OKLAHOMA CITY– Alabama softball is fighting to keep its season alive in Friday's elimination game at the Women's College World Series against Duke.
"We've been here before," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said after Thursday's loss to Duke. "Our backs have been against the wall, so it's no big deal. We're going to fight like hell."
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and unlike Thursday, the forecast and skies look clear for the game to start on time. BamaCentral will have updates from Devon Park in Oklahoma City throughout the game.
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(latest updates at the top)
FINAL: Alabama 2, Duke 1
Bottom 7- Duke
- Goddard strikes out swinging. Alabama wins. Beaver did not allow a baserunner in relief.
- Tapia battles through a long at-bat, but it results in a groundout to the right side. Two outs.
- Gold lines out to first. One out
- 6-7-8 due up for Duke, needing at least one run to extend the game.
MID 7: Alabama 2, Duke 1
Top 7- Alabama
- Heivilin flies out to the warning track in right field. Three outs.
- Flyout to right field goes for the second out.
- Clark grounds out on the first pitch.
- Kendal Clark is pinch hitting for Esman.
- Bottom of the order due up for the Tide.
END 6: Alabama 2, Duke 1
Bottom 6- Duke
- Beaver retires the side in order in the sixth.
MID 6: Alabama 2, Duke 1
CLUTCH HOME RUN❗️#WCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @AlabamaSB pic.twitter.com/vDtFHHhK5N
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 1, 2024
Top 6- Alabama
- The next two batters fly out, but Alabama regains the lead in the sixth on the Giles' home run.
- Giles blasts one out to right field to give Alabama the lead. Alabama 2, Duke 1
- Jenna, Giles and Dowling due up for the Tide in the sixth, looking to break the tie.
END 5: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Bottom 5- Duke
- Davidson ground out to first to end the fifth. Three up, three down for Duke.
- Nice play by Esman at first to retire the speedy Jennings.
- Burgess strikes out looking to open the bottom of the fifth. Second straight strikeout for Beaver.
MID 5: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Top 5- Alabama
- Cahalan pops up to shallow center for the final out of the inning. Alabama can't take advantage of the two-out triple.
- White walks on four pitches. Alabama has runners on the corners with two outs.
- Heivilin triples off the top of the left/center wall with two outs.
- Esman, Lauren Johnson and Heivilin due up for the Tide.
END 4: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Bottom 4- Duke
- Baker goes down swinging for the final out of the inning.
- Beaver gets the first batter she faces to ground out, but the lead runner moves to second with two outs.
- Alabama will make a pitching change after Gold's second hit. Kayla Beaver enters in the circle for Briski.
- One-out single through the left side past a diving Cahalan for Gold.
MID 4: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Top 4- Alabama
- Nothing doing for Alabama in the fourth.
- Heart of the order (Giles, Dowling and Valentine) due up for the Tide in the fourth. We'll see if they can ride the momentum of the play at the end of the third inning.
END 3: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Bottom 3- Duke batting
- After review, the runner is out. Successful challenge for Alabama, and the inning is over.
- Frelick tries to advance to second on a pitch in the dirt. Call on the field is safe. Alabama is challenging the call.
- Two-out walk to Frelick.
- Ground ball to second base is the second out.
- Briski gets Davidson to ground out on a 3-2 count for a big first out in the third.
MID 3: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Top 3- Alabama batting
- Johnson flies out to left field. Jennings' robbery keeps Alabama off the board in the third.
- Cahalan flies out to shallow right. Two outs.
- White lays down a perfect bunt for a one-out infield single.
- Jennings robs Heivilin of a leadoff home run.
- Heivilin, White and Cahalan due up for Alabama in the third.
END 2: Alabama 1, Duke 1
Bottom 2- Duke batting
- Briski retires Jennings on the first pitch to limit the damage.
- Burgess singles through the left side to put two on with two outs.
- Briski strikes out Baker for the second out.
- Tapia follows it up with a single to left field. Lance McMahon will call a timeout to meet with Briski in the circle after allowing back-to-back hits.
- One-out solo home run for Ana Gold to straightaway center. Tie game. Alabama 1, Duke 1
MID 2: Alabama 1, Duke 0
Top 2- Alabama batting
- Three up, three down for Alabama in the second.
