SEC Softball Showdown: Alabama Crimson Tide Clash with Auburn Tigers
Alabama clears the first obstacle at the 2025 SEC Softball Tournament.
ALABAMA 3, AUBURN 2
It didn't require Bama’s starting pitcher to begin. Jocelyn Briski yearned to provide Auburn with an edge. The first hitter of the contest launched a unquestionable homerun beyond the right-field boundary. However, Briski would stabilize as time went on.
Audrey Vandagriff led off the bottom of the 1st with a bunt single. Poor Lauren Johnson had to make her advance to second with a bunt, however, Vandagriff couldn’t progress further from there.
Marlie Giles led off the 2nd inning with a solid single. Salen Hawkins came back with a two-bagger to the warning track that evened the score.
An Abby Duchscherer With runners placed at all bases and no Outs recorded, however, the Tide failed to cause further harm.
Following Johnson's single at the start of the third inning, Bama grabbed the lead with an RBI triple from Batema. Kali Heilvin It rolled against the wall. Following a Giles walk, Hawkins hit a sacrifice fly, making the score 3-1 for the Tide.
It appeared Briski grew tired during the 6th inning when facing Auburn's strongest hitters. In that frame, she sent a pitch skipping towards Giles’ mitt. After issuing a leadoff walk followed by another base on balls, there were runners at first and second without anyone out. A sacrifice fly advanced one baserunner to third while a wild pitch pushed the other into scoring position. Hawkins managed to catch an infield popup near shallow left before throwing toward home plate; however, this wasn’t enough to prevent the run from crossing the plate. Simultaneously, the other runner attempted to steal third but was tagged out decisively by a vigilant Giles via a close play, recorded as 3-2. Notably, the initial ruling had declared the runner safe, though this decision was reversed upon review through instant replay technology.
Briski returned to the circle in the 7th and seemed to get a second wind. She struck out the first batter on three pitches. It took five pitches to whiff the next batter. But a seeing-eye single dribbled through the left side of the Alabama infield to represent a potential tying run. However, Briski retired the final batter on strikes as well to earn the too-close-for-comfort win.
NOTES:
- In the section dedicated to peculiar occurrences, Auburn’s catcher Aubrie Lisenby experiences difficulty when attempting to throw the ball back to the pitcher, leading her to physically return the ball manually each time—even when there are no runners on base. Interestingly, she does not face this issue elsewhere on the infield. Adding to these oddities was an unsuccessful Auburn video review which appeared unnecessary, along with two trips to the mound within just the first three innings of play. This series of events gave the impression that perhaps the War Tigers were deliberately disrupting their own flow or rhythm during the game.
- Giles threw out the only attempted base-stealer.
- Vandagriff singled to right field in the 4th. The AU fielder made a diving attempt to catch the ball in front of her but it one-hopped into her glove. Vandagriff continued on to second base but was easily thrown out by a mile. As a freshman, I cannot imagine she made that decision on her own. If that assumption is correct, that would mean Kalyla Braud made that call.
- Briski struck out the final batter of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th innings. She had 8 Ks for the game on 107 pitches.
- Beth Mowins was REALLY selling Tuscaloosa as a Regional hosting site during the broadcast. She obviously reads her weekly emails from her 4-Letter bosses.
- Hawkins has been playing fantastic defense (below) and hitting too. Duke wasn’t so bad either.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 7 vs South Carolina - Barring extra innings or weather issues, this game should start around 6:30pm/7:30pm.
HOW TO WATCH... ALLEGEDLY
SECNetwork with (ugh) Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, and Holly Rowe.
ATHENS, GA WEATHER
The skies ought to become clear once more, with temperatures reaching into the 80s. The sunset is expected to coincide with the conclusion of the game.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Crimson Tide will now face the well-rested seventh-seeded Gamecocks. analysis has not changed a lot since a few days back.
ONE CENT ANALYSIS (no refunds)
I'm not feeling good about this one at all.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
(# = seedings)
GAME 4: #8 MSU versus #9 LSU - 10 am/11 am
GAME 5: #5 Arkansas versus #12 Georgia - starts 35 minutes later
GAME 6: #6 Florida versus #11 Ole Miss
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