ATLANTA, Ga. – Alabama softball continued its hot start to the 2026 season Friday at the Buzz Classic, defeating East Carolina, 9-1, before shutting out tournament host Georgia Tech, 9-0, in the nightcap.

Alabama (3-0) batters hit a combined .367 (18-for-49) in the wins over East Carolina (1-1) and Georgia Tech (2-1), including five home runs. Alexis Pupillo drove in a team-leading five RBIs on three hits, including a home run against the Yellow Jackets. Marlie Giles also had three hits on the day and led the team with four runs scored. Pupillo, Giles and Brooke Wells have at least one hit in all three games so far this weekend and the trio has accounted for 20 of the team’s 35 RBIs.

In the circle, freshman Kaitlyn Pallozzi (1-0) got the win in her collegiate debut against the Pirates with 3.0 innings in the start before Alea Johnson followed with 2.0 relief innings behind her. Against the Yellow Jackets, Vic Moten (2-0) cruised through 6.0 shutout innings with just two hits allowed and seven strikeouts with Johnson pitching a 1-2-3 seventh to cap the victory.

“I was very pleased with Vic and Kaitlyn’s starts today. This is a hitters’ park so for them to do what they did as freshmen is pretty amazing. Alea came in and threw strikes behind both of them and the defense made plays. Salen Hawkins and Jena Young had the middle of the infield locked down. Salen absolutely tattooed her home run, that might be her hardest hit ball I’ve seen. Up and down the lineup we’re having better at-bats as the game goes along and getting production from a lot of different people.”

Highlights

• Alabama has hit 12 home runs over this weekend’s three games, which already beats the previous school record of 10 for the most on opening weekend (2011, 2022)
• All three pitching victories this weekend have been earned by freshmen – two from Vic Moten and one from Kaitlyn Pallozi
• Alexis Pupillo has two or more RBIs in all three games to start the season
• One more home run from either Pupillo, Ana Roman, Brooke Wells or Salen Hawkins would put them on a list that includes just seven players in program history who have hit three home runs on opening weekend

Scoring Summary vs. East Carolina

• T1 | The Pirates struck first with an RBI groundout (0-1, 0 Out)
• B1 | With the bases loaded, Alexis Pupillo brought everyone home with a hard-hit double (3-1, 1 Out)
• B3 | Ana Roman roped a three-run home run to right field (6-1, 1 Out)
• B3 | With two on base, Brooke Wells hit a home run to deep center (9-1, 1 Out)

Scoring Summary vs. Georgia Tech

Up Next: Buzz Classic (Atlanta, Ga.)

• Saturday, Feb. 7 vs. Villanova – 12:30 p.m. CT
• Saturday, Feb. 7 at Georgia Tech – 3 p.m. CT