Softball battles hard but falls late at No. 2 Alabama, 5-4

Friday, March 4

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m. CT

University of Texas

10-8

#2 Alabama

17-0

Texas

Alabama

Softball battles hard but falls late at No. 2 Alabama, 5-4

03.04.2022 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman Katie Cimusz & sophomore Alyssa Washington each blasted two-run HR’s during the loss

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In front of a sold-out crowd of 3,940 on Friday night at the Rhoads House, Texas softball (10-8) fought its way back from a pair of deficits, behind two-run HR's from freshman first baseman Katie Cimusz and sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington, before falling late at No. 2 Alabama (17-0), 5-4.

Notes

Texas' four runs and eight hits were the most allowed by Alabama All-American pitcher Montana Fouts this season. Her previous 2022 highs were one run (twice) and three hits (four times).
With tonight's two-run blast, freshman first baseman Katie Cimusz has now homered in three of Texas last four games. She's also riding a six-game hitting streak dating back to Feb. 27 against UTSA.
Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington blasted a two-run shot off Fouts for her first HR of the season and first round-tripper overall since March 12, 2021, against Tarleton State.
UT freshman third baseman Mia Scott went 1-for-4 to extend her hitting and reached base streaks to a Texas season-high nine and 10 straight games, respectively.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson is now just 12 hits from becoming the first Texas player to reach the 300-career-hit plateau.

Major Players

Freshman first baseman Katie Cimusz (2-for-3, HR, two RBIs); sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington (2-for-3, HR, two RBIs); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3, double); senior left fielder Lauren Burke (1-for-3, run)

In the Circle

Freshman Sophia Simpson (3-2) took a tough loss after allowing four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.

The Details

Jefferson tried to get Texas' offense rolling in the top of the first as the three-time All-American drove a one-out double to the wall in right center. That was all Alabama ace Montana Fouts would allow, however, as a strikeout and a bouncer to second left UT's speedster stranded.

Alabama quickly strung together a threat in the bottom of the first as a Dallis Goodnight single and an Ashley Prange walk put two runners aboard with one out. UA catcher Ally Shipman stepped up and bounced a single through the left side. Burke corralled the ball in left and fired towards the plate where Mary Iakopo cut it off. The senior catcher tried to retire the runner headed to second, but the throw was dropped for a key error allowing Bama to grab a 2-0 lead. First baseman Kaylee Tow immediately followed with a RBI single up the middle to extend the Crimson Tide advantage to 3-0.

The Longhorns battled right back into the contest during the top of the second as Washington followed a one-out Burke single by crushing a two-run HR to left as UT cut its deficit to 3-2.

Alabama expanded its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third as Shipman sliced a RBI double to the wall in right center.

The Burnt Orange & White used another long ball to pull level in the top of the fourth. With Iakopo aboard on an Alabama error, Cimusz stepped into the box and hammered a two-run shot to center to make it 4-4.

After Simpson battled her way out of a two-on, two-out jam in the bottom of the fifth, Texas tried to get something started in the sixth as Cimusz led off the frame with a single down the left field line. Unfortunately, a 6-4-3 double play quickly cleared the base paths as the game remained deadlocked.

Crimson Tide second baseman Megan Bloodworth finally broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth by hitting a one-out HR down the line to left for a 5-4 advantage.

Facing one final chance in regulation, Texas went down in order in the seventh on two K's and a bouncer to short.