TUCSON, Ariz. — The No. 7 Alabama softball capped its weekend at the Hillenbrand Invitational with a 13-4 run-rule victory against Illinois-Chicago to remain undefeated through two weeks.
Alabama (10-0) scored in three of the four innings the Tide came to bat. Celebrating her 21st birthday, junior Bailey Hemphill led the offense with a 3-for-3 day, including two home runs and five RBIs. Sophomore KB Sides went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two of which came on her first career home run.
Junior Courtney Gettins (1-0) threw four shutout innings to earn the win. Sophomore Madison Preston threw the final inning in the run-rule victory.
Alabama will make its 2019 home debut Friday when it plays host the Easton Bama Bash. Minnesota, Missouri State, and Louisiana-Monroe will round of the field at Rhoads Stadium.
n Errors cost Ole Miss against Boise State: At Long Beach, California, the Ole Miss softball team committed six errors in the first inning Sunday in 6-4 loss to Boise State on the final day of the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament.
Ava Tillmann took the loss for Ole Miss (6-3) despite not allowing an earned run. The sophomore allowed five unearned in the opening frame, striking out two in three innings. Anna Borgen surrendered one run in her only inning, while Brittany Finney came on for two scoreless to close the game.
Kylan Becker and Abbey Latham extended their hitting streaks to eight games, while Jessica Puk reached base for the sixth-straight game.
The six errors in the first inning are more than the Rebels have recorded in a single game in the last four seasons.
n Southern Mississippi loses to No. 16 Baylor: At Waco, Texas, the Southern Mississippi softball team (7-4) lost to No. 16 Baylor 4-3 on Sunday in its final game of the Getterman Classic.
Baylor got off to a fast start when Kassidy Krupit produced a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Nicky Dawson to score, giving the Bears an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Baylor added another run to their lead in the bottom of the third after Ana Watson doubled to left field, scoring Taylor Ellis.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the fourth, Sarah Van Schaik cut the scoring deficit in half by roping a single through the left side, scoring Chase Nelson from third base.
Southern Miss tied the game later in the inning after Destini Brown scored from third base on a throwing error by catcher Casey Shell.
Freshman pitcher Kaylan Ladner who entered the game in the bottom of the first inning in relief of starter Bailie Springfield, battled her way through the Baylor batting order to put the Golden Eagles in position to make a comeback.
Southern Miss rallied in the top of the fifth when Nelson drilled a pitch from Madison Lindsey back up the middle for a RBI single, plating Beth Taylor from second base, to give the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Southern Miss made another call to the bullpen in the bottom of the fifth and Makenna Pierce emerged to replace Ladner.
A double by Josie Bower tied the game at 3. Baylor regained the lead one batter later when Bower scored on a fielding error by shortstop Lacey Sumerlin.
Lindsey (3-0) earned the win for Baylor while Pierce (1-1) suffered the loss for Southern Miss.
After a five-day road trip, Southern Miss will play host to Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent Alcorn State (2-3) on at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a doubleheader at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
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