Florida softball continues its SEC Tournament journey with a semifinal matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday afternoon. We are covering the action right here with the score, live updates and highlights throughout the game, so stick around!
Both teams threatened in the first inning but could not score — Florida got a pair of walks to open the game while Alabama loaded the bases but could not bring a runner home. The Gators also loaded the bases in the top of the second, but faltered again; the Tide, however, got a leadoff home run and then went on to score three after loading the bases with two outs.
Both starting pitchers have been laboring, racking up a high pitch count with just two innings elapsed. Take a look at what has happened so far below.
Alabama takes lead on solo home run, 2-out rally
Ambrey Taylor leads off the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot off a 63 mph riseball over the left field fence and off the scoreboard, and Alabama takes the early lead.
Salen Hawkins gets hit by the first pitch she sees, and she advances to second on a good bunt by Kristen White. One out and a runner in scoring position as the lineup turns over the leadoff hitter Young, who works back from an 0-2 count to ground out to second, which moves the runner over to third with two outs.
Florida sends a coach out to the mound for a quick chat before Wells takes steps into the batter’s box, and after she works a full count, Stevens throws a ball way too low to issue the walk. Now with runners on the corners, Pupillo sees a steady stream of changeups before watching ball four just miss low to load the bases.
Stevens shows visible frustration as Roman walks up to the plate and proceeds to line a single into right field to plate another run. Giles hits the ball into left field, which sinks before Thomas can reach it; she misplays the ball and two more runs score.
Alabama sends all nine batters to the plate this inning, but the rally ends with a groundout to second off the bat of Vandagriff. (E2: Florida 0, Alabama 4)
Florida loads bases, fails to capitalize
Madison Walker leads off the second by falling in the hole 0-2 before working a full count walk — Florida’s third free pass of the game already — and Moten’s pitch count is already at 38. Cassidy McLellan tries to mess up the pitcher’s rhythm by showing bunt, and after yet another full count, takes first after the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
So now the Gators have two-straight no-out walks for the second-straight frame and Moten’s catcher comes out to talk for the third time this game. Gullia Desiderio comes up to the plate and chops a grounder to the shortstop, who tags the lead runner but can’t complete the double play, throwing the ball offline and drawing the first baseman off the bag.
Gabi Comia works a 2-1 count, and now Alabama’s coach comes out for a meeting at the mound with the full infield, and he looks a bit perplexed at what he’s seeing. Moten responds by throwing a wild pitch to load the count, allowing the runners to advance to second and third; Comia checks her swing on a high and inside pitch to load the bases after 10 pitches.
Shumaker works another full count before swinging through a 69 mph offering for out No. 2 and Erickson flies out in foul territory to the left fielder. Yet another scoring opportunity for the Gators is squandered. (M2: Florida 0, Alabama 0)
Alabama leaves bases loaded without scoring
Jena Young leads off against Leah Stevens, who starts her off with a 62 mph offering that nips the low outside corner for a strike before looping a single into shallow left-center to give ‘Bama a leadoff runner. Brooke Wells follows her by drawing a four-pitch walk, and just like the Gators, the Tide have their first two on with no outs.
Stevens bounces back to get Alexis Pupillo swinging for out No. 1 on just three pitches, and then gets Ana Roman to fly into deep left-center, where Shumaker drops the ball for an error, loading the bases. So instead of two on with two outs, the bases are now loaded with one out.
Marlie Giles swings on a high offering out of the zone for another three-pitch strikeout and Audrey Vandagriff waves out a 54 mph changeup low and outside to end the threat. (E1: Florida 0, Alabama 0)
Florida strands a pair of no-out walks
The game begins with a 72 mph fastball from Vic Moten that misses the zone against Taylor Shumaker, who works the count full before drawing a walk. Jocelyn Erickson also forces the count full before taking first, giving the Gators back-to-back free passes to open things up.
Ava Brown watches a pair of balls go by before the catcher comes out to talk to her pitcher for the second time already this inning; a passed ball on a swing-and-miss on a 68 mph drop ball allows the runners to advance. However, Brown check swings too far on a drop ball way too low for the first out.
Townsen Thomas sees two strikes from Moten and fouls one away before watching a close pitch on the inside corner for the first ball. She continued to grind away but chased on a 71 mph riseball for the second out. Alabama’s hurler keeps throwing smoke and gets Kenleigh Cahalan swinging to strike out three in a row and kill the rally. (M1: Florida 0, Alabama 0)
Stream Florida vs. Alabama with ESPN+
What channel is Florida vs. Alabama?
Florida vs. Alabama will be broadcast nationally on ESPN on Friday, May 8. Beth Mowins and Michele Smith will call the game at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+.
Florida vs. Alabama time
The Florida vs Alabama game starts at 5 p.m. ET from John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
Florida vs Alabama starting pitchers
Florida vs Alabama starting lineups
FLORIDA
ALABAMA
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida vs Alabama in SEC Tournament Semifinals: Score, live updates
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
