Alabama
34-3, 8-3
Texas
32-3, 9-2
Softball Bounces Back with 11-4 Friday Win over No. 1 Texas
4/4/2026 12:03:00 AM | Softball
The series-deciding game three is set for a 12:30 p.m. CT first pitch Saturday on SEC Network
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 4 Alabama softball bounced back in a big way from Thursday's loss, defeating No. 1 Texas, 11-4, Friday night at Rhoads Stadium to set up a Saturday series rubber match.
Alabama (34-3, 8-3 SEC) trailed Texas (32-3, 9-2 SEC) 4-0 early before the Crimson Tide stormed back with a six-run bottom of the second, sending 11 batters to the plate with a bases-loaded double from Brooke Wells driving in the three runs to put Alabama in front. The Longhorns threatened immediately in the next half-inning, loading the bases with one out but the Tide got out of the frame unscathed with a force out at home and a strikeout to hold the lead.
It was all Alabama the rest of the way, scoring five more runs while holding a potent Texas offense off the scoreboard. Jocelyn Briski (14-1) was credited with the win as the pitcher of record when the Tide retook the lead, but it was Vic Moten who pitched a total of 5.1 innings in the game, re-entering in the top of the third and only allowing three Longhorn baserunners the remainder of the game. Ambrey Taylor drove in three runs off a solo home run and a two-run single, one of four Tide players with two hits along with Marlie Giles, Audrey Vandagriff and Salen Hawkins.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"The goal was to bounce back from yesterday's performance and we did just that. I thought today was awesome. We were down 4-0 and before you blinked, we scored six in the bottom on the second and kept the lead the rest of the game. That's a credit to the defense and their resiliency and grit. Vic Moten did a hell of a job after getting pulled and then coming back in the game and putting up a bunch of zeros. That was exactly what we needed. Brooke Wells and Ambrey Taylor came through with some big timely hits tonight too. We're looking forward to tomorrow and keeping this momentum."
Highlights
- The win is Alabama's first against a No. 1 ranked team since run-ruling Washington, 8-0, on Feb. 13, 2020 in Clearwater, Fla., and its first win over No. 1 at home since May 21, 2017 against Minnesota
- Friday marked the Crimson Tide's ninth win this season when the opponent scores first, holding a 9-2 record in those games
- It was the seventh time this season Alabama has scored 10 or more runs, but the first such performance against a ranked opponent
- Ambrey Taylor's home run was Alabama's 64th this season, putting the team four shy of tying the 2014 squad's total of 68 for eighth on the single-season home run records
- Alexis Pupillo drew a pair of bases-loaded walks to extend her career-best reached base streak to 33 games
- Brooke Wells leads the team with 14 multi-RBI games, seven of which have been three-RBI performances
Scoring Summary
- T1 | Reese Atwood hit a two-run single (0-2, 1 Out)
- T1 | Texas drew a bases-loaded walk (0-3, 2 Out)
- T2 | Kayden Henry led off the inning with a solo home run (0-4, 0 Out)
- B2 | Salen Hawkins drove in Marlie Giles win an RBI single (1-4, 2 Out)
- B2 | Alexis Pupillo drew a bases-loaded walk (2-4, 2 Out)
- B2 | Brooke Wells gave Alabama the lead with a three-run double (5-4, 2 Out)
- B2 | Wells scored from third on a wild pitch (6-4, 2 Out)
- B3 | Pupillo drew her second bases-loaded walk of the game (7-4, 1 Out)
- B4 | Ambrey Taylor led off the fourth with a towering solo homer (8-4, 0 Out)
- B5 | Taylor drove in a pair with a single up the middle (10-4, 2 Out)
- B5 | Gerritt Griggs scored on an Audrey Vandagriff RBI single (11-4, 2 Out)
Up Next: vs. #1/1 Texas (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Saturday, April 4 – 12:30 p.m. CT – SEC Network
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Briski, Jocelyn (14-1)
L: Hannah Wells (5-2)
Batting:
HR: Kayden Henry 1
RBI: Kayden Henry 1 ; Reese Atwood 2 ; Kaydee Bennett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kayden Henry 2 ; Leighann Goode 1 ; Reese Atwood 1
Batting:
2B: Wells, Brooke 1
HR: Taylor, Ambrey 1
RBI: Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Wells, Brooke 3 ; Taylor, Ambrey 3 ; Vandagriff, Audrey 1 ; Hawkins, Salen 1
SH: Young, Jena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Wells, Brooke 1 ; Pate, Kinley 1 ; Taylor, Ambrey 1 ; Griggs, Gerritt 1 ; Giles, Marlie 1 ; Vandagriff, Audrey 1 ; Hawkins, Salen 1 ; Young, Jena 1 ; Johnson, Lauren 1
HBP: Pupillo, Alexis 1 ; Giles, Marlie 1 ; Johnson, Lauren 1
