COLUMBIA, S.C. – A 10-run second inning set the tone for a dominant win as Alabama softball defeated South Carolina in run-rule fashion, 13-1, in five innings Thursday night at Carolina Softball Stadium.

Alabama (36-18, 12-10 SEC) scored a run in the first inning off of a South Carolina (37-14, 11-11 SEC) throwing error and another run off of an error in the second inning sparked a huge frame for the Crimson Tide, bringing 13 batters to the plate to score 10 runs off nine hits to swell the lead to 11-0. The Gamecocks erased the shutout with an RBI single in the bottom of the second to make it 11-1 before Alabama plated two more in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and a hit-by-pitch to make it 13-1, which ultimately proved final.

Seven Tide players had a hit in the win, including three-hit performances from Marlie Giles and Salen Hawkins. Giles also tied the team lead with three RBIs, all coming on her fifth home run of the season as part of the big second inning. Jocelyn Briski (15-10) earned the win in the circle with one run allowed on four hits while Alea Johnson went three-up, three-down in the fifth to close out the game.

Highlights

• The 13 runs scored is Alabama’s highest total in conference play since a 13-3 win over Georgia exactly four years ago on May 1, 2021
• The 10-run second inning are the most runs in an inning for Alabama in SEC play since scoring 12 in a 16-2 win over Missouri on March 28, 2016
• Salen Hawkins and Marlie Giles had three hits, a new career high for Hawkins while Giles ties her previous best
• Giles and Audrey Vandagriff had three RBIs, marking their eighth and seventh multi-hit games this season, respectively
• Kali Heivilin extended her reached-base streak to 13 games

Scoring Summary

• T1 | Alabama plated a run on a two-out throwing error (1-0, 2 Out)
• T2 | A single and an error on the same play allowed Salen Hawkins to score from second (2-0, 1 Out)
• T2 | Audrey Vandagriff bounced a double off the wall in left, scoring two (4-0, 1 Out)
• T2 | Lauren Johnson looped an RBI double down the left field line (5-0, 1 Out)
• T2 | Kali Heivilin drove in Johnson with a single through the right side (6-0, 1 Out)
• T2 | Abby Duchscherer dropped a bases-loaded single to shallow left, driving in two (8-0, 2 Out)
• T2 | Marlie Giles hit a three-run home run (11-0, 2 Out)
• B2 | Emma Sellers hit an RBI single through the right side (11-1, 2 Out)
• T4 | Vandagriff drew a bases-loaded walk (12-1, 2 Out)
• T4 | Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded (13-1, 2 Out)

Up Next: at No. 14/12 South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.)

• Friday, May 2 – 5 p.m. CT
• Saturday, May 3 – 11 a.m. CT – SEC Network