Tide Trounces Blue Raiders in Tuscaloosa Regional

The Alabama softball team defeated Middle Tennessee State 12-5 in Game 3 of the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Right-handed pitcher Alex Salter started in the circle for the Crimson Tide. She pitched 2.1 innings, recording three hits, five runs, four earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts.

Middle Tennessee State got on the board in the first inning, scoring one run off the bat of shortstop Laura Mealer, who hit a solo home run to center field.

The Blue Raiders extended their lead in the second inning, scoring on a solo home run to left field by first baseman Ansley Blevins to make Middle Tennessee State's lead 2-0.

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Alabama took the lead in the top of the third inning, recording for runs on four hits. The base traffic started with back-to-back one-out singles by second baseman Kali Heivilin and center fielder Kristen White. Two errors by Middle Tennessee state put Jenna Johnson safely on first base and brought home both runs. Third baseman Ashley Prange hit a single and designated player Bailey Dowling capped the scoring off with a bases-clearing two-RBI double to give the Tide the 4-2 lead.

Jaala Torrence came in for relief in the third inning. She pitched the remainder of the game, recording one hit, no runs, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Middle Tennessee State regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs Two walks and an error loaded the bases, then first baseman Anyce Harvey hit an RBI single. Pinch hitter Riley Gilmore came into the game and drew a bases-loaded walk which brought in a run, and center fielder Shelby Sargent finished the scoring off with an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Blue Raisers the 5-4 lead.

Team 27 fought back in the fourth inning, recording a monster eight-run inning. Shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan drew a leadoff walk and Heivilin hit a two-run home run to left field to give Alabama the 6-5 lead. White hit a single, Johnson drew a walk, and Dowling brought both home with a bases-clearing double to give Alabama the 8-5 lead. Five straight walks and a wild pitch brought in the last four runs of the inning to give the Tide the 12-5 lead.

Both teams recorded goose eggs on the board the remainder of the game.

The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team will play again on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 1 p.m. CT. The team's opponent is TBD. Coverage will be on Me-TV 97.5 FM and the Me-TV 97.5 app which is free to download in the App Store.