Crimson Tide Dominates Jackson State in NCAA Tournament Opener

Tuscaloosa, AL – The Alabama Crimson Tide began their NCAA Tournament run with a commanding 8-0 victory over Jackson State on Friday, ending the game in just five innings.

Alabama struggled offensively during the first two innings, failing to score. However, they surged back in the third inning with four runs, putting them comfortably ahead. Emily Winstead earned the win in the circle, where she allowed only one hit in her four innings of work.

In the third inning, Alabama’s Kali Heivilin opened the scoring with an RBI single. This was followed by a two-run double from Salen Hawkins, and a single from Brooke Ellestad, which brought the score to 4-0.

Heivilin’s contribution in the third was key, earning her the game’s MVP award. “That helped a lot for getting things going,” Hawkins commented after the game, acknowledging Heivilin’s crucial hits while expressing her own competitive motivation to perform better.

Alabama added two more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. A wild pitch ended the game due to the run-rule, allowing Alabama to secure a dominant win.

After the game, Alabama coach Patrick Murphy praised his team’s performance, especially their ability to limit walks. “Probably only one walk… so one, I’ll take that all day long,” he stated when asked about his pitching staff’s effort.

Alabama now moves on to face Virginia Tech on Saturday, with an 11 a.m. CT first pitch scheduled. Virginia Tech, which advanced by defeating Belmont 5-0, is expected to be Alabama’s greatest challenge in the regional.

“It was February but it seems like three years ago,” Murphy said, downplaying the significance of their previous matchups this season. He expressed confidence that both teams have evolved since then, making Saturday’s game a true test.