Alabama
33-2
North Dakota State
16-18
Softball Posts 13-0 Run-Rule Shutout Saturday over North Dakota State
3/28/2026 4:22:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide’s 63 home runs are tied for the ninth-highest total in program history
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama capped its out-of-conference weekend with a 13-0 shutout in five innings over North Dakota State Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
Alabama (33-2) scored three runs in the opening frame over North Dakota State (16-18) and never looked back, scoring in all four innings the Crimson Tide came to bat. Eight different Alabama players earned a hit in the win, including a 2-for-3 day from Salen Hawkins with three RBIs and a pair of home runs from Ambrey Taylor, the freshman's first multi-homer game.
The home runs improve Alabama's season total to 63, which is tied for the ninth-most in UA single-season history, matching the 2013 team's final tally. The Tide is now five home runs away from matching the next-highest mark of 68 set by the 2014 team. Freshman Holly Beth Brooks recorded her first collegiate hit, a two-run single in the sixth inning. Fellow freshman Kaitlyn Pallozzi (6-0) earned the win in the circle, allowing just one hit over 3.0 innings pitched with Alea Johnson and Braya Hodges pitching the remaining two innings in relief.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"I want to thank North Dakota State for making the trip down here. We appreciate them coming to Tuscaloosa. I think our pitching and defense were outstanding, and we had some really good at-bats that I was pleased with. It was a fun two game series to watch.
"Today, we celebrated another amazing senior, Abby Duchscherer. She's not only incredibly loyal but has also had such a positive impact on this program."
Highlights
- Saturday's win was Alabama's 14th shutout of the season, its 11th run-rule victory and its sixth game scoring 10 or more runs
- Ambrey Taylor hit two home runs in the win, driving in four runs and scoring three herself which are all season bests for the freshman
- Taylor's two home runs give the Crimson Tide 63 this season, which is already tied for the ninth-highest total in program history – matching the 2013 team's finish - and five shy of the next-highest mark of 68 set by the 2014 squad
- Alexis Pupillo improved her reached-base streak to 31 games, tying her previous career best set as a freshman at UNI in 2023
- Alabama tied its season high with nine walks drawn, previously doing so vs. Purdue on Feb. 13
Scoring Summary
- B1 | Ana Roman scored from third on a NDSU error (1-0, 0 Out)
- B1 | Ambrey Taylor went opposite field for a two-run homer (3-0, 1 Out)
- B2 | Salen Hawkins dropped a single into shallow right with the bases loaded, scoring two (5-0, 2 Out)
- B2 | Jena Young scored a pair on a single to right field (7-0, 2 Out)
- B2 | Young scored from third on an error (8-0, 2 Out)
- B3 | Hawkins drove in another with a single to right (9-0, 1 Out)
- B4 | Holly Beth Brooks drove in two with a single in the gap, her first collegiate hit (11-0, 1 Out)
- B4 | Taylor hit her second home run of the game, a two-run shot (13-0, 1 Out)
Up Next: vs. #1/1 Texas (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Thursday, April 2 – 6 p.m. CT
- Friday, April 3 – 7:30 p.m. CT – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 4 – 5 p.m. CT - ESPN
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pallozzi, Kaitlyn (6-0)
L: Madison Wihlm (6-6)
Base Running:
SB: Star Cortez 1
Batting:
2B: Roman, Ana 1
HR: Taylor, Ambrey 2
RBI: Brooks, Holly Beth 2 ; Taylor, Ambrey 4 ; Hawkins, Salen 3 ; Young, Jena 2 ; Johnson, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roman, Ana 1 ; Preuitt, Larissa 1 ; Pate, Kinley 1 ; Griggs, Gerritt 2 ; Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Brooks, Holly Beth 1 ; Taylor, Ambrey 3 ; Hawkins, Salen 1 ; Young, Jena 1
SB: Pate, Kinley 2 ; Griggs, Gerritt 1 ; Hawkins, Salen 1
