Alabama softball vs Florida recap, score and highlights today

With runners on first and second, Marlie Giles flied to center for the second out. Audrey Vandagriff lined a double down the right field line to score Pupillo and extend the lead to 8-1.

Ambrey Taylor lined a base hit to left to score Larissa Preuitt for a walk-off single. Alabama wins, 9-1, and is headed to the SEC Tournament championship game to face the winner of Georgia-Texas on Saturday.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

Jena Young singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth off Katelynn Oxley for her third hit of the day in the leadoff spot. Brooke Wells got a pitch right down the middle but popped up to second. It was arguably the first real strike the Alabama slugger had seen all day.

Alexis Pupillo found the gap in left center for an RBI double and a 7-1 lead. Pupillo is 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Ana Roman followed with a walk. The Tide need two more runs for a run-rule victory over the Gators.

For the fourth time in five innings, Alabama starter Vic Moten walked the leadoff batter. Two batters later, former Crimson Tide shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan dropped a single into right field to put runners at first and second.

Florida loaded the bases on a single from Madison Walker with one out. Cassidy McLellan then grounded back to the mound, where Moton threw home for the force and the second out. With the bases loaded, Giulia Desiderio lined out to short on a running catch by Salen Hawkins to end the threat.

Moten has thrown 117 pitches through five innings. Florida is 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and 3-for-16 with runners on base.

Alabama threatened in the fourth but came up empty. Katelynn Oxley, Florida’s third pitcher of the game, retired pinch hitter Mari Hubbard on a pop up for the second out, and Kristen White popped up back to the mound after a lengthy at bat.

Ava Brown (0-for-1), Towsen Thomas (1-2) and Kenleigh Cahalan (0-2) are due up for the Gators in the fifth.

Florida is making another pitching change in the fourth inning. Alabama has runners in scoring position after Audrey Vandagriff reached on a bunt single and Ambrey Taylor singled to right. The runners advanced 90 feet on the throw.

Katelynn Oxley (4-1, 4.49 ERA) takes over with one down in the third inning. Alabama was flirting with run-ruling the Gators.

Moten made quick work of the Gators for the first time today in the fourth, retiring the side on two fly outs and a groundout from All-American Jocelyn Erickson.

Alabama carries a 6-1 lead to the bottom of the fourth. Marlie Giles, Audrey Vandagriff and Ambrey Taylor are due up for the Tide.

Alabama second baseman Jena Young just missed a two-run homer and settled for a double off the wall in center with two down. Kristen White scored on a bobbled relay at second base to extend the Crimson Tide lead to 5-1.

After Brooke Wells drew her third walk in as many plate appearances, Alexis Pupillo lined a single back up the middle to make it 6-1.

The Tide will carry a five-run lead into the fourth inning after both runs scored with two out.

Florida starter Leah Stevens exits after 2 2/3 innings. She retired the first two batters in the third before Kristen White slapped a single to right. Stevens allowed four runs on five hits and three walks.

Olivia Miller (8-1, 1.95 ERA) takes over on the mound for Florida.

For the third inning in a row, Vic Moten gave up a leadoff walk. Townsen Thomas sent a double to the ball of the wall in left center to put runners at second and third. Kenleigh Cahalan sent a fly ball to left, but Audrey Vandagriff made a great throw to the plate to hold Ava Brown at third.

A groundout from Madison Walker plated the Gators’ first run of the game. A hard-hit ball by Cassidy McLellan swallowed up Ambrey Taylor at third to put runners at the corners with two out, but Moten retired Gullia Desiderio on a fly out to right to end the threat.

The freshman has thrown 87 pitches through three innings. She’s allowed just one hit but has issued six walks. Ambrey Taylor will lead off the third inning for Alabama.

The Crimson Tide lead it 4-1.

After Taylor’s home run, Salen Hawkins was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a pair of groundouts. Florida’s Leah Stevens issued back-to-back walks to Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo to load the bases.

