Alabama Ends Pre-Conference Slate with 7-0 Win Over Mississippi Valley State

Alabama softball ended its pre-conference slate with a 7-0 shutout over Mississippi Valley State Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama’s (22-0) win over Mississippi Valley State (2-13), along with top-ranked Florida State’s loss to Grand Canyon Wednesday night, leaves the Crimson Tide as the last remaining undefeated team in college softball.

Junior Bailey Hemphill led the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring three times and driving in three runs on a second-inning home run, her team-leading ninth of the year. Senior Caroline Hardy drove in a pair on a bases-loaded walk and a solo home run. Junior Krystal Goodman (4-0) threw 4.0 shutout innings in the start to earn her fourth win of the season, allowing just one hit and one walk. Sophomore Madison Preston and senior Courtney Gettins combined to throw three relief innings behind her with two hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

Alabama tallied the first run of the day in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with two outs before Hardy drew a walk to move everyone up 60 feet and make it 1-0. With two on and two out in the bottom of the second, Hemphill blasted a three-run home run into center field as the lead swelled to 4-0.

A fielding error allowed Alabama to add another in the fourth and a solo home run from Hardy in the fifth increased the lead to 6-0. The Delta Devilettes threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases but Preston left the bases stranded with a swinging strikeout to end the inning and hold the visitors scoreless. In the bottom of the sixth, freshman Kayla Davis came off the bench as a pinch-hitter and dropped a double into the gap, driving in a run to make it 7-0. Gettins entered to pitch in the top of the seventh and retired MVSU in order to close out the game.

This weekend, Alabama opens conference play with a three-game series against Missouri (11-7) at Rhoads Stadium. Action opens on Friday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.