{"id":185346,"date":"2025-04-15T03:04:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T03:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alabama\/alabama-crimson-tide-softball-walks-off-oklahoma-sooners-for-series-win\/"},"modified":"2025-04-15T03:04:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T03:04:23","slug":"alabama-crimson-tide-softball-walks-off-oklahoma-sooners-for-series-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=185346","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Crimson Tide Softball Walks Off Oklahoma Sooners for Series Win"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Audrey Vandagriff dons her SuperWoman cape and saves the Tide.<\/p>\n

GAME 1: OKLAHOMA 5, ALABAMA 1 <\/h3>\n

In front of a raucous sell-out crowd, this Game 1 got off to a noisy start with Lauren Johnson <\/strong>doing Lauren Johnson things.<\/p>\n

In the bottom of the 1st, the Crimson Tide missed out on a huge opportunity with the base loaded and one out when they could not push a run across the plate.<\/p>\n

Alabama got the scoring going in the 3rd when who else but Audrey Vandagriff<\/strong> led off the inning with a double. Kali Heivilin<\/strong> popped out to shallow right field, but it was enough for Vandagriff to tag up and advance to third. A Brooke Ellestad<\/strong> sac fly would make it 1-0 Bama.<\/p>\n

Starting Tide pitcher Catelyn Riley<\/strong> got in a little hot water in the 5th when the Sooners put runners at second and third base with one out, but she worked her way out of the jam. Even though she was pitching the game of her life, a 3-hit shutout, Patrick Murphy<\/strong>\u2019s Gut\u00ae (or maybe his nerves) made the decision to hook her in favor of Jocelyn Briski<\/strong>. Briski got through the 6th okay, but there was an absolute meltdown in the 7th.<\/p>\n

The first Oklahoma batter dropped a bunt that traveled about 2 inches. Catcher Marlie Giles<\/strong> pounced on the ball but threw low to first base and the runner was safe. The next batter struck out and Rhoads Stadium was going absolutely bonkers. But that changed in a heartbeat when a Sooner hit a laser shot over the right field wall.<\/p>\n

And then … <\/p>\n

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A five pitch walk followed. Briski threw one pitch to the next batter – a ball – and was done for the day. The Gut\u00ae turned to Alea Johnson<\/strong> who always seems to come into games cold. An infield single was followed by a double to make it 3-1 Okie. Riley was re-inserted and she gave up a solid RBI single. A squeeze bunt rolled about six inches and looked like it might be heading foul. However, Giles picked it up and threw late to first. The runner at third scored, and as Amanda Scarborough<\/strong> smartly pointed out, Giles probably could have caught the runner coming home from third in a rundown rather than taking the low percentage play at first. <\/p>\n

In the bottom of the 7th, Murphy\u2019s Gut\u00ae just got plain goofy. First, he pinch-hit Kristen White <\/strong>for Riley. I suppose I see what he was doing just trying to get someone on base, but White hasn\u2019t swung a bat against a non-cupcake in three weeks. She slap-grounded out. Alexis Pupillo<\/strong> hit for Giles and struck out. Seldom-used freshman Kennedy Marceaux <\/strong>pinch hit for Larissa Preuitt<\/strong> and whiffed to end the game.<\/p>\n

NOTES:<\/p>\n