- Valentine, Esman and Lauren Johnson due up for the Tide.
END 1: Alabama 1, Duke 0
Bottom 1- Duke batting
- A ball to Cahalan ends the frame. Duke can't take advantage of the one-out double.
- Shallow fly ball to right field goes for the second out. Good job by Briski to bounce back after falling behind 3-0 in the count.
- Davidson, who came into the game batting .438, comes through with a one-out double.
- Jennings strikes out for the first out.
MID 1: Alabama 1, Duke 0
The Tide strikes first 🐘#WCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @AlabamaSB pic.twitter.com/iiDOnJcCn0
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 31, 2024
Top 1- Alabama batting
- Dowling flies out to right field on the first pitch. Side retired, but Alabama scores in the first.
- Giles doubles to the gap in right center to score Cahalan and give the Tide the early lead. Alabama 1, Duke 0
- Jenna hits one to the right side, which allows Cahalan to move to third with two outs.
- Cahalan hits one hard down the third base line. Gold makes a nice snag for Duke, but her throwing error allows Cahalan to reach second with one out.
- White grounds out to short. One out.
- The first pitch to White is a strike, and this game is underway.
- White, Cahalan and Jenna Johnson due up for the Crimson Tide to get things going.
Starting lineups:
Alabama | Duke |
|---|---|
1. Kristen White- CF | 1. D'auna Jennings- CF |
2. Kenleigh Cahalan- SS | 2. Claire Davidson- RF |
3. Jenna Johnson- LF | 3. Aminah Vega- 2B |
4. Marlie Giles- C | 4. Francesca Frelick- DP |
5. Bailey Dowling- 3B | 5. Kelly Torres- C |
6. Riley Valentine- DP | 6. Ana Gold- 3B |
7. Lauren Esman- 1B | 7. Gisele Tapia- 1B |
8. Lauren Johnson- RF | 8. Jada Baker- SS |
9. Kali Heivilin- 2B | 9. Amiah Burgess |
P- Jocelyn Briski | P- Cassidy Curd |
Pregame
- Today's umpires: Megan Rabin (home plate), Cameron Ellison (1B), Erin Petersen (2B) and John Baca (3B)
- Alabama is the designated visiting team and will be batting first.
- Alabama AD Greg Byrne has made it to Oklahoma City after being at SEC spring meetings in Destin.
- Larissa Preuitt is not in the lineup. She left Thursday's game with a hamstring injury. Lauren Johnson will start in right field instead.
- Jocelyn Briski will get the start in the circle for the Crimson Tide. She also got the starting nod in the elimination game against Tennessee in Supers.
- Alabama will be wearing the Crimson script A tops with the white pinstripe pants.
- I am happy to report that all signs are pointing to this game starting on time. There are currently no storm clouds hovering over Devon Park.
How to Watch: No. 14 Alabama vs. No. 10 Duke
Who:Alabama (38-19) vs. Duke (52-8)
When:Friday, May 31, 6 p.m. CT
Where:Devon Park, Oklahoma City
TV:ESPN
Radio:The Crimson Tide Sports Network on 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa with Tom Canterbury and Gray Robertson on the call
Series history: Alabama leads, 1-0
Last meeting:The two teams have only met one time, with Alabama coming away with a 5-3 victory in the Clearwater Invitational last season.
Last time out, Alabama:The Crimson Tide lost its opening game of the WCWS to No. 6 UCLA, 4-1. Starter Kayla Beaver was great in the circle outside of a three-run home run given up in the sixth inning.
Last time out, Duke:The Blue Devils got run-ruled by No. 2 Oklahoma, 9-1, in six innings. The Sooners hit three two-run home runs. Duke's lone run came on a solo home run from Francesca Frelick in the second inning.
Alabama leaders:
- Batting average: Kenleigh Cahalan- .306
- Home runs: Abby Duchscherer, Marlie Giles, Jenna Johnson, Kali Heivilin- 6
- RBIs: Abby Duchscherer, Kenleigh Cahalan- 30
- ERA: Kayla Beaver- 1.67
Duke leaders:
- Batting average: Claire Davidson- .438
- Home runs: Claire Davidson- 18
- RBIs: Claire Davidson- 67
- ERA: Cassidy Curd- 1.33
