OKLAHOMA CITY – Alabama softball fell to Florida State, 2-0, Sunday to force an if-necessary game Monday night for a spot in the national championship series.
Alabama (53-8) and Florida State (47-11-1) were both scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when a bases-loaded walk brought the first Seminole run across. FSU tacked on another run in the sixth to make it 2-0, which ultimately proved final. The Crimson Tide was limited to just two hits and a walk, the latter giving Bailey Hemphill the SEC career record with 237, passing former record-holder Amanda Lorenz (2016-19) from Florida. Lexi Kilfoyl (13-4) took the loss in the complete-game effort, striking out nine.
Due to weather delays, both if-necessary games will be played on Monday, with Oklahoma playing James Madison at 3 p.m. CT and Alabama and Florida State following at 6 p.m. CT. Both winners will advance to the national championship series which will start on Tuesday.
FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK MURPHY
“They’re two really good pitching performances. We only had one runner at second base. You’re not going to win very many games when you only get one runner to second and she doesn’t move from there. So, we had first and second and one out and I think we got a K and a 4-to-3. That can’t be your only threatening inning. So, tip your cap to their pitchers and we need to do a better job tomorrow night offensively.”
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bailey Hemphill’s fourth inning walk was the 237th of her career, passing Florida’s Amanda Lorenz to set a new SEC career record
- Alabama is now 22-24 all-time at the Women’s College World Series
- The Tide fell to 6-7 all-time vs. Florida State, including four straight losses to the Seminoles
- The Tide’s win streak came to an end at 20 games, 18 of which were over ranked foes
SCORING SUMMARY
- B5 | Florida State scored the first run of the game on a bases-loaded walk (0-1, 2 Out)
- B6 | Josie Muffley singled through the right side to drive in another run (0-2, 2 Out)
UP NEXT – WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES (OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.)
- Monday, June 7 vs. Florida State – 6 p.m. CT – ESPN
For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
