TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball got another pair of wins Saturday at the T-Mobile Crimson Classic, defeating Kent State, 8-1, before posting a five-inning run rule win over USF, 8-0.

The Alabama (18-0) bats were hot in the wins over Kent State (8-9) and USF (16-7), scoring eight runs on nine hits in each game. Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo led the way at the plate, each going 4-for-5 on the day with Wells hitting two home runs to draw within one of Pupillo for the team lead this season. Abby Duchscherer collected three hits on the day while Gerritt Griggs and Audrey Vandagriff had a pair, including a triple from Vandagriff vs. the Bulls.

In the circle, Kaitlyn Pallozzi (4-0) earned the win in relief vs. Kent State behind Alea Johnson’s start, celebrating her senior day, while Jocelyn Briski (6-0) threw four shutout one-hit innings vs. USF, striking out seven.

“With a senior class of seven, so far we’re three-for-three with our senior days this year. Today, the pitchers threw great games paired with some great defense. In the fourth inning against USF, the Marlie Giles grand slam was a huge momentum switch. We’ve had a great start to the season, but I still think we have some room for improvements and adjustments to make. Right now, we’re nowhere where we will be later in the season.”

Highlights

• Alabama’s 8-0 win over USF is its 11th shutout of the season and its eighth run-rule victory
• Brooke Wells hit a home run in each of Saturday’s games, pushing her season total to six which is one shy of Alexis Pupillo for the team lead
• Pupillo extended her hitting streak to 10 games with a pair of multi-hit efforts Saturday, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored vs. Kent State and 2-for-3 with another two runs scored vs. the Bulls to give her a team-leading eight multi-hit games this season
• Ana Roman led the team with three RBIs vs. the Golden Flashes, her third game this season with three or more RBIs
• Gerritt Griggs and Abby Duchscherer tallied their first multi-hit games of the season vs. Kent State
• Marlie Giles’ grand slam vs. USF is the third this season for Alabama, with previous ones coming from Pupillo (Feb. 5 vs. Villanova) and Vandagriff (Feb. 14 vs. Liberty)

Scoring Summary vs. Kent State

• T1 | Kent State got on the board first with an RBI fielder’s choice (0-1, 1 Out)
• B1 | Ana Roman pulled a single through the right side to score two (2-1, 1 Out)
• B3 | Gerritt Griggs came home on a fielding error (3-1, 0 Out)
• B3 | Brooke Wells smashed a two-run home run to left center (5-1, 0 Out)
• B6 | Lauren Johnson scored on an RBI groundout (6-1, 0 Out)
• B6 | Alexis Pupillo drew a bases-loaded walk to score one (7-1, 1 Out)

Scoring Summary vs. USF

• B1 | Brooke Wells hit her second home run of the day, a solo shot (1-0, 1 Out)
• B3 | Wells followed an Audrey Vandagriff triple with a single up the middle to score her from third (2-0, 0 Out)
• B3 | Abby Duchscherer drew a bases-loaded walk (3-0, 2 Out)
• B3 | Gerritt Griggs battled through an 11 pitch at-bat to draw the bases-loaded walk (4-0, 2 Out)
• B4 | Marlie Giles blasted a grand slam to left field (8-0, 0 Out)

Up Next: T-Mobile Crimson Classic (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

• Sunday, March 1 vs. St. Thomas – 11:30 a.m. CT
• Sunday, March 1 vs. Oakland – 30 mins. following St. Thomas game