie Giles walked but was thrown out trying to steal second base on a very close play that might have merited a replay challenge. One inning later, the Crimson Tide broke through to tie it up. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kenleigh Cahalan singled in pinch runner Kinley Pate. However, Kali Heivilin attempted to follow her but was easily gunned down at the plate.

You could feel the wind leaving Alabama’s sails after that one.

Giles was hit by a pitch in the 6th with one out and moved over a station on a wild pitch. But the next two Tide batters left her stranded there.

In the bottom of the 6th, UCLA put the lead off runner on and moved her to second on a SAC bunt. This is when Murphy’s Gut® took over for good when it instructed newly-christened All-American starter, Kayla Beaver, to intentionally walk Sharlize Palacios - even though the Bruin had struck out and grounded into an inning ending double play in her previous two at bats. There is no better way to f**k with your pitcher’s head than to show her you don’t trust her to get someone out. The next batter struck out, but Jordan Woolery did not.

In the top of the 7th, the Bama batters folded faster than Superman on laundry day, going down on 11 pitches.

STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE

• Beaver pitched her heart out and just had one bad pitch.
• The defense had a flub.
• The Tide had base runners all over the place, but scored one measly run.
• Done in by power. Imagine that, Caveman Pat.

The Lollipop Rainbow Unicorn Brigade was mighty smug this past week with the I-told-ya-so’s. I expect they will go back into hiding after leaving a few “they overachieved” mantras in their wakes.

MVP

• BEAVER: 6.0 innings, 3 earned runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 5 K.
• DOWLING: 2-3, pinch-runner scored for her.

SCHEDULE

(Below times are ET)

Alabama will get the loser of today’s Game 2 between Duke and Oklahoma. The Tide will play that Game 5 on Friday, May 31 at 6pm/7pm in an elimination affair.

HOW TO WATCH... ALLEGEDLY

UPDATE: Due to the Celtics-Pacers series wrapping up early, ESPN will be handling tomorrow night’s broadcast instead of ESPN2.

Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, and Holly Rowe will be back to torture us some more.

WEATHER

Scattered thunderstorms will be likely throughout the day on Friday.

#RollTide #Team28