ATLANTA, Ga. – Alabama softball wasted no time making a statement in its 2026 season opener Thursday in the Buzz Classic against Villanova, blasting seven home runs along with a combined no-hitter from Vic Moten and Braya Hodges to defeat the Wildcats, 17-0, in five innings.

The no-hitter is the 47th in Alabama (1-0) program history and its first since Kayla Beaver did so on opening day in 2024, which also came against Villanova (0-1) at that year’s edition of the same Buzz Classic tournament.

Much of the Crimson Tide’s production Thursday came from the long ball, with seven different players hitting a home run in the winning effort. The seven home runs tie the program’s single game record, previously hitting that mark on Feb. 26, 2011 against Western Michigan. Thursday’s home runs came courtesy of Alexis Pupillo, Salen Hawkins, Audrey Vandagriff, Brooke Wells, Ana Roman, Lauren Johnson and Ambrey Taylor.

Freshman Vic Moten (1-0) got the win in her first collegiate start, with just one baserunner allowed over 3.0 innings with six strikeouts. Braya Hodges backed her up with 2.0 shutout relief innings, fanning three. Both Wildcat baserunners came via a walk and no runner advanced past second base.

“What a great way to start the 30th season of Alabama softball. I was very happy with the start from Vic [Moten] and the closing effort from Braya [Hodges]. Offensively, there were great at-bats all day long from the entire lineup.”

Highlights

• Alabama’s seven home runs tie the single game school record, previously hitting the mark against Western Michigan on Feb. 26, 2011
• The combined no-hitter from Vic Moten and Braya Hodges is the 47th in program history and the first since Kayla Beaver did so on opening day in 2024, which also came against Villanova at that year’s edition of the Buzz Classic
• Alexis Pupillo led the team with four RBIs, coming off her third inning grand slam, while Audrey Vandagriff and Brooke Wells were right behind with three each
• Six different players tallied multi-hit efforts in the win, including Crimson Tide debuts from Wells and Ana Roman

Scoring Summary

• T3 | Brooke Wells drove in two runs with a double to left center (2-0, 1 Out)
• T3 | Alexis Pupillo blasted a grand slam to center field (6-0, 1 Out)
• T3 | Salen Hawkins hit a solo homer to left (7-0, 1 Out)
• T3 | Audrey Vandagriff drove in three with a home run to center (10-0, 2 Out)
• T3 | Brooke Wells crushed a huge solo home run out of the park to left (11-0, 2 Out)
• T4 | Marlie Giles bounced an RBI double off the wall in center field (12-0, 2 Out)
• T4 | Ana Roman pulled a two-run home run to right field (14-0, 2 Out)
• T4 | Lauren Johnson joined the home run derby with a solo shot to left (15-0, 2 Out)
• T5 | Ambrey Taylor hit a solo home run to center in her first collegiate at-bat (16-0, 0 Out)
• T5 | Hawkins drove in Jena Young with an RBI single to left (17-0, 1 Out)

Up Next: Buzz Classic (Atlanta, Ga.)

• Friday, Feb. 6 vs. East Carolina – 12:30 p.m. CT
• Friday, Feb. 6 at Georgia Tech – 5 p.m. CT
• Saturday, Feb. 7 vs. Villanova – 12:30 p.m. CT
• Saturday, Feb. 7 at Georgia Tech – 3 p.m. CT