Alabama
41-4, 14-3
Kentucky
25-24, 1-19
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
Audrey Vandagriff Walk-Off Single Secures Seventh Inning Comeback Win for Alabama
4/18/2026 5:26:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide defeats Kentucky, 5-4, to take the weekend series
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Trailing by two runs heading to the bottom of the seventh, Alabama softball rallied to score three with a two-out bases loaded single from Audrey Vandagriff driving in the game-winning run to give the Crimson Tide the 5-4 win over Kentucky in walk-off fashion to secure the weekend series.
Alabama (41-4, 14-3 SEC) and Kentucky (25-24, 1-19 SEC) were scoreless until Alexis Pupillo blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats answered right back with three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Maddy Clark led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run, giving Kentucky a two-run cushion heading to the home half of the seventh.
With runners at the corners and one out, Brooke Wells hit single to right to make it a one-run ballgame and Ambrey Taylor drew a walk behind her to load the bases. Marlie Giles then dropped a ball into shallow right field which was initially called a catch but, following a challenge, the call was reversed to a base hit as the tying run came home on the RBI single. After a strikeout, Vandagriff stepped up to the plate and slapped a high single to the shortstop to drive in the game-winning run.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"It was a hell of a game between two good teams. It's SEC softball on a Saturday where one team is trying to win a series and one team is trying to fight for postseason. Everyone got their money's worth with great entertainment and a great game."
Highlights
- The walk-off win was Alabama's first since April 14, 2025 vs. Oklahoma when an eighth-inning home run from Audrey Vandagriff gave the Tide the 2-1 win
- Vandagriff has driven in the game-winning runs in both games this weekend, hitting a three-run home run on Friday to cap the 9-0 run rule win
- Alabama has won its first six SEC series for the first time since 2012, with that team eventually winning all eight of its three-game conference series
- Alexis Pupillo's home run was the team's 77th this season, which is tied for sixth place on Alabama's single season home run record list with the 2008 team
- Marlie Giles extended her hitting streak to six games, which includes four multi-hit efforts
Scoring Summary
- B5 | Alexis Pupillo broke the scoreless tie with a two-run home run (2-0, 2 Out)
- T6 | Allie Blum hit an RBI single through the right side (2-1, 1 Out)
- T6 | Peyton Plotts plated two with a single to give Kentucky the lead (2-3, 1 Out)
- T7 | Maddy Clark started the inning with a solo home run (2-4, 0 Out)
- B7 | Brooke Wells got a run back with an RBI single to right (3-4, 1 Out)
- B7 | Marlie Giles dropped a bases-loaded single to right to tie the game (4-4, 1 Out)
- B7 | Audrey Vandagriff beat out a bases-loaded infield single to win the game (5-4, 2 Out)
Up Next: vs. Kentucky (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Sunday, April 19 – 1:30 p.m. CT
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Briski, Jocelyn (18-1)
L: Abby Hammond (3-6)
Batting:
HR: Maddy Clark 1
RBI: Allie Blum 1 ; Peyton Plotts 2 ; Maddy Clark 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Allie Blum 1 ; Maddy Clark 1 ; Katie Hirschy 1 ; Emory Donaldson 1
SB: Allie Blum 1
Batting:
2B: Hawkins, Salen 1
HR: Pupillo, Alexis 1
RBI: Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Wells, Brooke 1 ; Giles, Marlie 1 ; Vandagriff, Audrey 1
SH: Young, Jena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Griggs, Gerritt 1 ; Hawkins, Salen 1 ; Johnson, Lauren 1
SB: Young, Jena 1
