Alabama Bats Light Up in Run-Rule Loss Against Longwood
The season opener for Alabama softball saw a delayed offensive start, but the bats were prepared for the early first pitch on Friday morning.
At the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, the Crimson Tide defeated Longwood 13-0 in five innings thanks to an eight-run fifth inning and five RBIs from Kali Heivilin. Jaala Torrence, Alea Johnson, and Lauren Esman shut out the opposition in the circle.
Entering the fifth inning, Alabama led 5-0 and needed three runs to qualify for the run rule. With eight runs scored and 12 batters up to bat, it would get much more than that. Bailey Dowling led off the rally with a single, and Esman and Kat Grill added two RBI pinch hits to end it.
With the first home run of the season for the Crimson Tide, Kenleigh Cahalan opened the scoring in the first inning. Heivilin’s three-run home drive to left center in the fourth inning gave Alabama a 4-0 lead. His slugging prowess was infectious.
Lauren Johnson, a rookie, went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI in her first inning of play. Patrick Murphy, the head coach of Alabama, was able to move the benches, giving nearly every player in the lineup a chance at a pinch hit or at the plate.
Alabama, which now stands at 2-0 overall, will take on Georgia Tech on Friday afternoon at around three o’clock in the afternoon.
