Alabama Softball WCWS: Survive and Advance

Alabama eliminates the Duke Blue Devils and live to fight another day.

ALABAMA 2, DUKE 1

If you aren’t paying attention, Marlie Giles might just become the next Alabama star hitter. The Tide catcher recorded both of Bama’s RBIs starting in the 1st inning. With one out, Kenleigh Cahalan reached second base on a throwing error. A ground out moved her to third base, and Giles doubled her in for an early 1-0 advantage.

Jocelyn Briski got the start. She gave up a double in the bottom of the 1st, but no runs were scored. In the 2nd frame, Duke tied it up on a solo homer. The Bama freshman would allow two more singles in the inning but held the score at 1-1.

A huge moment came in the bottom of 3rd when a Blue Devil walked and attempted to steal second base. After an excellent throw down to second was called safe, Bama coach Patrick Murphy made the wise move to challenge the call. In replay, you can see the Duke base runner’s forearm waddle as a swipe tag hits her before she touched second base. The play was overturned and ended the inning.

In the bottom of the 4th, Briski gave up a noisy out number one and then a single. This was enough for Murphy to rightfully bring in his ace Kayla Beaver who slammed the door on the BDs.

Offensively, the Tide could not get much going after the 1st, but that is their M.O. Kali Heivilin had a two-out triple in the 5th and Kristen White walked, but there was nothing doing.

In the top of 6th, Jenna Johnson grounded out for the first out. This was followed by more heroics by Giles with a bomb to right center filed.

According to the NCAA, the ball traveled 259.5 feet with an exit velocity of 74.3 MPH.

A 2-1 lead was enough for Beaver. The Super Senior was perfect for the rest of the game, retiring the next 11 batters for the W.

MVP

• GILES: 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
• BEAVER: 3.2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 3 K.

SCHEDULE

Alabama gets a bit of a break. They get the luxury of watching other teams duke it out on Saturday. The Tide will play the loser of that Game 8, either Texas or Florida (YIKES!) on Sunday, June 2 at 2pm/3pm in another elimination affair.

HOW TO WATCH... ALLEGEDLY

Cable-cutters, you are in luck. This game will air on ABC.

Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, and Holly Rowe will blab some more.

WEATHER

86°/66° and partly cloudy.

#RollTide #Team28