No. 2 Alabama Softball Run-Rules Florida, Advances to SEC Championship Game Against No. 4 Texas

(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Alabama softball is heading back to the SEC Tournament Championship Game, and the Crimson Tide did it in dominant fashion Friday afternoon in Lexington.

No. 2 Alabama absolutely exploded offensively and run-ruled Florida 9-1 in five innings to punch its ticket to the program’s 10th SEC Tournament Championship appearance.

Now, the Tide will face No. 4 Texas Saturday at 4:00 p.m. CT on ESPN with a chance to bring home what would be a record-setting seventh SEC Tournament title.

This Alabama team just keeps finding ways to make statements.

After entering the season with plenty of questions surrounding this roster, Patrick Murphy’s squad has turned into one of the most dangerous teams in the country. Friday was another reminder of that. Alabama didn’t just beat Florida, the Tide overwhelmed one of the nation’s best teams from the second inning on.

And honestly, this team looks like it’s playing its best softball at exactly the right time.

Freshman Ambrey Taylor was electric at the plate and continued her breakout SEC Tournament performance. Taylor finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and got the scoring started with a leadoff solo home run in the second inning that completely shifted the momentum.

From there, Alabama never looked back.

The Tide piled on four runs in the second inning and immediately put Florida on its heels. Even after the Gators answered with a run in the top of the third, Alabama responded again with two more runs in the bottom half to stretch the lead to 6-1.

That response says everything about this team right now.

Good teams answer adversity.

Championship teams bury opponents when they get the chance.

Alabama did exactly that Friday.

The fifth inning felt like the perfect ending to a dominant afternoon. Alexis Pupillo ripped an RBI double before Audrey Vandagriff followed with another RBI double to move Alabama within one run of ending the game early. Then Taylor stepped back into the batter’s box and delivered again, driving the ball into the left-center gap as Larissa Prueitt crossed the plate for the game-ending run.

Game over.

While the offense grabbed the headlines, Vic Moten once again delivered in the circle. She may not have had her absolute best stuff, but she competed all afternoon and made huge pitches when Alabama needed them most. Moten stranded 10 Florida runners and allowed just three hits in the complete-game performance.