Alabama Crimson Tide: Softball bats explode in Arizona
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Softball traveled west to the Sonoran Desert for the weekend. On Saturday afternoon it was a warm 75 degrees in Tuscon. Crimson Tide bats were much hotter. Blistering is a fair description.
The 26th Alabama Crimson Tide softball team went into the year, preseason ranked No. 2. After bowing out in a WCWS semi-final last season, the Tide’s sights are set not just on a trip back to Oklahoma City, but a National Championship this season.
How hot were the Alabama Crimson Tide Softball bats?
In the season opener Friday against Southern Utah, Crimson Tide freshman, Megan Bloodworth got to bat in the first inning. In the first at-bat of her college and Crimson Tide career, Bloodworth hit a grand slam home run. Bloodworth had three at-bats in the game and got two hits. Both of them were home runs.
The Crimson Tide blasted Southern Utah with 12 hits and 11 runs to win 11-0. Jaala Torrence got the win for the Crimson Tide, allowing just one hit.
In Saturday’s first game, Alabama faced Oregon State and the Tide’s bats were a bit less hot. Megan Bloodworth hit another home run as the Crimson Tide won 5-1. Montana Fouts got the win for the Crimson Tide, giving up three hits and getting 14 strikeouts.
The big game for the weekend was against the home team Arizona Wildcats. Arizona was ranked No. 9 in the nation in preseason polls. Lexi Kilfoyl was in the circle for the Crimson Tide. Pitching a shutout, Kilfoyl only needed one run from her teammates to win. The Tide exploded for 11 runs and run-ruled the No. 9 team in the nation, on their home field. Kilfoyl allowed just two hits.
Against the Wildcats the hot Tide bats blasted four home runs. Two came from transfer Ashley Prange, plus another one from Bloodworth and one by Kilfoyl.
The Crimson Tide has another game in Arizona on Sunday. A guess is they are going to hate to leave the desert. In the three games of the Arizona weekend, Crimson Tide batters have hit 10 home runs. The Tide’s pitching has been outstanding as well.
The Sunday game is an early afternoon contest against New Mexico.
Football's biggest concern for '22. dark. Next
The Crimson Tide has five games in Tuscaloosa next weekend. The opponents are Evansville, Virginia Tech and Middle Tennessee.