Bama Softball Sweeps UAB for 2022
No. 5/4 Alabama moved to 25-4 (3-3) on the year after taking down the UAB Blazers on Wednesday night, 8-1, on the road to complete the season sweep. Sophomore right-hander Jaala Torrence picked up the win in the circle after relieving freshman starter Alex Salter in the fourth inning.
The Blazers scored first off of an RBI single in the first inning, but lost the lead in the next frame to a perfectly placed bunt on the right side from freshman Jenna Lord, legging out a single and scoring Jenna Johnson from third base.
Johnson, a junior left fielder, tacked on another run for the Tide in the fifth inning with the bases loaded due to a fielding error from the third baseman.
Alabama really broke open the game, and nearly ended it early, with the offensive performance in the sixth inning. The Tide tallied six runs in the sixth, starting with UAB walking in the first run in with the bases loaded. Sophomore shortstop Bailey Dowling got on base next from an error by the center fielder, she made it to second as Kat Grill and Dallis Goodnight crossed the plate.
Pinch hitting freshman Aubrey Barnhart pulled out a single, scoring Shipman and allowing Dowiling to score on another UAB error. Barnhart scored the final run of the game off of an Abby Doerr single to center field.
In the circle for Alabama, sophomore Jaala Torrence (5-1) came in for fellow right-handed pitcher Alex Salter in the fourth inning and dominated in relief. Torrence shut down UAB with 4.0 innings pitched giving up no hits across 15 batters. She holds the team's second lowest ERA at 1.98 and opponents are hitting a batting average of .183 against her in 2022.
Alex Salter (3-0) failed to close yet another game as a starter and was pulled two batters into the fourth inning after 3.0 innings with five hits, a walk, a strikeout and an earned run. She has not thrown a complete game in an Alabama uniform and currently holds the team's highest ERA at 3.08. In 2022, opponents are hitting a concerning .306 against her.
No. 5/4 Alabama hits the road for a three-game in-conference road series with South Carolina (18-10, 2-4) starting on Friday. Game 1 is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST and will be available on 97.5 FM.
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