Ana Roman then ripped an RBI single to right to extend the Crimson Tide lead to 2-0, and two more runs scored when Marlie Giles dropped a two-run double into left field for a 4-0 lead.

Audrey Vandagriff grounded out to second to end the threat, but a big inning for Alabama nevertheless. The Tide score four runs on three hits and take advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch.

Can Vic Moten settle down in her third inning of work?

What a swing by the freshman from Jasper. Taylor launched her 11th home run of the season, her second in as many days, off the scoreboard in left. Alabama takes a 1-0 lead over Florida.

Take a look at this blast.

Another close call by Vic Moten, but Alabama escaped.

For the second inning in a row, Moten issued back-to-back walks to open the inning. Salen Hawkins tagged out the lead runner Madison Walker on a grounder to short for the first out. Gabi Comia fell behind 2-1 in the count, prompting a mound visit from Patrick Murphy.

A wild pitch from Moten moved the runners to second and third before Alabama’s starter issued a walk to load the bases. The Alabama starter got a big strikeout of Taylor Shumaker for the second out, and she retired Jocelyn Erickson on a fly ball down the left field line to retire the side.

After two innings on the mound, Moten has allowed five walks and struck out four. She’s thrown 66 pitches (35 strikes).

You can’t say both teams didn’t have great chances to strike first. After Vic Moten got out of a first-inning jam, so did Florida starter Leah Stevens.

Jena Young continued her hot hitting with a leadoff single, and Brooke Wells drew a walk on four pitches to give Alabama two on with no one out. After Alexis Pupillo struck out on three pitches, Alabama caught a break on what looked like a fly out from Ana Roman. Instead, Florida centerfielder Taylor Shumaker dropped the ball drifting back near the warning track to load the bases.

Stevens rallied to strike out both Marlie Giles and Audrey Vandagriff to end the threat. The right-hander threw 22 pitches in the first inning. Lots of missed opportunities by both teams early.

Madison Walker, Cassidy McLellan and Gullia Desiderio are due up in the second inning for Florida.

That was a shaky first inning from Moten, who issued back-to-back walks to Taylor Schumaker and Jocelyn Erickson. She missed the strike zone on 10 of her first 15 pitches. Both runners advanced on a passed ball from Marlie Giles behind the plate. Facing another 3-2 count, Moten struck out Ava Brown for the first out.

Moten got ahead 0-2 on cleanup hitter Townsen Thomas and finished her off with a rise ball in the top of the zone for the second out. Former Crimson Tide shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan struck out swinging for the third out.

Moten needed 32 pitches in that first inning but escaped unscathed. Big missed opportunity for the Gators but an even bigger escape by Alabama’s starter. Jena Young, Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo are due up for the Tide against Florida starter Leah Stevens in the first inning.

Taylor Shumaker, Jocelyn Erickson and Ava Brown are due up first for Florida against Alabama starter Vic Moten.

The Crimson Tide take the field in their throwback white jerseys and pants. Florida is wearing its blue jerseys over white pants. Always a great uniform combination when the Tide and Gators play.

Cam Ellison will call the balls and strikes at John Cropp Stadium. Chris Nabors is the third base umpire with Marty Abezetian making the decisions at first base.

First pitch for Alabama-Florida is just moments away.

Here’s the 1-9 lineup for coach Tim Walton’s team. Florida’s 10 runs in its SEC Tournament opener Thursday came on 11 hits.

Leah Stevens is in the circle to start the game for the Gators. The freshman is 5-1 wit a 3.57 ERA in 33 1/3 innings.

Looks like Patrick Murphy is going with the same batting order as Thursday’s win over Arkansas, which produced four home runs and seven runs on eight hits.

Vic Moten (18-4, 1.61 ERA) is in the circle for Alabama and is seeking her 19th win. She threw six shutout innings in her last start Saturday against South Carolina and allowed three hits and three walks.