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.
“They’re two really good pitching performances,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “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.”
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.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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