Alabama Softball Opens NCAA Tournament in Dominant Fashion with Run-Rule Win Over USC Upstate

(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

There’s just something different about this Alabama softball team right now.

The No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament looked every bit the part Friday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium, as Alabama opened regional play with an emphatic 8-0 run-rule victory over USC Upstate in five innings.

From the energy in the crowd to the confidence in the dugout, the Crimson Tide came out locked in from the very first pitch and never looked back.

With the win, Alabama improves to 50-7 on the season and advances to the winner’s bracket, where the Tide will face the winner of Belmont and Southeastern on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.

It didn’t take long for Alabama’s offense to explode.

After a scoreless first inning, the Crimson Tide completely broke the game open with a massive six-run second inning that sent Rhoads Stadium into a frenzy. Marlie Giles got things started with a solo shot to right center, continuing what has been an incredible season at the plate for Alabama’s lineup.

Then came the flood.

Audrey Vandagriff used her speed to create another run, sliding safely under the tag at home plate to make it 2-0. Brooke Wells followed with a huge two-run single with the bases loaded, and Alexis Pupillo delivered one of the biggest swings of the afternoon with a two-run double over the left fielder’s outstretched glove to push the lead to 6-0.

That inning completely shifted the momentum and showed exactly why Alabama has been one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country all season long.

And they weren’t finished yet.

Vandagriff added an opposite-field solo home run in the third inning, continuing her stellar postseason play, before Pupillo added another RBI single in the fourth to put the game firmly into run-rule territory.

While the bats were electric, freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Pallozzi was just as impressive in the circle.

Making her first career NCAA Regional appearance, Pallozzi looked calm, composed and completely unfazed by the moment. She tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season and worked efficiently all afternoon while Alabama’s defense continued to shine behind her.

After the game, head coach Patrick Murphy praised the freshman for the way she handled the pressure and atmosphere.

“I was very pleased with Kaitlyn's performance,” Murphy said. “She’s very even-keeled and doesn’t get too high or too low. Any time you can throw a shutout, I’ll take it all day long.”